Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Uploaded: Thursday, July 9, 2009, 9:42 AM

John Barton won't seek another term
Councilman says time commitments will keep him from running for office in November

by Gennady Sheyner
Palo Alto Online Staff

Posted by Marvin, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2009 at 10:10 am

In some ways, I am sorry to see Barton go. He has not done as much damage to the city as Kishimoto, Klein and Drekmeier, but I do not think he ever reached his full potential on the council--not sure if that is because he was overshadowed and/or afraid to go up against the likes of Morton, Klein and Kishimoto. But he has not been a non-entity like Espinosa, Yeh and Burt. Maybe with a new council in January the newer council members will be able to make some contributions to the city. I am sorry that Klein is running for re-election and hope that Drekmeier will drop out also.

Posted by Pro residents, a resident of the Evergreen Park neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2009 at 10:40 am

Let's hope he is replaced by someone who isn't so tied in with the developers and who will advocate for restrained growth. Barton never met a project he wouldn't support.

Drekmeier is setting us up for a dramatic announcement. I hope he goes on to advocate for environmental causes, but not in city government, where he is uninformed and not on the side of residents. He still has some maturing to do.

Posted by A little late, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2009 at 11:48 am

I wish John had made this announcement sooner. It's late in the game...and it will be difficult to find good candidates. We now have a possible five seats open and only three candidates that I know of.

Posted by Irvin, a resident of the University South neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2009 at 11:58 am

In response to "Let's hope he is replaced by someone who isn't so tied in with the developers and who will advocate for restrained growth. Barton never met a project he wouldn't support."

Unfortunately, we have what I see as a Planning & Transportation Commission that never met a project it likes, appearing to advocate for 'unrestrained stagnation'. We desperately need council members who are more accountable to the greater city.

JJ&F is the perfect example. The PTC shoots down the redevelopment project 6-1, and consequently the grocer is wooed by Mtn View's economic development manager.

John will be missed on council - but there are other opportunities to engage the growth vs. no-growth debate.

Posted by Marvin, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2009 at 12:08 pm

Unfortunately, one of the P&T members is running for council--not only is that a problem for me. she is also tainted with the role she played about 10 years ago during the failed historical ordinance fiasco--which many of us saw as a land grab designed to take rights away from property owners and place them, in a typical palo alto fashion, in the hands of those that "know better".

Posted by Resident, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2009 at 12:53 pm

Victor Frost for City Council!!!!

Posted by Paul, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2009 at 3:33 pm

Any architect has a built-in conflict in this town. It's like letting a fox decide whether to allow more chicken coops - his livelihood is on the line; there's no way he can say no.

Posted by Darwin, a resident of another community, on Jul 9, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Have we ever thought about having a hiring freeze for city council members? 9 is a rather large number for a community of this size. It would save us money in the long run too.

Posted by Resident, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Jul 9, 2009 at 6:53 pm

Darwin says: "Have we ever thought about having a hiring freeze for city council members, 9 is a rather large number for a community of this size?" Yes PAN looked into how Council could be reduced from nine to seven members.

Unfortunately, it involves changing the City Charter. For citizens to get it on the ballot requires over 6,000 signatures all collected individually (no computer generated signatures allowed).

The City Council could place it on the ballot but they aren't about to reduce their own number. It's about self-preservation!!

Posted by Bob, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Jul 10, 2009 at 7:35 am

How does someone go about declaring for Council? Is there a city website that spells all this stuff out, or is the information hidden amid the penumbras of power?

Posted by resident, a resident of the Charleston Meadows neighborhood, on Jul 15, 2009 at 11:29 am

John barton is leaving p.a. council and going to stanford to give more pain to palo alto with the help from of his buddy Tonny C.

Posted by Anon, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jul 15, 2009 at 1:41 pm

Bob, if you don't know the answer to your questions it looks like you don't read any of the papers or follow city doings. Please don't consider running until you know at least as much as Victor Frost.