News Digest News Digest (April 01, 2005)

HP names new president and CEO

Hewlett-Packard Co. announced Tuesday that it named Mark Hurd the company's new chief executive officer and president of the Palo Alto-based company. Hurd, 48, has been president and CEO of NCR Corp. of Ohio, where he worked for 25 years. Hurd replaces Carly Fiorina, who was ousted by HP's board in February. She received a $21.1 million severance package.

Prior to being named CEO and president of NCR in 2003, Hurd was the company's president and chief operating officer. NCR is a computer services company. Hurd's appointment wasn't announced Tuesday until after the stock market closed. HP's stock rose $1.99 a share Tuesday, to close at $21.78. The stock's rise was fueled by rumors that an announcement was imminent.

"Our search for a new leader to return HP to sustained success has been focused and thorough," said Patricia Dunn, HP's non-executive chairman. "A screening team of board members ... established a broad field of candidates and interviewed many individuals. We then recommended the strongest contenders to the board as finalists. Each was interviewed by the entire board, and Mark was our top choice."

Dunn added that Hurd was picked on the basis of his track record leading a complex organization, as well as his strong executive and personal qualities.

-- Don Kazak

Accused police officer testifies

One of the two Palo Alto police officers facing brutality charges for allegedly beating a black motorist took the witness stand Tuesday for the first time as the prosecution wrapped up its case.

Officer Michael Kan, 26, began reading a transcript of his testimony during the case's preliminary examination for the jury late Tuesday afternoon. Kan and Officer Craig Lee, 41, are accused of beating and pepper-spraying Palo Alto resident Albert Hopkins, 61, on the night of July 13, 2003.

Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Peter Waite indicated he would rest after the preliminary examination testimony was read for the jury. Waite began presenting his case on March 21.

At the preliminary examination held last summer, Kan testified that when he arrived on the scene to provide backup to Lee, he approached Hopkins, who was "hostile."

"He was basically argumentative with me and very aggressive," Kan said.

Kan read his preliminary examination testimony in which he described Hopkins as cursing and using slang on the night of the beating.

"A black man can't do nothing in Palo Alto without the police being involved," Kan testified Hopkins said.

The jury also heard Tuesday from Palo Alto Police Officer Duane Tannock who encountered Hopkins several times prior to the alleged beating under circumstances similar to those in which Lee and Kan encountered him -- parked in his car late at night in the same area of the city.

Tannock, who treated Hopkins the night he was beaten, never had to use force with Hopkins and testified that by the third time they interacted he was joking with Hopkins.

Tannock admitted that Hopkins had been verbally confrontational with him in their first encounter and had likely used profanity. Kan's attorney, Harry Stern, asked him if Hopkins "won" their first encounter because he left without getting Hopkins to produce identification.

"In my mind I'd say it was a win-win situation. He got me to go away. I got no complaint (filed against me)," Tannock said.

-- Bay City News

List of storm-drain campaign contributors released

The campaign supporting Palo Alto's storm-drain fee increase has released a list of financial contributors. Ballots will be mailed on Monday to Palo Alto property owners asking them to raise the storm-drain utility fee from $4.25 per month to $10 per month for the average single-family homeowner.

Through March 22, Storm Drains for Palo Alto had collected $16,924 in contributions. The largest contributor, at $5,000, was the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors IMPAC. There were five contributors of $1,000 each: Klein, 375 University Partners, the Committee to Re-elect Bern Beecham, and storm drain committee members Leannah Hunt and John Melton. City engineer Joe Teresi also contributed $99.

The entire list will be posted on the group's website at www.SD4PA.org, said Larry Klein, a former mayor and spokesman for the campaign.

Property owners will get one vote for each property owned. The ballots must be returned by the close of business on April 26.

Storm Drains for Palo Alto was not required to release its donors since the unusual election is not overseen by the state's Fair Political Practices Committee.

There is no organized opposition, but attorney Richard Alexander said last week he will send mailers opposing the fee increase.

-- Don Kazak

Wild, wild west event to help Castilleja school girls

Castilleja School's annual auction benefit, known as "This One's For the Girls!", will be a glittering, country-western themed evening of silent and live auctions, dinner and line dancing and will be held 5 p.m. Saturday at the school, 1310 Bryant St.

Parents and school supporters will have a chance to bid on a wide variety of items, such as a two-day golf resort package, a private dinner for 10 in San Francisco, an evening of poker in Las Vegas and a private catered event for 50.

This One's For the Girls! Supplements teacher salaries, as well as student programs and scholarships.

For more information, call Paige McKerral at 328-3160 or e-mail her at paige_mckerral@castilleja.org.

-- Alexandria Rocha

E-mail a friend a link to this story.