Joe Simitian enjoyed his last meeting as a member of the Palo Alto City Council Monday night. But before heading south to join the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors he endured some praise--and a little ribbing--from his colleagues and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo.
"He's a true son of Palo Alto," said Eshoo, who presented Simitian with a congressional resolution. "We've all grown to know him for his summary of expressions, his intellectual properties, and his dedication to public service."
An aide delivered a similar resolution from State Senator Byron Sher and Assemblyman Ted Lempert, who could not be there in person.
"I've always admired Joe's leadership," said Council member Gary Fazzino, a friend since they were 14. He recalled when Simitian, 43, was Palo Alto High student body president in 1970. "Somewhat ironically Joe fought for the right of athletes to wear long hair," Fazzino said of his partially bald colleague.
Fazzino said Simitian had also fought for a teen center in high school, and he finally saw that come to fruition 25 years later as mayor last year. In addition, the $8-million, 106-unit single-room-occupancy affordable housing project soon to go up on Alma Street "would not have been a reality without Joe's leadership on the council," he added.
Simitian won election to the District 5 Supervisor's seat after a hard-fought election against Barbara Koppel. His five years on the council was preceded by eight on the Palo Alto School Board.
He is leaving the council just before one of the biggest hot-potato issues of all time--Stanford's Sand Hill Road projects--arrives in January. But Fazzino sees it differently. "As supervisor, he in effect becomes de facto mayor of Stanford University, and I think it's appropriate that we hand the entire Sand Hill debate to him," he joked.
But the best poke was by Council member Dick Rosenbaum, who said he always thought of county government as the most difficult because it deals with such intractable problems as welfare and mental health. "And I really appreciate your willingness to take that on, even though it wasn't your first choice," he said as the full council chambers erupted in laughter.
Simitian switched to the county race after starting out for Sher's former state Assembly seat to avoid a battle against fellow Democrat Lempert.
--Peter Gauvin
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