|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
San Ramon will be celebrating two historic milestones when the city holds a special swearing-in ceremony for its recently elected City Council members and mayor on Tuesday night.
Upon taking the oath of office, Councilwoman-elect Sabina Zafar become the first woman of color to serve on the city’s governing body, while Councilman Dave Hudson will continue his tenure as the city’s longest-serving elected representative.
Not to be left out, Mayor Bill Clarkson will also be celebrating his a fourth — and final — consecutive term as the city’s top official.
The trio will take the oath of office administered by city clerk Renee Beck to begin their new terms Tuesday evening at San Ramon City Hall.
“I am truly humbled by the out pour of love and support, the messages, emails and phone calls the last couple of days. And I am so honored to be elected as a council member to the San Ramon City Council,” Zafar said in an message to supporters. “Now the real work begins and I look forward to serving the city with the same hard work and passion. I will work for our values, vision and policies that were the cornerstone of my campaign.”
With election results having now been confirmed by the Contra Costa County Elections Department, both Hudson and Zafar won by comfortable margins.
Hudson — who has served on the council for 21 years, including tenures as its mayor and vice mayor — led the way with 15,148 votes for 35.57% of the vote, followed by Zafar, former member of the city’s Transportation Advisory Committee and 2016 council candidate, who earned the second available seat with 11,541 for 27.1% of votes.
The pair defeated San Ramon parks commissioner Sridhar Verose, who was in the third spot with 8,240 or 19.35%, and Aparna Madireddi, a small business and community volunteer, who rounded out the ballot with 7,663 or 17.99%.
Clarkson dominated the polls in his quest for a fourth term as mayor, achieving a large lead early on that he did not relinquish. Final totals have Clarkson achieving 20,219 votes for a total of 75.03%, while political newcomer and engineer Sanat Sethy, trailed at a distant second holding down 6,730 votes for 24.97%.
The meeting will also serve as the last for departing Councilman Harry Sachs, who decided to not run for re-election in order to spend more time with his family.
The City Council is set to hold its swearing-in ceremony and discuss various issues affecting the city at their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday 7 p.m. at the council chambers, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Road.
In other business
* Attendees to the meeting will bear witness to a live recitation by San Ramon’s poet laureate, Jenyth Jo Gearhart-Utchen, who will be reading an original poem entitled “New Lights.”
* Open space preservation will also be discussed at the meeting, as the council is set to review the city’s open space development impact fee ordinance and is set to approve its execution.
The open space fee is an impact fee that would apply to new residential developments, ensuring that developers contribute their “fair share” towards open space preservation.
In a study published in February 2017, city staff identified six potential properties in San Ramon that have been identified as available for acquisition and preservation. These potential areas include: Laborer’s Camp, Henry Ranch/Circle E, Upper Gelderman, Wiedeman, Norris Canyon and the Tassajara Valley.
Listed as a consent item, the council is also set to approve the establishment of an Ad Hoc Open Space Fee Committee to provide city staff with direction on potential uses of funds for open space preservation.
* The San Ramon Police Department honorguard will lead attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance to start the meeting.
-
Mayor Bill Clarkson has achieved a fourth and final term as the city’s top elected official. (photo courtesy City of San Ramon) -
The second time was the charm for councilwoman-elect Sabina Zafar. She lost her election bid in 2016 but has secured her seat on the council with a significant amount of support from voters. (Photo by Mike Sedlak) -
City of San Ramon logo. -
Councilman Dave Hudson will have served on the council for nearly a quarter of a century after the end of his next term. (Photo by Mike Sedlak)
