Mayor, Council Candidate Announcements Expected Friday

If you’re concerned that your position as a parent, lawyer or longtime Campbell resident won’t be represented on the new Campbell City Council, put your worries aside.

Mayor Mike Kotowski and Councilman Jason Baker are expected on Friday to announce their intentions to seek reelection in November.

Kotowski is one of the oldest members of the current council. He joined the group in 1983 and served as a councilmember for 10 years. In 1985 and 1990 he was elected mayor for the city of Campbell. He was reelected to the City Council in 2008. Kotowski’s term as mayor expires in November 2012.

Kotowski has served the Campbell community through other avenues as well. He served as the chair of the Planning Commission, and helped with the fundraising. He is currently a member of the Economic Development Committee.

He is a founding member of the and Campbell Veterans’ Memorial Foundation. In 1979 he was the Campbell Chamber President. The recognized Kotowski as “Citizen of the Year” in 1982.

After graduating with a B.A. and MFA in Art and Design from San Jose State University, he taught art at West Valley and Mission Community colleges. Kotowski owns Vicom Services, a graphic design studio, and M.F. Kotowski Railroad Art with his wife Claire.

Kotowski and Baker have served on the city council together for the past four years.

Baker said, “Mike’s been a mentor of mine on the council. I’m obviously going to endorse him for reelection.”

Baker said that what distinguishes him from other city council members is his perspective as a father of a two-year-old and a four-year-old. He said, “I am the only current member of the council that has young children.”

He said that he wants to prove to the people that he should be reelected. He has kept his promises from his last campaign. “I focused on getting new library hours,” he said. “And I promised to focus on safety and neighborhoods and I’m proud to have championed a number of programs to increase public safety in Campbell.”

“I’ve really enjoyed my four years on the city council, but there’s still a lot to be done,” said Baker.

Baker was elected to the city council in November 2008. In 2011 he served as mayor and currently resides as a councilmember. Before joining the council, he was a member of the Campbell Civic Improvement Commission for three years.

With a focus on public safety and emergency, Baker is the vice chair of the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority and the Santa Clara County Emergency Preparedness Council. In 2010 and 2011 he represented the Peninsula Division on the California League’s Public Safety Committee.

He currently serves as the secretary and treasurer of the Cities Association of Santa Clara County and sat as a board member in 2011.

He graduated with a B.A. in political science from University of California-Davis in 1995. While studying law at Santa Clara University School of Law, he clerked for the special litigation division of San Francisco’s Attorney’s Office. In 2000 he received J.D., Cum Laude.

Baker said he brings a new perspective to legislation as the only lawyer on the council.

Nominations for the two city councilmember positions close Friday, August 10. The candidates are running for a term lasting from November 2012 to November 2016. Elections will be held November 6.

Kotowski and Baker will announce their candidacy for reelection on Friday, August 3 at 10:30 a.m. in the plaza in front of City Hall.