Evan Low is Sworn in As Campbell's 55th Mayor

As it does every December, the Campbell City Council met and decided who would lead the city in the upcoming year.

On Dec. 4, after reappointing Councilmen Jason Baker and Mike Kotowski to another four years, forgoing an election in 2012 Kotowski handed over the gavel to the city's 55th mayor, Evan Low.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity," Low says.

In Campbell, the public only votes in the city council members. Then, the council votes on who will be the mayor. The term for mayor is one year, ending and starting in December.

Council members serve a four-year term, with a two-consecutive-term limit. Both Kotowski’s and Baker’s terms will be up November 2016. Mayor Low's, Councilmen Rich Waterman's and Jeff Cristina's terms all expire November 2014.

Low was first elected to the council in 2006 and then re-elected in 2010. Low says he ran for office because he wanted to give back to the community and participate in the public process.

"I wanted to give a voice to my community," he says. "I am diligent, passionate and committed to finding solutions."

Some of the solutions along the way that Low is most proud of include the annexation of Cambrian 36 into the city of Campbell and pension reform.

"Cambrian 36 was your David and Goliath," he says. "It demonstrated that where there's a will, there's a way. It was an opportunity for people to sit down together and find solutions."

As for pension reform, Low says that unlike other local jurisdictions that have "imposed" pension reform, Campbell was able to bring together all the various parties to come up with a solution.

"Campbell is the first city in Santa Clara County to pass pension reform," he says. "We knew that in this tough economic time, it was necessary to provide revenue for a balanced budget."

The business community and the Campbell Chamber of Commerce endorsed to $110. Businesses with more than 50 employees could pay up to $500.

"That year, we tackled issues and worked collaboratively for a win-win situation," he says.

Watch the attached video to hear more from Campbell Mayor Evan Low and his "to-do list" for 2013.

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