Menlo Park: Steve Schmidt, Brielle Johnck elope Menlo Park: Steve Schmidt, Brielle Johnck elope (February 21, 2001)

Newlyweds Brielle Johnck and Menlo Park mayor pro tem Steve Schmidt are now cross-country skiing in Idaho after eloping to Genoa, Nevada, where they were married February 16.

Brielle and Steve, both 59, have been neighbors on Central Avenue in Menlo Park for 25 years. Brielle was Steve's campaign manager for his 1994 and 1998 elections to the City Council and serves on Menlo Park's Environmental Beautification Commission. She is a retired litigation paralegal; he is a retired architect.

Steve has been a member of the City Council since 1994. He represents the San Mateo County Transit District on the Caltrain Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board and is a member of the Samtrans Board of Directors. Both are active in local environmental causes.

Steve and Brielle share a love of cycling, and completed the California AIDS Ride in 2000 together.

With his marriage, the bridegroom also becomes an instant grandfather. Brielle is the mother of three adult children, Rachel, Jan and Tucker, and grandmother of 2-year-old twins.