Uncontested council race in Atherton Uncontested council race in Atherton (August 11, 2004)

By Andrea Gemmet
Almanac Staff Writer

Incumbent Atherton City Council members Jim Janz and Kathy McKeithen won't be facing any challengers in their campaigns this fall. They are the only two to file for election to the two seats on the council, said interim City Clerk Kathi Hamilton.

Both are completing their first four-year terms, which expire in November.

Ms. McKeithen, who was chosen by her colleagues to hold the post of mayor this year, is a 20-year Atherton resident. During her four years on the council, she's spearheaded efforts to make improvements to the dilapidated Atherton Channel and turn over the long-dormant Atherton Channel District to the county.

Before her election to the council in 2000, Ms. McKeithen, 55, belonged to a group of residents investigating the town's somewhat sloppy financial practices and advocating for reform and greater transparency in the town government's practices.

Ms. McKeithen said she believes she has contributed a lot to achieving those goals in the past four years.

"I've regularly done my homework, been upfront and honest, and maintained an open mind to new ideas and opinions," she said in her candidate statement.

However, Ms. McKeithen says, there is still work to do, particularly in terms of stabilizing the town's revenues, which have taken some big hits from state takeaways and the drop in the high-end real estate market.

Mr. Janz, 55, has put finding new revenue sources for Atherton at the top of his priority list. A real estate and land-use attorney, he previously served 10 years on the Atherton Planning Commission.

The council has the option of canceling the election and appointing Ms. McKeithen and Mr. Janz to second terms. Definitely on the November ballot is a measure to renew Atherton's special parcel tax, which raises money for infrastructure projects and supports basic town services by levying an annual tax that costs most homeowners $750.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.