Deborah Gordon named Woodside mayor Deborah Gordon named Woodside mayor (December 28, 2005)

Deborah Gordon has been unanimously chosen by her colleagues on the Woodside Town Council to serve as mayor in 2006.

Ms. Gordon, who represents District 2 on Woodside's seven-member council, had been serving as mayor pro tem this year.

She is the associate director of the Preventive Defense Project at Stanford University, where she works with former Secretary of Defense William Perry on post-Cold War defense strategies for the United States.

At the same December 13 meeting, Ms. Gordon, Carroll Ann Hodges and Dave Tanner were sworn in for their new four-year terms of office on the council.

It is the first time that Ms. Gordon, who was just elected to a second term on the council, will serve as the ceremonial head of Woodside town government.

The mayor is selected from among council members for a one-year term.

Sue Boynton, who represents District 3, was chosen as mayor pro tem.

Councilman Paul Goeld, the mayor of Woodside for the past two years, was only too happy to hand over the gavel.

"Paul is a very difficult act to follow, but also a very good one," Ms. Gordon said. "I learned a lot by watching him."

"Congratulations. I'm going to enjoy watching you from right (over) here," Mr. Goeld told Ms. Gordon after giving up the mayoral seat at the center of the council dais.

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