Former Menlo Park mayors share reflections of the city

Photographs of Menlo Park’s last 38 mayors now hang in the City Council Chambers, many of which were hung by the former mayors themselves in a ceremony held June 4.

Former Menlo Park mayors assembled before the dais at the recognition ceremony, which invited former mayors or their friends or relatives to hang their portraits on the wall of the City Council Chambers.

A number of former mayors shared reflections and stories about their service.

Gerry Andeen, mayor in 1982, said he was proud that the council he served on worked to address the problem of methane coming from the city dump site, where Bedwell Bayfront Park is now. The city set up a system to burn the methane as usable energy.

Jack Morris, who was mayor in 1985, made it a point to give all council members a chance to speak weekly with the city manager. He said he’s proud of his efforts to keep transportation and construction projects from becoming bigger than people thought were necessary. “I don’t apologize for that, but I know a lot of people wish I would,” he said.

A friend of Ester Bugna, who recently passed away, attended and hung the portrait of Bugna’s late husband and 1991 mayor Ted Sorensen.

Bob McNamara, 1994 mayor, recalled Sorensen as a mentor, and said he’s enjoyed the heat of Menlo Park politics more by stepping back.

To represent the late Dee Tolles, 1995 mayor, a friend recalled him as a “hell of a horseman and a really good friend.”

Steve Schmidt, who was mayor in 1997 and 2002, said he feels the council’s biggest challenge is managing its relationship with developers, including Stanford University, and doing the right thing for residents.

Some things haven’t changed: 1998 mayor Chuck Kinney recalled he used to tell his wife he’d be home from City Council meetings at 10 p.m. but said he more often returned home at 1 a.m.

Nicholas Jellins, 2001 and 2006 mayor, said he still feels the council chambers is a “hallowed place.”

Mickie Winkler, 2005 mayor, commented, “I hope, when you go to the restrooms at Burgess, you’ll think of me,” describing the efforts her council went through to have these restrooms built.

Kelly Fergusson, 2007 mayor, reflected on her time on the council as one of civic volunteerism.

When Heyward Robinson, 2009 mayor, took on the mayoral role, he said he asked himself “What would a real mayor do?” to adapt to the new responsibilities, and attended as many ribbon cuttings and events as he could.

Rich Cline, who was mayor in 2010, 2011 and 2016, advised new council members to speak up, speak briefly, get started on projects quickly, and acknowledge that local governance is a team sport.

Kirsten Keith, 2012 and 2017 mayor, said she was proud of her work on the housing element, supporting veteran housing on Willow Road and the accomplishments of the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority in helping to eliminate flood risks in neighborhoods downstream.

Peter Ohtaki, 2013 and 2018 mayor, said he’d advise current council members to think about the honor and privilege of being able to shape their community for the better, even when politics gets contentious.