Politics & Government

Los Altos Candidates In Their Own Words: Jan Pepper

City Council candidates, adhering to a strict time schedule, had a chance to address the Los Altos Rotary last Thursday. Jan Pepper pointed to her civic volunteer life, her private sector work, her public sector job ... and having an even temper.

 

Editor's note: Los Altos Patch is running the full remarks of the six candidates who addressed the Los Altos Rotary Club on Sept. 20. We will run them in the order we receive them from council candidates. Patch invites all candidates to send in their remarks made last Thursday. 

The session was a private forum, but there is a public City Council candidates' forum scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 27 in the Los Altos High School theater 7-9 p.m.

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Thank you to the Los Altos Rotary for inviting all of us as your guests today.

I’m Jan Pepper and I’m running for council to get things done.  We have a great town and I love living here! 

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I moved here in 1985 and live on Benvenue Avenue.  I have two terrific kids, Danny and Jennifer, who received excellent educations in our public schools – Springer, Blach, and Mountain View High.  I volunteered in their schools and with my son’s Boy Scout troop. With this great start in Los Altos, my kids have now graduated from Stanford and UC Berkeley.  And in fact, my son received a scholarship from Rotary in 2005 when he graduated from Mountain View High. So, thank you!

I have two degrees from Stanford: a bachelors in civil engineering and an MBA from the business school. I’m also a registered professional engineer in the state of California. I bring my 30-plus years of business experience to this town, and here are some of the things I’ve accomplished: I’ve been fortunate to pursue my passion in my professional career, and that is to create a sustainable energy future.  I started at PG&E and negotiated contracts to purchase power from the wind developers in the Altamont Pass.  When my kids arrived, I started my own home-based energy consulting firm here in Los Altos. I was one of the founders of APX in 1996, a company started here in Los Altos Hills, where I pioneered an innovative product for trading renewable energy, called renewable energy credits, which is now the standard throughout the world.  In 2000 I started another company, Clean Power Markets, and created a new market-based program for valuing solar energy.  In 2007, I started a solar financing company and received commitments from banks to install $60 million of home solar systems.  

A couple years ago, I joined Silicon Valley Power, the municipal utility for Santa Clara, and manage the 200-million dollar bond portfolio for the utility. I also taught a course at Stanford on our energy future. Throughout my career, I’ve been active in setting energy policy in California, and know how to collaborate and bring diverse viewpoints together to reach innovative solutions. I plan to apply those skills here in Los Altos.  

I’ve been a leader in my work life, and also in my volunteer activities.  I was an early volunteer with Green Town and helped get the Mayor’s climate initiative passed here in Los Altos. I volunteer with Los Altos Forward.  And I’m very proud of being a leader in the League of Women Voters, where I just stepped down as president. I promote transparency, integrity and listening to all viewpoints. I will emphasize these qualities as a council member and represent everyone in our town.

Here is my vision and I want to hear yours:

  • Inclusive and transparent government. I want to formalize our neighborhood networks and encourage more active participation and input from all the neighborhoods in Los Altos. 
  • Strategic forward thinking. We’re celebrating our 60th birthday this year.  And I’d like to look forward to the next 60 years. I want to take what has been productive in the past and present to build a future we can be proud of.
  • Environmental responsibility.  This is what I’ve been doing for the last 30 years in my professional life. Packard Foundation provides a platinum standard for our community. They chose Los Altos to set this example, and I know how we can build on this great start.
  • Vibrant commercial areas. We’re building community with new stores coming in to downtown and more people on the streets. I want to work with you and reach out to the others in town to make sure all seven of the commercial areas meet everyone’s needs – the neighborhoods, families, seniors, singles. 
  • Fiscal responsibility. This is an area where I have a lot of experience—managing tight budgets and staying on budget. I know fiscal responsibility. I know how to make decisions and ask hard questions. I’m going to make sure before any project goes out for bid that our contracts are tight and our city is protected. This is what I do everyday in my work. And since I work as city staff in Santa Clara, I know the role of city staff and city council. I work with it every day.

I bring 2 key strengths. I’m a listener – I learn when I listen to you. I will listen and only talk when I have something to add.  I take it all in, and I don’t forget what you say.

And I have an even-temper – I can handle the highs and lows that come with this job. I also take to heart Rotary’s four-way test in running my campaign, and in how I will behave on the council. To be truthful, fair, build goodwill, and try to bring benefit to all.  

I look forward to serving our town as a council member and can’t wait to work with you to build our future.  I ask you to pick Pepper for Los Altos City Council! 


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