Los Altos Hills Gets New Council Members, Mayor

Before a standing-room only crowd, Courtenay C. Corrigan and John Harpootlian were sworn in as Los Altos Hills' newest Town Council members Wednesday night.

Gary Waldeck was elected mayor and John Radford as vice mayor, in the new council's first order of business.

Before that, however, the council paid tribute to two members who were leaving the body, Jean Mordo and Ginger Summit. 

"You've always worked with the best interests of the town at heart," said outgoing Mayor Rich Larsen. "I will miss you a lot," he added, recalling how Mordo recruited him and Ginger Summit four years ago, and how Mordo mentored him.

The council ensured Mordo wasn't going to be disappearing from Town Hall, however. The former chief financial officer, was appointed to the town's finance committee earlier in the meeting.

The same was true for Summit, who the council appointed to the History Committee.

"There are really few people who have taken the role more seriously than you," said Radford, who, seated next to her on the dais for the past two years ,could see her detailed notes on hard copies of the council's agenda and supporting documents showing how thoroughly she had reviewed the material, while the rest of the iPad-toting council could mask their preparation. 

Waldeck praised outgoing mayor Rich Larsen as providing "balanced leadership" and described him as "the epitome" of a mayor. Summit And Radford reminded him he still had a full term ahead as council member. "To use a golfing term, you've only played the front nine."