By Khalida Sarwari
Evan Low has been sworn in as the mayor of Campbell for the second time in his young career.
In 2010, Low was selected at age 26 as both the country’s youngest Asian American and openly gay mayor. On Dec. 4, after deputy city clerk Wendy Wood administered the oath to Low at a special ceremony, he was met by the other members of the council with hugs and handshakes.
“It’s very much a privilege to serve in this capacity again,” said the 29-year-old Low. He went on to acknowledge members of his family in the audience and thanked San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for braving the commute to the South Bay to attend the ceremony.
Lee was not the only dignitary who turned out for the event. Others in the audience included Betty Yee, a member of the California Board of Equalization; County Supervisor Ken Yeager; El Camino Hospital District board member Dennis Chiu; Campbell Union High School District superintendent Pat Gaffney; newly elected high school district board member Kalen Gallagher; Campbell Union School District superintendent Eric Andrew; and CUSD school board member Juliet Tiffany-Morales, who was also recently re-elected.
“I’m looking forward to an exciting year in 2013,” Low said, ending his remarks by thanking his colleagues on the council for their service.
Rich Waterman was selected as vice mayor. He kept his comments brief, saying he had been dealing with the recent death of his father. He acknowledged his partner and family in the audience, noting that it was rare to have his mother, sister and two brothers together.
Waterman thanked his fellow council members and the city for their support over the past two years and said he has learned a lot, but that there are still “lots of challenges coming up.”
Afterward, Councilman Jason Baker praised both of his colleagues, saying that Low “has really proven that you can get things done, even when he wasn’t mayor.” He cited Low’s involvement in the annexation of the Cambrian 36 neighborhood in unincorporated Santa Clara County to the city of Campbell as one example.
Of Waterman, Baker said he is a dedicated elected official, one who “has really gone above and beyond” his duties on the council.
“He really goes the extra mile and has earned the spot of vice mayor this year,” said Baker, who, along with Mike Kotowski, were formally appointed to serve another four years on the council.
Kotowski, 71, and Baker, 40, are serving their second and final four-year terms. They both were up for re-election this year for two vacant seats that were uncontested.
“We’re glad to be back,” said Kotowski, before Low presented him with a plaque from the city commending him for his work as mayor of Campbell.
Kotowski shared highlights from the past year, including the 60th anniversary of Campbell’s incorporation as a city, the hiring of Amy Brown as city manager, the 25th anniversary of the Campbell Community Center, various projects in progress around the city such as the Hacienda Avenue Green Street Project, Orchard City Banquet Hall’s LEED certification award and the completion of the first phase of the Campbell Veterans Memorial.
“It’s been great to be your mayor this year,” he said.
Low is sworn in for his second term as mayor of Campbell at special council ceremony
