September 10, 2008

Mike Kotowski runs for City Council

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

With term limits on the Campbell City Council, four candidates are on the Nov. 4 ballot. Michael Kotowski is one of them.

“I focus on a target and figure out how to get there,” said Campbell City Council candidate Michael Kotowski. “I’m a can-do person. Can’t is not in my vocabulary.” Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

“This year we’re losing two very seasoned members [Mayor Don Burr and Councilmember Joe Hernandez] of the council due to term limits which I voted against,” said Kotowski. “It’s my first reason for running again. Two years from now we lose Dan [Furtado] and Jayne [Kennedy]. I see myself if I’m elected to help the new person through the process.”

Kotowski is no stranger to the workings of city government. He was a two term mayor and city council member in Campbell from 1983 to 1992. He fought in 1978 for the Highland Games to raise money for the Chamber of Commerce. The annual event started in 1979 with his leadership. He also worked hard to initiate the Prune Festival which later was renamed the Boogie on the Bayou.

“In the late 1970s the Campbell Chamber of Commerce found itself in a similar financial situation using its limited reserves to continue to operate while trying to come up with a program to help itself,” said former Mayor and historian Jeanette Watson who endorses Kotowski. “[He’s] coming out of retirement when the city needs experienced leadership.”

But Kotowski never “officially” retired from serving Campbell. His resume lists past volunteer community service including chair of the Santa Clara County Transportation Measure A Oversight Committee; chair and member of the Campbell Planning Commission 1980-1983; Campbell Sign Advisor 1972-1980; 1979 Campbell Chamber of Commerce past president and a founder of the Campbell Highland Games and Campbell Prune Festival [now Boogie on the Bayou] and a founding board member of the Campbell Historical Museum and Ainsley House Museum.

His current volunteer community service includes the Campbell Business Outlook Committee; vice president of the West Valley/Mission Colleges Advancement Foundation Board; secretary of the Campbell Veterans Memorial Foundation Board; West Valley/Mission College Improvement Measure H Oversight Committee Chair; U.S. Selective Service Board 36; Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad Corp. past president and current board; California Trolley and Railroad Corp. board and Distance Runner for charitable causes.

Longtime Campbell residents Barbara Johnson and Pat Hagmann have teamed up to run Kotowski’s campaign.
“I am pleased to have two great friends that I have worked with over the years step forward to head my campaign as manager and treasurer,” said Kotowski.

Kotowski lists his campaign platform as:

“—That the City of Campbell will work toward a full Green commitment of strategies and utilization of such things as full solar, ongoing reduction of carbon footprint, changeover to electric or hybrid system vehicles, reshape of city hourly programs [4/9 hours] and the use of employee carpool and transit benefit programs.

—Reconstitution of the Youth Commission to be named to recognize its original founder, former Mayor Rusty Hammer. This proposal is endorsed by Pamela Hammer, his widow and his children.

—Establish a Cultural Festival to recognize the many cultures that are now part of Campbell’s diverse community. We have African, Indian, Asian, Italian, Scottish, Nordic, Hispanic, Persian, Greek, German, French and Baltic area communities. Each brings its color and history to Campbell.”

He also supports Measure O, the quarter cent sales tax which will be on the November ballot.

“This tax is a support measure designed to “fix” the city’s current budget problems,” said Kotowski. “When the budget ills are over I will work to”sunset” the tax.”

Kotowski was born in Michigan and attended San Jose State University where he received a BA and MA in commercial art and design. He is the owner of Vicom, a graphic design business in Campbell the past 40 years and of M.F. Kotowski Railroad Art that was established in 1975. He and his wife Claire have lived in Campbell since 1976 where they raised two sons, Andrew, a Microsoft corporate analyst and Mathew who is currently in his second deployment to Iraq. They have two granddaughters.