Pico won't seek re-election as mayor Pico won't seek re-election as mayor (January 30, 2004)

Assembly candidate tells Chamber 'it's time to move on'
by Jeb Bing

Mayor Tom Pico, a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 20th State Assembly District primary March 2, announced at a Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce dinner meeting Saturday that he will not seek re-election as mayor next November.

Pico, 59, was elected to the Pleasanton City Council in 1992. In 2000, he won his first term as mayor, and was re-elected by a wide margin in 2002. The city's term limits law, which Pico promoted, allows two four-year terms on the council and four separate two-year terms as mayor.

"Whether I win or lose in the March 2 primary, I have decided to step down as mayor after my current term expires and let someone else have an opportunity to serve," Pico said. "It's time to move on."

If Pico gains the Democratic Party nomination in the primary, he would likely also win in the November election since the 20th District traditionally votes Democratic.

At the dinner, Pico served as the installing officer for a new slate of the Chamber officers, including Steve Clarkson, president of Heritage Investment Management in Pleasanton, who was elected chairman for the 2004 calendar year. Others elected to key posts were Josh Shinnick of Hoge, Fenton, Jones and Appel, as chair-elect for the year 2005; and officers Cathy Raty, Mt. Diablo National Bank; Carol Ott, Robert Half International; Ellen Pensky, Shawver Associates; Jim Isaac, Bank of Walnut Creek; and David Walden, Diversified Capital Funding. As the retiring past chairman of the Chamber, Walden can serve one more year on its board of directors.

Clarkson said that he wants the Pleasanton Chamber to play a larger community-wide advocacy role to support businesses in Pleasanton, which he said generate much of the revenue that flows to the municipal government.

"There are some in government who see business as suspects, as evil," he said. "They are the ones who are upset because the Chamber of Commerce might have the audacity to comment on community issues, such as how traffic should be managed or what kinds of housing should be allowed. I find this interesting because business provides about 70 percent of the revenue that supports our quality of life."

He said the chamber is in the process of setting up a Political Action Committee to support candidates and issues that affect business.

"We have a real danger of seeing businesses of all sizes close or move away because they consider our city and state as hostile to the business environment," he added. "That would not benefit anyone and my objective is to help alleviate that possibility."

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