Pleasanton seats new City Council

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New Pleasanton City Councilwoman Valerie Arkin (right) takes the oath of office administered by U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, who appeared virtually from Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy of city of Pleasanton)
Pleasanton Mayor Karla Brown (right) takes the oath of office administered by city clerk Karen Diaz. (Photo courtesy of city of Pleasanton)
New Pleasanton City Councilman Jack Balch (right) takes oath of office administered by city clerk Karen Diaz. (Photo courtesy of city of Pleasanton)
The new Pleasanton City Council, along with city executive staff, discuss issues during Tuesday night’s meeting held via Zoom because of the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of city of Pleasanton)

The city of Pleasanton welcomed new Mayor Karla Brown and City Council members Valerie Arkin and Jack Balch during a virtual ceremony Tuesday evening.

Brown, a councilwoman for the past eight years, ascended to the head chair and took oath of office now that her election victory and the rest of the city’s election results had been certified. She won the two-year mayor’s term on Nov. 3 against four other candidates on the ballot.

“I know the voters had a choice when they went to vote … and I know that many Pleasanton voters selected another candidate. And I hope over the next two years to earn their trust and their vote,” Brown said Tuesday. “As your mayor for the city of Pleasanton, I intend to roll up my sleeves, work hard and earn your respect.”

Emblematic of the meeting norms for 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the online swearing-in ceremony also included two new — but recognizable — leaders join the City Council: Arkin, who served three elected terms on the Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees; and Balch, a city planning commissioner for more than six years.

Arkin and Balch finished first and second, respectively, in a seven-candidate race for a pair of four-year terms on the council.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the community for electing me to the City Council. The support really was overwhelming, and I appreciate that from the bottom of my heart,” Arkin said. “I am looking forward to making thoughtful, well-informed decisions that continue to make Pleasanton a wonderful place to live, work and play.”

The ceremony met with mixed emotions for Balch, who is mourning the death of his grandmother Margaret Balch, a major influence in his life who died on Monday at age 102.

“My grandmother’s life story is a testament to perseverance, and along the way she remembered to enjoy the journey with kindness and respect, grace and poise, a bit of humor — and it calls upon us to do the same,” Balch said through tears.

“So to all of Pleasanton, I encourage perseverance. Our community is facing challenges like no other in its history with this pandemic,” he continued. “I’m here tonight to challenge each and every one of us to stretch ourselves to think of new and innovative ways to support one another and our community in these perilous times. We cannot do it alone.”

“I ask in closing for you to show empathy, please advance kindness, please cultivate gratitude,” Balch said.

Arkin took the oath of office administered by U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Livermore), appearing remotely from Washington, D.C., while city clerk Karen Diaz swore in Brown and Balch.

Sitting council members Kathy Narum and Julie Testa offered brief comments to congratulate the new mayor and council members.

“I just want to say welcome … I think it’s just amazing, you know, that we have four women — sorry, Jack — on the council,” Narum said with a smile. “And I look forward to getting things done with you. And we have a lot to do.”

Tuesday’s meeting also saw Councilman Jerry Pentin share final remarks as he left the dais at the outset. Pentin, who like Brown was terming out of a regular council seat this year after serving eight years, finished as the runner-up in the mayoral election.

“No one succeeds alone, and my path has been smoothed by so many of you in Pleasanton. And for that I’ll always be thankful,” Pentin said, tearing up when talking about the hard work of city employees and the support from his family.

“We did a great job leading this city, we really did. I’m not patting myself on the back; I’m patting all of us on the back,” he said to his fellow council members, past and present. “We brought this city out of a Great Recession and an historic drought, amongst many other issues. It was a team effort, with a diverse mindset, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.”

Swalwell, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley and State Senator Steve Glazer all offered special recognition to Pentin during the meeting.

Outgoing Mayor Jerry Thorne did not appear Tuesday, as he continues his recovery from recent surgery. Thorne, who also termed out this year, previously announced that the Nov. 17 meeting would be his final one leading the city because of the pending operation.

In one of their first actions as a full council, members voted unanimously later Tuesday night to select Testa to serve as vice mayor for 2020.