Balch sworn in as Pleasanton mayor; Eicher, Gaidos join City Council

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A packed Pleasanton City Council chambers erupted into applause and cheers Tuesday night as Mayor Jack Balch was officially sworn into office, along with the two other new councilmembers to join the dais.

“It’s an honor of my life,” Balch said during the Dec. 17 meeting as he fought back tears after he took his oath of office.

“As your mayor, I promise to lead with integrity, to listen and learn, and to do my very best to deliver real results,” Balch said. “Let’s celebrate our wins while investing for a vibrant and thriving future.”

According to the official results certified by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters’ Office, 18,950 of Pleasanton residents (53.94%) voted for Balch while 16,184 (46.06%) voted for now-former mayor Karla Brown in the Nov. 5 election. 

Before the new councilmembers — along with Balch — were sworn into their positions, dozens of residents spoke during the recognition ceremony for and praised Brown for her four years of leading the city during the COVID pandemic, a difficult Housing Element process and many other challenges, most recently with the city’s projected budget deficit.

From representatives of other local elected officials at the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, to fellow neighbors and city employees, everyone who spoke on Brown’s mayoral run had nothing but high praise.

The same went for Valerie Arkin, who lost her District 2 reelection bid to former police Capt. Craig Eicher by just under 700 votes.

Many of the speakers also highlighted how collectively, the two departing electeds clocked in more than a quarter-century worth of public service to Pleasanton — Arkin with her 12 years on the school board and Brown with her time serving on the council before being elected as mayor in 2020.

“I don’t know of two people who have worked harder for our city and its residents as Mayor Brown and Councilmember Arkin have,” Councilmember Julie Testa said.

Testa said Brown has been her mentor during these past four years and that the former mayor brought “grace and decorum to the dais … even when the discourse is negative and harsh.”

“I’ve seen a lot of other mayors,” she added. “Karla has really done a great job of allowing the public to be heard.” 

Testa also said Arkin had been an outstanding public servant and that it had been a pleasure working with both Arkin and Brown.

“Serving Pleasanton has been a privilege, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to our city,” Arkin said.

Councilmember Jeff Nibert also thanked Brown for acting as a mentor in many ways and that he owed a lot to her. He also commended Arkin, whose family has been friends with Niberts for around 25 years, and specifically thanked the two former officials for signing the city’s voluntary spending limits for their election campaigns. 

In Pleasanton, the city adopted an ordinance in 2021 for voluntary campaign contribution and expenditure limitations. Mayoral candidates who pledge to uphold these limitations cannot receive a cumulative donation amount of $1,000 or more from any person and cannot spend more than $30,000. The city previously confirmed to the Weekly that Brown was the only mayoral candidate to take the voluntary pledge.

Brown also thanked Arkin for her efforts to always try and find consensus on the council and proceeded to thank the entirety of the city’s employees — from police and firefighters to the city manager and other departmental employees — who have all played a part in serving the city.

After thanking her grassroots campaign members, she said she wishes the new council good luck on all of the future endeavors they will need to tackle such as the budget and the city’s water supply.

“I hope the new council makeup will stand unified to bring fiscal changes forward that are needed to reduce expenses while providing all of the services and maintenance that our residents have come to expect in this highly sought after community,” Brown said.

With the city getting set for some difficult discussions regarding its budget and how it will have to make up for expenditures outpacing revenues, Balch also said, as he assumed his new seat on the dais, that he hopes the new council will be able to do what is right for the city.

“The challenges ahead are not small. We’ll need to make tough decisions, and yes, we’ll sometimes disagree, but how we disagree matters,” Balch said. “Let’s focus on the issues, not on the individual. Let’s listen to hear one another, lift up the best ideas, and work together to deliver the services and results our community deserves. Respect and civility must be with us as we do this hard work.”

After being sworn into office by his son, Eicher said he is also excited to embark on this new journey as a first-time elected official and that he is ready to tackle the city’s challenges.

“Let us work to build a city where every voice is heard, every person feels valued and every citizen and business has the opportunity to succeed,” said Eicher, who also served six months as interim chief during his long career with the Pleasanton Police Department. “Thank you once again for placing your trust in me, let’s make our city a beacon of hope, progress and unity.”

Now District 4 Councilmember Matt Gaidos — who took Balch’s seat on the council — also said he will do everything in his power to make the city great for his children so they too could raise their families, like he did.

“There are lots of things that have happened in the past but I’m focused on looking forward and turning this city into a better place for the future and (for) our families,” Gaidos said. “I’m hopeful, even though we face some uncertain times in a budgetary manner, that we can move forward and collaborate as a City Council.” 

Gaidos won the District 4 seat by 317 votes more than his opponent and fellow Planning Commissioner Vivek Mohan. 

In her final remarks as mayor, Brown said residents need to stop doubting city staff reports and that they should put more trust into the city, just like she is putting her trust in the new council.

“It’s with a great feeling that I now put my trust in a new City Council,” Brown said.

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