Kasperzak: the mediator seeking civility Kasperzak: the mediator seeking civility (October 18, 2002)

By Candice Shih

For incumbent Michael Kasperzak, it was a no-brainer. A former member of the Environmental Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission, Kasperzak is looking for his second term on the council "to continue the work I've started."

He is currently serving as vice mayor and is likely to become Mayor in 2003 if he is re-elected. Kasperzak, a mediator by profession, said he tries to find win-win situations and is willing to try new ideas.

He said the council will need someone with experience when it begins to address its coming budget crisis, and he hopes to be that person.

Kasperzak acknowledges that cuts will need to be made but hopes that "they will have as little impact on services as possible" and will only be temporary. Maintaining public safety, in terms of the police and fire departments, is a priority for him.

Also of high priority to Kasperzak is housing. Although the council accomplishment he is most proud of in the past four years are below-market-rate housing initiatives, more can be done, he said.

In particular, the efficiency studios project needs to move forward and ideally, housing for police officers, firefighters, and teachers would be made possible.

Another area where the city council should make a more positive impact is downtown, said Kasperzak. The biggest opportunity the council missed was developing higher standards for mixed-use development downtown.

He said transportation is a concern to him as well. As a second-term council member, he would lobby to create a "baby bullet" train stop in Mountain View, and might look into encouraging car sharing and an intra-city shuttle.

A key issue for Kasperzak concerns "restoring a sense of a trusting and civil community" to the council.

He thinks the council can encourage civil behavior by leading by example and promoting communication between council, commission and committee chairpersons, and union leadership.

Even taking into account former Mayor Mario Ambra's corrupt misconduct trial, Kasperzak said the council's "worst hour was the appointment review committee," referring to a meeting during which non-committee members were especially vocal in their displeasure with committee members.

In light of Ambra's behavior, he said he would want to develop a code of conduct and ethical guidelines if he were re-elected.

Kasperzak, 48, is originally from Toledo, Ohio and attended Lewis and Clark College. He has lived in Mountain View for almost 25 years, during which time he earned a law degree from the Hastings College of Law.

Kasperzak has worked in the community with the American Red Cross as chair of its chapter support network, Mountain View Library Foundation, Mountain View Chamber of Commerce, the Mid-Peninsula YWCA, and the Community School of Music and Arts.
Favorite book: "Illusions" by Richard Bach. "It's mystical. It involves aviation. It was just a really fun book for me and whimsical."