Mary Lou Zoglin reflects on city council service Mary Lou Zoglin reflects on city council service (December 24, 2004)

City leader continues to battle cancer

By Jon Wiener

When Mary Lou Zoglin joined the Mountain View City Council in 1997, she did not bring any specific agenda with her. Rather, she said, her motivation was the joy of public service.

"I've never been there just to do certain things or carry through certain projects or do the will of certain people," said Zoglin. "My pleasure comes from helping everyone in the community turn their dreams into reality."

The problem with having an agenda, she said, is the city's vulnerability to large, unpredictable forces. "We're not in a position to control our situation completely," she said. "We're one small city in a very large state."

After eight years of service, Zoglin is being termed out from the council along with Rosemary Stasek, having weathered Silicon Valley's economic boom and the subsequent bust that left the city government struggling to remain fiscally sound.

Their terms will end at a ceremonial council meeting Jan. 4. The city will also hold an invitation-only reception in their honor Jan. 3 at Michaels at Shoreline.

Zoglin said that if she were to pick one issue where she had the biggest impact, it would have to be human services.

"In whatever discussion we were in, I wanted people to see those as a priority," she said.

Zoglin, 76, and a new grandmother of twins, pointed with pride to the council's recent decision to construct a child-care center at Rengstorff Park, as well as improvements made to the city's parks and after-school programs.

"We now have a continuum of services we didn't have before, from pre-school to high school," she said.

Her one regret was the council's inability to recruit a hotel for the Charleston East site in the North Bayshore area, a place she believes could become a true community gathering location.

City Manager Kevin Duggan has worked with Zoglin since she served on the planning commission in the mid-1990s. He said she had a resolve and determination that often surprised people, but that she also managed to be open-minded to other's opinions.

"Her philosophy is to make sure that all members of the community are served by the city council and not just the most vocal or the most economically advantaged," said Duggan.

Zoglin served on the Foothill-De Anza Community College Board of Trustees for 13 years and was the former CEO of Healthy Ventures, a consortium of schools and other agencies dedicated to the well-being of children.

She said she is looking forward to going back to being a volunteer in the community, though on a more limited basis than in the past.

"I've always thought it would be nice to go to CSA (Community Services Agency) and spend three hours stacking groceries," she said.

A five-year battle with cancer has taxed her strength, though she said treatment has made it easier to meet her responsibilities. She collapsed at a city council meeting this spring and, during the rest of her term, left late-running meetings early when she didn't think her presence would be required for key votes.

Asked what advice she would give to incoming council members, Zoglin said she would have different advice for each person, but said they should work closely with the city staff.

"You want to have good relationships with people. Ultimately, that will get you farther."

E-mail Jon Wiener at jwiener@mv-voice.com

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