Neely named MV mayor Neely named MV mayor (January 07, 2005)

High school administrator will juggle both jobs

By Jon Wiener

Matt Neely has a big task ahead of him.

Despite being the leading vote-getter in an 11-candidate race two years ago and serving as vice mayor in 2004, he still feels like he has to prove that he can serve effectively while maintaining a full-time job as assistant principal at Mountain View High School.

Now that his fellow council members have voted him in as the new mayor, Neely says students are coming up to him saying they are disappointed he could be spending less time at the school.

In the words of fellow council member Mike Kasperzak, Neely has been the only "working stiff" on the council for two years. With the election of San Jose State professor Tom Means, he will now have some company in a group made up mostly of independent consultants and retirees.

Neely, 35, said that people have been telling him he could not work and serve ever since he started running.

"I take issue with the assertions that you can't work and be an effective mayor," said Neely. "If working people can't do this we have a problem."

In an interview during last Friday's basketball game at Mountain View High, Neely said that he continually checks with his principal Pat Hyland, superintendent Rich Fischer and City Manager Kevin Duggan to make sure that he is balancing his responsibilities.

"I think that there's no question that he can do that well," said Fischer. "Matt's a real bright guy and extremely dedicated to the job here."

Neely was sworn in to replace Matt Pear on Tuesday night, in keeping with a council tradition that elevates the most experienced council member who has yet to serve as mayor.

Neely said he is well suited to represent Mountain View because he interacts with thousands of families through his job. His goals as mayor reflect that background.

Thrilled by the council's surprising vote in December to build a child-care center in Rengstorff Park, Neely said the city should keep pressing to close the gap between demand and availability.

"That's my big drive this year. I feel like we've got momentum now," he said.

Among the options for making more child care available, Neely wants the council to explore a faster approval process for private centers, aid to local businesses in their efforts to provide child care for their employees, and making training materials available for the "kith and kin" many parents rely on for care.

Other priorities for Neely include leading the discussion on how to provide more housing in Mountain View and increasing the use of renewable energy.

As more builders come forward proposing to convert vacant commercial and industrial space into residential developments, the council is searching for a way to process those proposals fairly while keeping the city's general welfare in mind. The central question, said Neely, is whether it's financially feasible for the city.

The transition to mayor will offer another test for Neely, who likes to get involved in council discussions early and often. By tradition, Mountain View mayors shape the course of discussion and speak last on any given item. The mayor's vote is worth the same as each council member.

"I've got my legs ... and now, poof, my role's changing," said Neely.

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

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