Eric Filseth selected new mayor of Palo Alto
Eric Filseth has been tapped as Palo Alto’s new mayor, replacing Councilwoman Liz Kniss.
The City Council at its Monday night meeting made quick work of selecting the new mayor and vice mayor. Filseth received accolades from his colleagues for his work as vice mayor over the past year and a unanimous vote to be mayor. Adrian Fine was chosen as new vice mayor on a 6-1 vote, with Councilwoman Lydia Kou opposed. Kou nominated Councilman Tom DuBois for the role, but DuBois declined.
“I think we have worked very hard this ( past) year to become a more moderate, less confrontational and I think a more civilized group,” Kniss said in nominating Filseth to take the gavel.
Incoming Councilwoman Alison Cormack lauded Filseth’s priorities, ability to manage meetings and a bold approach to making decisions.
Filseth said he will focus as mayor on continuing to make progress on housing, parking and transportation issues and moving forward on community investments, including rail separations, the animal shelter, Cubberley Community Center, the Highway 101 bike bridge and the parks and recreation master plan. He also said more work needs to be done to secure the city’s long-term financial stability, particularly regarding unfunded pension liabilities and escalating construction costs eating into the capital budget.
“We have a full plate for 2019,” Filseth said. “I pledge not to let you down.”
Kniss also nominated Fine as vice mayor, stating as qualifications his integ- rity, intelligence, a background in city planning and his ability to quickly get to the point.
Monday marked the first time in its 125-year history that Palo Alto has had so few council members. Voters in 2014 approved a measure to reduce the council from nine to seven members, which went into effect in the 2018 election. Cormack was sworn in as the newest member at the meeting along with Filseth and DuBois, who won re- election. Missing from the dais were Councilman Cory Wolbach, who lost his reelection bid, and council members Greg Scharff and Karen Holman, who termed out.