Los Gatos candidates vie for three Town Council seats

Six candidates are competing for three available seats on the Los Gatos Town Council in the upcoming November 3 election. The candidates include incumbents Rob Moore and Mary Badame, alongside challengers Jeff Suzuki, Steve Raspe, Rob Stump, and Heidi Owens.

The election follows a period of administrative challenges regarding the town’s Housing Element. After missing a January 2023 deadline and submitting several unsuccessful drafts, the town was subject to California’s ‘Builder’s Remedy’ provision. This provision allowed developers to bypass local zoning rules to submit larger projects, resulting in 19 applications during a 525-day period without a certified Housing Element.

Candidates have indicated they will focus on managing pending Builder’s Remedy and SB 330 projects, ensuring the next Housing Element is certified on time by 2031, and addressing local issues such as public safety, budget management, and traffic congestion.