Ken Wachtel

My goal as a member of the Mill Valley City Council is to maintain and improve the quality of life in this wonderful town. I believe in pursuing excellence in every facet of City government. I have lived in the City of Mill Valley for over 23 years and I have been involved in a wide range of activities in our City including the following:

1. Mill Valley Planning Commission (six years, Chair for one year);
2. Mill Valley Bicycle and Trails Committee;
3. Mill Valley Affordable Housing Committee;
4. CERT certified (Community Emergency Response Team);
5. Fundraiser for the Mill Valley Community Center;
6. Fundraiser for the Tam High Foundation;
7. Fundraiser for Kiddo!
8. School District Class Size Reduction Task Force;
9. Old Mill School Site Council (two years. president for one year);
10. Old Mill PTA (committee chair three years);
11. Tamalpais Preschool Board of Trustees (president);
12. Mill Valley Soccer Club (president four years, board member 12 years, coach for 12 years, team manager for 8 years); and
13. Mill Valley Little League Board Member (coach nine years, statistician 4 years).

My broad involvement in the community, including the people I have met and the decisions I have made in these volunteer situations, is an important and helpful, background for any Mill Valley City Council member. Any success I have achieved results from my efforts to reach a consensus on issues. When resolution is difficult and I must take on a decision maker role, I give all participants a free and fair chance to present their side, and I thoughtfully consider all issues, ramifications and the people involved. I learn much more by listening than by talking. I am proud of the fact that while in a decision making position, such as on the Planning Commission, I have not hesitated to change my position if I am given new information that justifies a change. This flexibility is an important characteristic for a City Council member.

As for my education, personal history and work experience, I graduated with honors from UC Berkeley in 1973 and from Boalt Hall School of Law in 1976. I moved to Marin in 1976 and to Mill Valley in 1984. I married my wife, Leslie, in 1983 and we have four children, ages 21, 18, 16, and 12. They attend USC; University of Colorado, Boulder; Tam High and Marin Country Day School. My wife is as active in community affairs as I am, and we encourage, each other to volunteer to work for the community, its organizations and its citizens. I joined the law firm of Leland, Parachini, Steinberg, Matzger & Melnick in 1982 and have been a partner since 1986 with a specialty in land use, real property, financial institutions and litigation.