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Published on 07/20/1998 All articles from this issue

Los Altos Hills three-time mayor brings perspective to position

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By Carol Tiegs

Special to the Town Crier

Los Altos Hills' first three-term mayor, Bob Johnson, has spent half of his 33 years in town in community service. That, combined with business acumen and international perspective, gives him unique qualifications.

Johnson joined the town's Safety Committee in 1982, shortly after retirement from his position as director of manufacturing engineering with Monsanto. He served on the committee for six years before being encouraged to run for the town council in 1988. He ran in opposition to Measure B to change zoning to allow cluster homes on the former Adobe Lodge property.

"I'm still very in favor of one-acre lots," Johnson said.

"The first time you are mayor you are scared stiff. The second time, you know the job and wonder if you can cope," said Johnson, whose second stint as mayor was 1993-94. "The third time, you feel wonderfully challenged. You just want to pick the right projects."

Two projects Johnson would like to complete this term are developing computer access "to complete information on all aspects of the town," and improving the council chamber's audio-visual system. Money is available for both projects, he said, and a small committee is working on computerization.

Computer technology brought Johnson and his wife Susi to the Bay Area.

A native of Ireland - his license plate reads "NAAS," his Irish hometown - Johnson studied engineering in London. He served as an officer with the British Army Signal Corps in World War II, first in Burma and then in Austria, where he met and married his wife.

"In 1958 the transistor was invented. Everyone in Europe with training and interest wanted to come to America and get involved," Johnson said. He and Susi went first to Massachusetts. Then Hewlett-Packard enticed him here. "After six months in California we forgot our plan to go back to Europe," he said.

Things are different since the Johnsons moved to Los Altos Hills.

"When I first ran for council," Johnson said, "we all lived in ranch houses and many remembered when the town was incorporated."

The young, affluent people now moving in "like the rural atmosphere, the lack of sidewalks and streetlights," he said. "But their concept of rural is not the same as the town founders."

"The greatest talent a council member can have," he said, "is the ability to strike a compromise between the original concept (of Los Altos Hills) and the changes taking place. That compromise must be fair to both sides. It isn't easy."

Johnson has high praise for City Manager Jeff Peterson and the city staff. "This makes being a council member and mayor very pleasant. It's why it's so fun to be mayor this time."