About

Former Campbell mayor and city council member, Michael Kotowski, took out election papers at the city clerk's office for the 2008 elections. Kotowski had stepped down after two terms in 1992 to honor a promise he made to supporters that he not run for more than two consecutive terms. Over the years many have asked "if he would run again" but the answer was always "no, the city is in good hands".

However, with important budgetary issues on the horizon and the fact that in the next two years, three of the long serving council members will "term out" (term limit), Kotowski believes that his presence on a newly forming council will help ease the change of the political landscape.

During his nine years in office Kotowski served on the County Transportation Commission (now the VTA) and oversaw the completion of the Los Gatos Creek Par Course, which he now uses regularly, and the startup of the county light rail system and highway 85, the Hwy 101 south extension and the Hwy 237 freeway update.

He was one of the top fundraisers for the Ainsley House Project, helped establish the city's Redevelopment Agency that provided initial funding for the purchase of the Community Center and served on the museum's first board of directors.

Prior to his council terms, Kotowski served on the Campbell Planning Commission and was its chair before being elected to council. In 1979, while serving as the president of the Campbell Chamber of Commerce, he was one of the founders of the Campbell Scottish Games and the first Harvestival, which because the Prune Festival and now is called Boogie On the Bayou. He Served as general chairman of both events. His peers selected him "Citizen of The Year" for 1982.

After leaving the council, Mike Kotowski has maintained an active presence in the Campbell community and the county as well. He served on the Library Bond Issue Committee and then supported the Campbell School District Bond Issue - both of which passed. He was appointed by the League of Women Voters to serve on the County Measure B "Citizens' Watch Dog Committee" which he chaired to oversee the construction of Campbell's Light Rail program and the completion of Hwy 85/87/101 north and south projects. He was tagged for the same type of committee assignment for the West Valley-Mission College District Measure H bond which he chairs - now into its forth year. He was just recently elected vice president of the new West Valley/Mission College Foundation and serves as corporate secretary on the new Campbell Veterans Memorial Foundation project. He still serves on the board of the Billy Jones Railroad and the Carousel Corporation, a position he has held since 1974, and the California Trolley & Railroad Corporation since 1983. Kotowski was nominated by Governor Pete Wilson and appointed by President George W. Bush (Sr) to the Selective Service (Draft Board) in 1992 - a position he sill holds. He is a former Air Force veteran.

Michael and his wife, Claire have lived in Campbell on Harrison Avenue for 32 years, have been married and own their own business for 40 years and raised two sons, Andrew and Matthew. They have two grand daughters, Morgan and Lauren.

* Most of this information gathered from an article in the Campbell Reporter.
(actual edition information to be added)