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Los Gatos Town Council

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City of Los Gatos

Los Gatos Town Council

This person would hold one of three seats up this cycle. The seat is on the Los Gatos Town Council. The council has five members. Los Gatos is a Santa Clara County town of about 33,500 people. They vote on town ordinances, the budget, and land use. Two other council seats are not up this cycle. The term is four years. The Council picks one of its own members to serve as Mayor each December. An appointed Town Manager runs day to day operations.

Six candidates are running for three open seats on the Los Gatos Town Council. They include incumbents Rob Moore, the sitting Mayor, and Mary Badame. Voters pick up to three, and the top three vote getters win outright.

This person would hold one of three at-large seats on Los Gatos's five-member Town Council. They vote on town ordinances, the budget, and land use in this Santa Clara County town of about 33,500, alongside the two Council seats not up this cycle. The term is four years. The Council selects one of its own members to serve as Mayor each December; day-to-day operations run through an appointed Town Manager.

All three open seats belong to Council members first elected in 2022: Mayor Rob Moore and Mary Badame, both running for reelection here, and Rob Rennie, who is not on this year's nominee list and is not seeking reelection. The other two Council seats (Vice Mayor Maria Ristow and Matthew Hudes, both appointed December 2024) aren't up until 2028.

Rob Moore

Rob Moore is the sitting Mayor of Los Gatos, first elected to Council in 2022 at age 24. He is the youngest mayor in town history. His priorities include affordable housing, youth programs, street safety, and small business support.

Mary Badame

Mary Badame is the incumbent, elected to Council in November 2022. Her platform centers on public safety, wildfire preparedness, and fiscal responsibility. She served as Mayor in 2024.

Steve Raspe

Steve Raspe is an attorney who spent 15 years in trial law. His platform focuses on preserving the town's historic character while allowing smart growth. He has served nearly a decade on the Planning Commission.

Jeff Suzuki

Jeff Suzuki works as an economic analyst on price fixing and fraud cases. His platform includes free bus service for students, more housing planning, and protecting open space. He serves on the town's Complete Streets and Transportation Commission.

Heidi Owens

Heidi Owens describes herself as a 25 year resident, mother, and community organizer. Her platform focuses on the town's historic character, fiscal responsibility, and community safety. Her mid 2026 filing is the only one in the race with real itemized activity.

Rob Stump

Rob Stump is a third generation Los Gatos resident and a 36 year community member. His platform focuses on developer building standards, preserving the town's character, and wildfire risk. He was appointed to the Planning Commission in 2025.

Your picks · choose up to 3

A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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