Candidate for
Mayor; City of San Luis Obispo

I served on the City Council from 1998 to 2002 and was re-elected with the highest number of votes 2008-2012. Council appointed me to represent the city on the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments, San Luis Obispo Regional Transportation Agency and the Air Pollution Control District, roles usually reserved for Mayor. I have practiced estate planning, real property and local government law and has owned her own business for 17 years. I have also taught Business Law at Cal Poly.

I earned degrees from Santa Clara Law School (J.D.); Stanford University (B.A.), Columbia University (M.A.). I am a former Deputy District Attorney with extensive training in mediation and negotiation. I am also a former Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Housing at Stanford University and former private high school and community college English Teacher.

A native Californian and long time San Luis Obispo homeowner, I am married with two grown children and four grandsons. I love to hike, travel,walk my Yorkie, cook and read. Below is more information about my activities.

Community Service

• San Luis Obispo City Council Member (1998-2002 and 2008-2012)
• Board Member SLO Council of Governments (SLOCOG) 2008-present
• Board Member Air Pollution Control District (APCD) 2008-present
• San Luis Obispo City Planning Commissioner (2 years)
• County Parks and Recreation Commissioner (5 years)
• Environmental Hero of the Year 2005
• Former Board Member, ECOSLO
• Economic Opportunity Commission (now CAP-SLO) Board Member (6 years)
• Economic Vitality Corporation Board Member
• Temporary Restraining Order Clinic, founding Board Member
• Superior Court Pro Tem Judge and Arbitrator
• Mediator for the Los Angeles (2nd) Appellate District
• Pro Bono work for selected victims, indigent seniors and non profit organizations
• Volunteer Fund Raiser for the Railroad Safety Bicycle & Pedestrian Trail

• San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce since 1993
• San Luis Obispo County Bar Association & REal Property and Estate Planning Section
• Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo
• Rotary club of San Luis Obispo
• Board Member Central Coast Memorial Society
• San Luis Obispo County Bicycle Coalition
• Residents for Quality Neighborhoods

"Jan Marx has know-how to lead San Luis Obispo Her diplomacy and intriguing ideas would serve the city well Mayor Dave Romero has been a strong, dependable and dynamic leader of San Luis Obispo for the past eight years, and it will not be an easy job to follow him as the city's top elected official. We believe, however, that of the four candidates running for mayor, Councilwoman Jan Marx is most up to the task. To be frank, The Tribune Editorial Board has not always agreed with Marx on the issues and, in fact, did not endorse her for City Council in 2008. Particularly in her early years on the council, we found her slow-growth/pro-environment politics to be extreme. We still have concerns along those lines. If she is elected mayor, we would strongly urge Marx to make it a priority to bring head-of-household jobs and affordable housing to the community, and to not stand in the way of reasonable growth that would achieve those goals. That said, in choosing a mayor, we believe it's necessary to look beyond how someone voted on this or that issue or project. What's most critical is to find a candidate who not only has experience and knowledge, but also the leadership and communication skills, diplomacy, graciousness and maturity to give all sides a fair hearing, to help forge compromises, and to lend a steady hand under all circumstances -- be it a natural disaster, a fiscal crisis or a high-profile media event. We believe Marx has these necessary skills and would develop into an excellent mayor. We're especially impressed that she displays the rare ability to not hold a grudge -- a refreshing trait in this age of such divisive politics. Also, Marx has experience in the public eye -- both as an attorney and as an elected official -- that would make her an effective advocate when it comes time to represent San Luis Obispo at regional meetings and in Sacramento."