Alex Kennett for Director, District 1, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

            Nearly all my life has been spent in service of others; from my country to my neighbors and my community. I am the current office-holder for the Director of District-1-Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and am seeking to continue my service this November.

I have brought to the office a perspective refined from my experiences as a Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce board member, Chairman and Executive Director and as a board director of Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network, the Committee for Green Foothills and Morgan Hill Independence Day Inc, (IDI), the all-volunteer organization that sponsoring Morgan Hill’s July 4^th commemoration.  Also 30 year military career (I fought wildfires throughout California as a helicopter pilot in the National Guard), 5 years in Disaster Relief, and a Commercial Real Estate Broker and Business owner.  

I’ve always seen myself as a bridge between business and the environment. My passion is for conservation to preserve the natural beauty of the Santa Clara Valley. I am a strong proponent of alternative energy sources and solar power. At the same time, my experience on the Chamber’s economic development committee and years as a Real Estate Broker provides me with the insight to find a positive and successful collaboration between all the stakeholders including the Farm Bureau on whose board I am liaison to from the Open Space Authority. I’ve spent years creating a beneficial roadmap that both preserve the essential beauty of the area with the growing needs of being on the southern tip of Silicon Valley.

            I developed a strong work ethic from the age of six sweeping the floors of deli distribution warehouse growing up in the Inner Mission District in San Francisco. I grew up in a home where three languages were spoken-none of which were English. As I got older my responsibilities progressed to a janitor, warehouse worker, and driver, sales associate and sales manager.  

After high school, I attended Southern Oregon University in Ashland on a ski scholarship; I earned a BS in Chemistry and MA in History.

While in college I enlisted in the National Guard and joined the US Army after graduation. I was an artilleryman and helicopter pilot. It was there that I was able to manifest my desire to serve; fighting forest fires and transporting critically ill patients to the hospital for 14 years.  During my military career I had six commands (four companies and two battalions) and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  I graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College with an equivalent Masters in Public Administration.

I retired in 1987 and was called back for Operation Desert Storm then retired again. A year later I was recalled yet again to serve on a team that was liaison between the Department of Defense and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

When I am not serving on the Open Space Authority, I am the Owner and Broker of Real Estate Solutions, a commercial, residential, and land real estate firm that focuses on all aspects of real estate including commercial management. I currently serve on the of the Local Government Relations Committee for the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors. My wife Yarmila is a retired energy consultant and a residential designer who has designed many homes in Los Altos Hills and the Silver Creek Valley.  She is also a former member of Morgan Hill’s Planning Commission and Architectural Review Board. 

We have four children that have thirteen college degrees between them plus they all have jobs.  We also have eight grandchildren.

My desire to serve my community has always been an extension of my sense of patriotism. As I told the Morgan Hill Times, “Freedom has never been free and, as of late, it hasn’t even been reasonably priced; but it’s still there and ours for the keeping. Bless the USA and all she stands for. Bless this country in your own special way. Do you know why: because you still can.”  And I will continue to make my community a better place as long as I am able.

I believe in listening to both sides of an issue no matter who the originator may be.

Lately it seems that people will only listen to their chosen side thus their reasoning is tainted no matter what they're told.

Everybody has a say thus should be included in the decision making process.

I'm an environmentalist first.

The only thing that I'm intolerant about is intolerance. 

I have lived in California since 1965.  In Almaden, since 1989.  My father started Exatron in 1974. I now run this business.  46 years and counting.  We manufacture mechanical equipment for the electronics and medical industries. I have a loyal crew, many for more than 20 years.  We are considered essential by more than 30 companies. So we are busy and healthy. Exatron.com

I attend Lynbrook High School and San Jose State.  I have been married to the same wonderful women for 40 years.  We have two children, and a new granddaughter.

Over the years I have backpacked all over California, including 3 trips to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  The hard part is getting back up.

I have lead Sierra Club trips and Yosemite service weekends for nearly 20 years.   

I believe in common sense, balance, consideration of all points of view with an eye out for fiscal responsibility