Pat Eklund is a Novato City Council Member and a former
Novato Mayor, Planning Commissioner, and neighborhood leader.
A populist who entered politics by fighting City Hall over
a stop sign in her neighborhood, Eklund has led important
fights to protect local tax dollars, improve public safety
and school safety, protect the environment, and improve
access to health care.
 If
you live in Novato, chances are youve met Pat Eklund at
your doorstep, school, or neighborhood event. That's because
Pat understands being a public servant means being a good
neighbor not just at election time, but every day.
A Leader Who Stands Up for Us
Pat has earned a reputation as a leader who stands up for
what she believes in even if it means taking on politics-as-usual.
Pat stood up to Sacramento politicians by fighting to pass
Proposition 1A to prevent the state government from raiding
the local funds that pay for our essential services. She's
been fighting to stop cuts to the Novato Police Department
and was the only member of the Council to vote against
laying off police staff.
As a strong advocate for the environment, Pat is working
to protect hillsides and ridgelines, and to upgrade and
revitalize our parks. And Pat is a driving force behind
the revitalization of downtown to attract new businesses
and expand consumer choices in Novato.
Pat is fighting to bring more state and federal transportation dollars to Marin County as a member of the National League of Cities Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As a former Novato representative on the Transportation Authority of Marin, Pat has worked to develop and implement solutions to congestion on Highway 101 that are cost effective, environmentally sound, and compatible with surrounding neighborhoods. Pat also has served as Novato's representative on the board of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART).
With a sharp eye for detail and a master's degree in public
administration, Pat has made it her job to get under the
hood of local government to make sure our leaders are making
the very best decisions for taxpayers.
A Lifetime Protecting Our Environment
Pat balances her work on the Novato City Council with her
career as an Environmental Manager for the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). She has managed important programs
to protect our environment, including the Underground Storage
Tanks, Ground Water, Ocean Dumping, Wetlands Protection
(Section 404) of the Clean Water Act, San Francisco Bay,
and the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System
programs. Pat has earned a master's of science degree in
environmental management and has worked to protect open
spaces, advocated for green buildings, and spearheaded
the expansion of the City of Novato's recycling programs.
A Passion for Public Service
Pat's advocacy for the environment is matched only by her
devotion to public service. In addition to her service
on the Novato City Council, Pat serves as President of
the Cities, Counties and Schools (CCS) Partnership, a joint
effort of the League of California Cities, California State
Association of Counties and California School Boards Association.
The CCS Partnership is dedicated to improving the conditions
of California's children, families and communities by encouraging
local collaborative efforts among cities, counties schools,
community-based nonprofit organizations, and business and
civic leaders.
Pat is the immediate past President of the League of California
Cities, where she has worked tirelessly to protect local
tax dollars and preserve local control for California cities.
As a Novato Planning Commissioner, Pat worked to protect
our quality of life in Novato by advocating for smart land
use decisions. Pat has served as President of the Hillside
Park East Homeowner's Association and as a board member
of Marin County Flood Control District, Novato Community
Hospital, North Marin Federation of Homeowners, and North
Bay Wetlands Project.
Currently, Pat is on the Hamilton Restoration Advisory
Board, and has been an advocate for quality of life improvements
in Hamilton, including expanding the Hamilton Arts Center.
A Good Neighbor with Deep Roots in Our Community
Pat grew up in Marin County and graduated from Terra Linda
High School in 1969. Pat graduated from San Francisco State
University in 1974. She earned a master's in public administration
from Golden Gate University in 1979 and a master's of science
in environmental management from the University of San
Francisco in 1988.
In addition to her duties on the Novato City Council, the
CCS Partnership, and her career at the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Pat is an active community volunteer
for local activities such as Career Days in our schools
and our Fourth of July Parade. Pat is a Rotarian, a member
of the Novato Historical Guild, Marin Conservation League,
the Sierra Club, and the American Association of University
Women, and an honorary member of the Indian Valley Artists.
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