Long-time Almaden resident Eric Crane is the newest addition to District 10 Councilwoman Nancy Pyle's staff.
Crane, who has lived in the Almaden Valley since he was a toddler, began his job as communications aide for the District 10 office in the beginning of August and said he is looking forward to meeting with and working for his community. "I've always been interested in politics," he said. "San Jose is a great place to get started."
Crane's duties include putting together an electronic monthly newsletter, one of Pyle's new methods of communicating with her constituents. Crane will also work on all aspects of the district website, from maintaining it to answering emails.
"The website is pretty challenging," he said, adding that he has checked out a number of software books from the library to help him through this project. "This is my first endeavor, but I'm excited. I'm hoping that it will be the best it can be. It's challenging to maintain a compelling website that people want to go to."
Interactive media has also been added to the website, which was one of Crane's suggestions that was well-received by the rest of the staff.
"He is very technologically proficient," said Pyle, who now has a complete staff. "He is a wonderful asset to create dynamism on the website."
A graduate of Bret Harte Middle School, Leland High School and, most recently, UC-Santa Cruz, Crane said he has always been very involved in student government. With a degree in politics, he decided to return home to work. "The concerns and values of people around Almaden have always been interesting to me," he said.
College, he said, taught him that politics happens everywhere and is not just relegated to people in suits making decisions during power lunches.
Knowing how hard it can be for graduates to find work after school, Crane said he was happy to land this job. He has also moved back in with his parents--a temporary setup, he stressed.
"I am living at home, like many of my generation, the boomerangers," he said with a laugh. "It's a temporary way for me to regroup after college."
Pyle said Crane's youth would not hurt the district staff at all. His experience as a student senate president at Santa Cruz and his volunteer work has served him well, she said.
"He might be young in years but old in experience," she said. "He knows how to work with people. He has the sensitivity one needs to handle what could be volatile situations very well."
Crane has been busy getting up to speed on local issues, and thanks his family for getting him started. "My dad constantly reads all the local papers," he said. "I'm definitely kept in the loop of what's going on at home, from the local streets and all the way to District 10."
Pyle has given her staff the responsibility of responding to her constituents in a timely fashion, preferably within 24 hours. And that's fine with him, Crane said.
"It's a challenge we are all willing to take on," he said. "It has to happen. We're here to serve the people of District 10. If we're not doing that, then what's the point?"
Pyle encouraged Almaden residents to introduce themselves to Crane--he and the rest of her team will be at the Art and Wine Festival on Sept. 25. |
