The newest leader on Monte Sereno City Council is the husband of a recent Los Gatan cover star. In September, KCAT TV Executive Director Melissa Toren appeared on our P1, as she helped kick-off the Oktoberfest party she was instrumental in organizing in Los Gatos—the very same month her significant other—Ken Toren, a nonprofit executive—was appointed to fill the seat left vacant when Monte Sereno Vice Mayor Javed Ellahie stepped down due to health reasons.
“It is a tremendous honor to be appointed to City Council,” Toren said in a release. “I am committed to listening to the residents and working collaboratively to ensure Monte Sereno remains a great place to live. I want to thank Council for their confidence in me and thank Javed Ellahie for his years of service to the City.”
Los Gatos Mayor Matthew Hudes may have tapped the ceremonial Oktoberfest keg this year, but it was prior Monte Sereno mayor Bryan Mekechuk (now back to being a Councilmember) who did the honors last time.
After pulling up to the Monte Sereno City Council building in his Cybertruck for an interview, Mekechuk recalled how surprised he was that Ellahie had bowed-out.
Mekechuk had skipped a meeting in August thinking there would be more than enough Council members still for quorum.
“I’m like, no big deal, right?” he said. “Then, what happens is, Javed doesn’t show up for the meeting, so there’s only three people.”
He found out about Ellahie’s absence shortly afterwards, but didn’t think much of it, initially.
“I thought, Well Javed has family in Pakistan,” he said, adding he soon discovered the former mayor wasn’t on a well-deserved overseas trip, but rather going through a personal health crisis.
“Oh my gosh; that’s not a good thing,” he couldn’t help but think.
“Serving the residents of Monte Sereno has been an incredible privilege, and I am deeply grateful for the trust they placed in me,” Ellahie said in a news release. “While my health requires me to step away from public service, I am confident that Ken Toren’s commitment to our community will make him an excellent addition to City Council.”
Toren is currently a regional vice president and executive director for the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.
Monte Sereno officials are touting the Philadelphia native’s impressive fundraising chops, as well as the turns he’s taken as a founder in the healthcare, technology and finance spheres. He has worked for American Red Cross, Hope Services, Parkinson’s Institute, UCSF and Cancer CAREpoint.
He currently lives with his wife and three children and Teo their rescue dog.
How does Mekechuk feel about the loss of institutional knowledge, now that Ellahie, a lawyer, has stepped down?
“We lost that,” he acknowledged. “But we are gaining someone who has a very excellent background in decision-making—and knows how to make trade-offs.”
Mayor Burton Craig said they had five qualified candidates apply to be appointed to the role.
“New Councilmember Ken Toren’s dedication to and involvement in our community will be a tremendous asset,” he said in a release. “He will be a great addition to Council and will work for—and in—the best interests of the residents of Monte Sereno.”
Evert Wolsheimer resigned earlier this year from Monte Sereno Council, also for health reasons. Former Monte Sereno Mayor Lon Allan—who has served as an outside director on the boards of companies like NetLogic Microsystems, Inc., Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc., Galvantech, Inc. and Global Motorsport Group, Inc..—was appointed in his stead. He is now Vice Mayor.
Toren and Allan will serve until the next general election in 2026, when the seat will be open for election.
