Bob Woerner
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Bob Woerner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 27th Mayor of Livermore | |
| In office December 14, 2020 – December 12, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | John Marchand |
| Succeeded by | John Marchand |
| Vice Mayor of Livermore | |
| In office January 13, 2020 – December 14, 2020 | |
| Mayor | John Marchand |
| Preceded by | Bob Carling |
| Succeeded by | Trish Munro |
| In office December 11, 2017 – December 10, 2018 | |
| Mayor | John Marchand |
| Preceded by | Steven Spedowfski |
| Succeeded by | Bob Carling |
| In office December 9, 2013 – December 8, 2014 | |
| Mayor | John Marchand |
| Preceded by | Stewart Gary |
| Succeeded by | Laureen Turner |
| Member of the Livermore City Council | |
| In office January 9, 2012 – December 14, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | John Marchand |
| Succeeded by | Gina Bonanno |
| Member of the Livermore Planning Commission | |
| In office March 1, 2011 – December 20, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Tony Sarboraria |
| Succeeded by | Loretta Kaskey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Leo Woerner April 21, 1948 Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Nova Starling |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS, MS, PhD) University of California, Berkeley (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Air Force Reserve Command |
Robert Leo Woerner (born April 21, 1948) is an American physicist, businessman, and politician who served as the 27th mayor of Livermore, California, from 2020 to 2022. A registered independent, he previously served on the Livermore City Council from 2012 to 2020 and on the Livermore Planning Commission in 2011.
Woerner chose not to run for a second term as mayor in 2022 due to health concerns.
Early life and education[edit]
Woerner was born in Evanston, Illinois, on April 21, 1948.
Woerner served in the Air Force Reserve Command for four years during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged at the rank of captain.
Woerner attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, from which he received a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science, and a PhD in physics. He later attended the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated with a Master of Business Administration in finance in 1984.
Career[edit]
Woerner was a physicist at the MIT Department of Physics and later at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey. He moved to Livermore in 1976 to continue his career in physics at the Livermore Lawrence National Laboratory. He was awarded two patents and has published many scientific papers.
After receiving his business degree, Woerner transitioned into a business career. He was an executive at multiple companies, including Oracle, Pacific Bell, and Advanced Fibre Communications. He began working at Pacific Gas & Electric in 2006 and eventually became a senior director there. He retired in 2020.
Local politics[edit]
Woerner was appointed to a four-year term on the Livermore Planning Commission on March 1, 2011. He served on the commission for ten months before being appointed to the Livermore City Council; his last meeting as a planning commissioner was held on December 20, 2011.
After John Marchand was elected mayor in 2011, Woerner was appointed to the vacant seat in a 5-0 vote on December 12, 2011. He was sworn in as a city councilmember on January 9, 2012, and served the remainder of Marchand's four-year term. He was elected to the city council in his own right in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018.
As a city councilmember, Woerner represented Livermore on intergovernmental boards and agencies and once chaired the board of directors of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority. He initiated multiple subcommittees to address local issues, such as the Downtown Subcommittee, the Homelessness Subcommittee, and the Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee. He also wrote two successful ballot measures to limit the salary and benefits of city councilmembers.
In 2017, Woerner led a delegation to Japan and visited Yotsukaido as part of a sister city program.
Woerner served three one-year terms as vice mayor throughout his time on the city council. His first stint as vice mayor was from 2013 to 2014, and he served again from 2017 to 2018. He was appointed vice mayor for the third and final time in 2020 and served until becoming mayor later that year.
Mayor of Livermore[edit]
Amid rumors that he would run for mayor in 2020, Woerner announced his candidacy on June 16, 2020. He faced realtor and former police officer Mony Nop in the election. Woerner was endorsed by Marchand (who was term-limited) and the rest of the city council as well as other local leaders. Despite expectations that the election would be close, Woerner defeated Nop, winning 66.3% of the vote. He took office on December 14, 2020.
On March 24, 2022, Woerner announced that he would not seek re-election in 2022 amid health concerns. He later endorsed Marchand to succeed him.
Woerner left office on December 12, 2022, and was succeeded by Marchand.
Personal life[edit]
Woerner is married to local artist Nova Starling. They have two sons, Phil and Steve.
Woerner has nerve damage, which affects his ability to walk.
