April 5, 2023
At their meeting on Monday, April 3, 2023, the Mill Valley City Council adopted a Resolution approving and declaring the results of the March 7, 2023 Special Municipal Election, and conducted a swearing-in ceremony for newly elected Councilmember Caroline Joachim.
In 2022, the departure of Councilmember Sabaratnam from the Council created a vacancy, which Council determined to fill with a Special Municipal Election for the purpose of electing one short-term member of the Council (“short-term” being one year).
On March 24, 2023, after a successful election, the County’s Registrar of Voters certified the Special Municipal Election results and it was determined that Caroline Joachim (with a total of 2,209 votes) was elected to serve on the Mill Valley City Council. Directly after the City Council adopted the Resolution, the City Clerk administered the Oath of Office as prescribed by the Constitution of the State of California and Councilmember Joachim took her seat at the dais.
After she was sworn in, Mayor Jim Wickham congratulated and welcomed Councilmember Joachim, and thanked her, as well as her opponent, Susan Gladwin, for running a great race.
“I appreciate that the community is starting to get engaged in local government,” he said, noting that Council’s previous openings were filled by appointment. “We are thrilled that we had two really qualified people run for office. I am thrilled to have Caroline join us, with her background with Mill Valley Little League and her experience as a real estate attorney.” He thanked Joachim’s family, friends and community members that attended the ceremony to show their support.
Vice Mayor Urban Carmel also congratulated Councilmember Joachim and lauded her time in significant leadership roles in organizations that are important to Mill Valley. “I think we will look back in 10 years' time and remember tonight as being a pretty pivotal night,” he said. “I am super excited to have you here and wish you all the best.”
Members of the community shared their accolades for newly-elected Councilmember Joachim.
“I think the Council, the City and the community are very lucky to have Caroline as a new member,” former Mayor Ken Wachtel said. “I know she will do an excellent job.”
“On behalf of the Parks and Recreation Commission, we are really excited that you were elected to City Council,” Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Vanessa Justice said. “I’m excited to see all the great work that you are going to do.”
About Councilmember Joachim
Councilmember Caroline Joachim is a real estate attorney who moved to Mill Valley with her husband, Paul, to raise their two children. Born and raised in California, Caroline went to high school in Central California, attended Wellesley College and holds a law degree from the University of San Francisco. Caroline has been on the Board of Mill Valley Little League for 10 years and served as President for 4 of those years. She also held a Board position with the Marin County Bar Association. Additionally, Caroline has volunteered at the Bay Area Discovery Museum, the Storybook Ball (which raised funds for Mill Valley Library Foundation), Kiddo!, Old Mill Elementary School, and Old Mill School PTA, where she also served as President. She currently volunteers with Marin Villages and St. Vincent de Paul, and recently received certification from CERT - Community Emergency Response Team.
Learn more about the Mill Valley City Council.