About Jan
Jan has been elected to office multiple times and has served on City Council, sixteen years — six as the Mayor and ten as a Council Member. A lifelong advocate for City protection of open space and natural areas, she spearheaded the City’s first Climate Action Plan and continues to support innovative and effective policies to reduce carbon emissions and promote the City’s resilience in response to climate change. Jan opposes racism and sexism and has worked hard to find solutions to homelessness. Her budgetary skills, which enabled her to successfully lead the City through the Great Recession of 2008, have helped the City not only recover economically from the pandemic but also thrive.
A dedicated public servant, Jan fights hard to implement the values and protect the interests of San Luis Obispo residents. A problem solver, she gets good things done for the community. She respects and collaborates with all kinds of people, including those with whom she may not agree. She currently represents the City effectively on regional boards, including the five county green energy supplier, Central Coast Community Energy (3CE). She serves on the policy boards of the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), SLO Council of Governments (SLOCOG), San Luis Obispo Regional Transportation Agency (SLORTA) and the SLO Air Pollution Control District (APCD).
A few notable past achievements include: fighting for the preservation of open space; spearheading the City’s first Climate Action Plan; fighting for protection of San Luis Ranch agricultural land and the formation of City Farm SLO; guiding the City out of the last severe drought; working to secure the land and funding for 40 Prado Homeless Services Center; keeping the City fiscally sound during the Great Recession, and promoting human health and fiscal sustainability for local businesses during the Pandemic.
Jan earned degrees from University of Santa Clara Law School (J.D.); Stanford University (B.A.), and Columbia University (M.A.). She ran her own law business for 17 years, practicing estate planning, real property, construction, employment, and local government law. A former Deputy District Attorney, she has had extensive training in mediation and negotiation. She also served the Campus Dean of the nonprofit San Luis Obispo College of Law and Professor from 2017 to 2022. She is an active volunteer with the Rotary San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Club.
A San Luis Obispo homeowner since 1988, she is married to former Cal Poly Professor Steven Marx, who is a member of the Board of the nonprofit City Farm SLO and manages the Prefumo Creek Restoration and Enhancement Project. They have two grown children, four grandsons, and a sweet Cavalier spaniel. Jan loves to hike, travel, cook, write, read and celebrate family.
Complete website coming soon.
