Napa Mayor Jill Techel: "It's a Great Job"

Napa Mayor Jill Techel says she never tires of her work.

“It’s a great job for me. I get to be out in the Napa community, connecting with the locals, and I feel as if I am making a difference in Napa,” she said.

Techel, 64, has served on the Napa City Council since 1996. She ran successfully for mayor in 2005 and was re-elected in 2008.

She has seen many changes in Napa since her first term on the city council.

Flood control has benefitted city

“I would have to say the Napa flood control project, (which began in the mid 1990s) is the most significant,” Techel said.

“The community had no opportunity to move forward with threat of floods from the Napa River every winter. Sandbags were winter decoration.”

Techel recalled the 1986, "100-year flood," which created havoc in the city.

Damage was estimated at $100 million. The roaring flood waters claimed three lives, 2,500 residences were damaged, 250 homes were destroyed and more than 5,000 residents were forced into shelters, according to a Feb. 20, 2001, article published in the Napa Register.

“We went to the voters for a bond measure, and we were approved,” Techel said.

If the funding from the federal government continues, the entire flood control project will be completed by 2016.

Other projects Techel is proud of include partnering with the county to consolidate government services and working to fill the many empty stores in downtown Napa and Napa Town Center.

“I also want to work on the city park issues and skate board community,” she said.

“I love to see the community come together. If there is a problem or a need, the community comes together and makes the problem right,” she said. “I love being part of that.”

Techel didn’t set out to find a career in politics.

“It found me,” she said. “I was asked to run for city council. It wasn’t my idea. I was elected and have been here ever since.”

However, even at that time, Techel was no stranger to serving the public: Prior to her city council position, she had served from 1990 to 1996 on the Napa Valley Unified School District Board, three years as president.

How she got here

Techel was born and reared in Grand Forks, N.D.

“My grandfather sparked my interest of being involved in community service. He was on the school board. He gave me my high school diploma,” she said.

In 1969, Techel and a few of her friends headed west after graduating from the University of North Dakota. After briefly stopping in Sacramento, they ventured north to Salem, Ore., and with months “we all had jobs.” she said.

She landed work as field director training administrator with the Santiam Girl Scout Council. She continued her career with the Girl Scouts and took the same job with Napa-Solano Girl Scout Council in 1971, when she relocated to Napa.

After marrying, she retired from the Girl Scouts and took on the role of stay-at-home mom. But that didn’t slow down her involvement with the community.

Over the years, Techel has served with the Napa Parks and Recreation commission, the Napa-Vallejo Waste Management Authority and run Leadership Napa Valley.

Kathleen Dressen, Napa Valley Community Housing Executive Director, is also involved with Leadership Napa Valley.

“Jill is not only a proven leader in our community, but trains others to lead. She teaches collaboration and getting consent in situations that may be difficult,” Dressen said.

“Graduates of LNV emerge confident and knowledgeable about Napa Valley, its government, education and industry. Jill makes that happen.”

As far being a public official is concerned, Techel said she takes it slowly.

“I take it one step at a time, making sure I feel comfortable about learning new skills. I have learned to be a very good listener to the public concerns.”

However, a higher political career is not on the horizon for Techel, she said.

“I have no interest in pursuing a political seat any further than the local level. That’s not for me. I don’t want to get caught up in that,” she said.

“I am very comfortable where I am.”

Techel, who is divorced, has two grown children, Eric and Kristen, and two grandchildren.

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