Mayor Max Perrey and Vice Mayor Caroline Joachim are sworn in on December on Dec. 8th, 2025
On the heels of a exciting Time Capsule Dedication at 5pm, a huge turnout outside City Hall gathered in front of City Hall at the Jasper Rock.
When the mass gathering stepped inside, Mill Valley’s typical transition began. This time, the transition came with some additional hoopla.
“It’s rare in life that you get to witness a boyhood dream come true,” Mayor Stephen Burke told the audience. “And tonight, we have the opportunity to do that. I’m so proud to be here for this moment. I know how much Max loves public service. While this is not the culmination of Max’s career, it’s certainly an important step in his career. And I’m proud to be here at this moment.”
With that, members of the City Clerk team swore in Perrey and Joachim to accept their respective nominations.
Perrey: “All right, I have a few words to share with my colleagues and with those gathered here today,” he said, pointing to Ryan Coonerty, as an impactful professor at UC Santa Cruz, who has also served as a businessman, professor, and author who served as the Third District Supervisor for California’s Santa Cruz County. Perrey noted that he had served as mayor and later his county supervisor. Twelve years ago, he told our undergrad class that if you wanted to make a difference, if you wanted to make an impact, move home and to serve your local community.”
Perrey recounted Coonerty staffing the 911 commission in D.C., and members of Congress, but he realized that nothing beats going back and serving your community that you came from.
“That story and that lesson stuck with me over the years,” Perrey said. “And Ryan was right. The ability to serve and shape one’s community has been the most incredible honor of my life. And I look forward to the opportunity and the challenge ahead this coming year as mayor,” he said. “There are so many mentors in friends here in this room tonight,” he said. “You know who you are, you are the day ones.”
“I would like to start my remarks by honoring the woman who brought me into this world, and who has been my confidante and dearest friend and cheerleader, my mama, Robin – she probably hates the recognition,” Perrey said. “My Mill Valley story starts long before I was born. My mother, Robin, and her parents and siblings, moved to a new home in 1960 on beautiful Mlin Avenue in Mill Valley, when my mom was age 10,” he said. “The stories I’ve heard of Mill Valley in the ’60s were downright magical. And after living around the Bay Area and overseas in France, my mother moved back, and I was born in 1991 to the best town in America to raise a child, Mill Valley.”
From left, Councilmembers: Urban Carmel, Kat Jones, Stephen Burke Caroline Joachim, along with City Manager Todd Cusimano.
“My experience growing up here was one where my neighbors, of all ages, were my dearest friends,” he said. “Wildlife and nature were in everyday experience. The library was a place of joy and discovery. I remember going down to the Mill Valley Community Center, going down the waterslide on the day it opened when I was 11 years old.”
“I ran for counsel, and I serve as mayor today to build on the best of our community,”Perrey said. “Costs have risen since my grandparents moved here in 1960, but also since I grew up in town.”
When the federal government shut down this fall, over 700 Milvallians went without food because of EBT cards going unfilled,” Perrey said. “Our community rallied, the food pantry at the Methodist Church stepped up, our restaurants offered discounts and free meals, and we all pulled together together. And this coming year, working with our city manager and our council, I’d like to build on that effort and launch a new public-private cross sector initiative, with a working title I’ve of #MVSupport.”
“This initiative seeks to bring together the business community, the Faith community, the nonprofit community, and our city government, all working together to ensure that everyone in town knows about the resources available, developing a one stop-shop for engaging as a volunteer, and much, much more,” Perrey said. “This coming year, we will continue our relentless focus on ensuring that government works for everyone, whether you need a business permit, to check out a library book or access a Park and Rec program, it should be an efficient process with customer success as the primary objective, something that Todd has taught all of us about what government can be. No barriers to government.”
“Under Mayor Burke’s leadership, we worked really hard this year to make real progress, and we did,” he said. “And we will continue in this trajectory. Every month, in 2026, I commit to hold office hours, not just downtown, though I will be downtown, but throughout our community. Stay tuned for dates and times and locations. Come with ideas, we are all ears. One of those people that I have appreciated hearing from, and that my ears have been open to, is here tonight. Dr. John Maa, MD at Marin HealthEd. John and I partnered on eBike safety over the last two years and served on the county wide Youth eBag Safety Task Force.”
“This coming year, we’ll be partnering on updating our tobacco regulations following on the county’s leadership,” Perrey said. “This coming year, we will also continue our progress on addressing infrastructure and climate change. My colleague, Urban Carmel is my partner in both those efforts. The Municipal Sales Tax Service Tax will be on the ballot in November. We must pass it. We also must continue to work to ensure our streets wherever possible are complete streets, so that whether you choose to bike, to walk, to use a wheelchair or drive a vehicle, the infrastructure you are using is safe and accessible. We will also bring to our city council in Q1 a green, low carbon, concrete policy modeled off of the county of Marin’s policy to require infrastructure in town uses climate conscious materials.”
Perrey says he and Councilmember Kat Jones Jones are collaborating on an 18-month sea level rise planning process this year. “New for Mill Valley, we will also join, and as of today, a group called Climate Mayors, a bipartisan group of 350 mayors around the country working collectively to make progress.
“Last, but certainly not least, we are here for community. This will be a year of community and business vitality, led by our outstanding, new vice mayor, Caroline Joachim and council member Jones as our vitality leads. “Kat Jones’ vision of a Miller Nights, a weekly celebration of community will be come into reality at some point in 2026. My vision for the last three and a half years of a farmer’s market downtown Mill Valley will lunch this coming spring. We will bring local produce to consumers and restaurants alike. And this year, we will take up the call of many, including John McCauley and our audience, when we update our city’s logo. All of this will be done as a team. I have learned from the three mayors I’ve served under council: Jim Wickham, who’s in the audience, Urban Carmel, who’s here at the dais, Stephen Burke most of all, since they served as vice mayor under you.”
“Each of you have taught me through your example,” Perrey said. ” “Our council treats each other with civility. When we disagree, we model how to respect alternate use. I couldn’t be more grateful to each of you that I get to serve with,” and to our City Manager, Todd Cusimano, “your service to our community is profound. The dedication you give to our city is what moves us forward. We couldn’t do anything we do without you.”
And to the people who work under your leadership and inspire us every day, as elected officials: “It is a joy to serve alongside you and your staff. If you’re a current or formal staff member of the city of the Valley, please rise. Let’s give them a round of applause.
“Finally, our theme for 2026, 2026 will be all about Mill Valley. The community, the local businesses, the people and all about Mill Valley.
