Alexander Friedlande Stuart

University of Santa Clara
Class of 1980
J.D.

University of California at Berkeley
Class of 1977
A.B., Rhetoric
with honors

Born in 1955

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Stuart moved to Santa Barbara, California, where in high school he developed a keen interest in journalism and the law. The Channel Oil Spill of 1969, anti-war demonstrations at University of California, Santa Barbara in 1970 and 1971, and the Watergate hearings of 1973 enticed Mr. Stuart to become active in the political process. He matriculated at the University of California, Berkeley, where he majored in Rhetoric and served as a staff writer for The Daily Californian, covering a variety of political events. Mr. Stuart earned his Bachelor's degree from Cal in 1977 and his J.D. from Santa Clara University in 1980.Mr. Stuart spent a portion of his youth acting in musicals, which led him to an appointment with the San Jose Arts Commission in 1987, serving on the commission for five years. Mr. Stuart went on to chair the San Jose Urban Design Review Board for eight years, providing a layperson's perspective on architectural design for the San Jose Redevelopment Agency. While chairing the UDRB, Mr. Stuart also was appointed to the San Jose Elections Commission, which oversaw compliance with campaign finance laws by candidates for Mayor and City Council. Mr. Stuart served on the commission for nine years, six as chair, after which he was retained on several occasions to provide advice to the City of San Jose on matters of election law and ethics. Currently, Mr. Stuart is a board member of Cancer CAREpoint, an organization devoted to offering programs and services to individuals and families in the local community whose lives are touched by cancer.Mr. Stuart is married and has two children. He had the privilege to coach both of his children in soccer for a decade. He has many interests, including still and video photography, skiing, fly-fishing, running and mountain biking. He is also a San Jose Sharks fan and looks forward every year to the playoffs, when the real hockey season begins.