Background
Lane, Donald Steven was born on January 12, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, United States. Son of Bert and Ann (Reiss) Lane.
Lane, Donald Steven was born on January 12, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, United States. Son of Bert and Ann (Reiss) Lane.
Bachelor in Politics, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1978.
Lane spent many years working for and managing the Saturn Cafe after graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1978. While operating the Saturn Cafe, Lane served the community in multiple capacities in the City of Santa Cruz and community groups. Leading to his serving as Santa Cruz Mayor in 1992 and again in 2012 and 2015.
Lane arrived in Santa Cruz in 1973 at the age of 17 to study politics and history at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Getting his start in politics, he staffed the Santa Cruz area election campaign of soon-to-be elected Congressman Leon Panetta in 1976 and again after graduating in 1978. Searching for a way to remain in Santa Cruz, he started the Saturn Café and built the restaurant into a local staple and cultural phenomenon.
Once the Saturn Café was on steady footing, Lane returned to community politics, serving on the City Water Commission and the City Public Works Commission. He was also active in the local Democratic Party, serving as chair of the Santa Cruz County Democratic Party and as president of a local Democratic Club.
In 1988, while still managing the Saturn Café, Lane was elected to the Santa Cruz City Council.
During his term, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake devastated Downtown Santa Cruz. Much of his tenure was focused on working with other city officials and community members on the successful downtown rebuilding effort. He also focused on a few affordable housing projects and improving the city’s homeless services.
His first term was not without turmoil.
In a Santa Cruz Sentinel article he said that during his term there was "inadequate, vacuous and often unfair press coverage, outright meanness and hatred aimed at me from various quarters."
After completing a term as mayor of Santa Cruz in 1992, Lane took a hiatus from the council. He turned his attention to new projects.
First he sold his majority ownership of the Saturn Café, and then worked as a campaign coordinator for Representative Sam Farr. He also played a key role in founding the Homeless Community Resource Center, which is now the Homeless Services Center.
In 1996, he co-founded and directed an organization called Youth Opportunities, a job training program for disadvantaged teens.
: In 2008 Lane decided to run for Santa Cruz City Council again. In a Santa Cruz Sentinel article he stated that his platform was nearly the same as before. He would focus on jobs and affordable housing.
He emphasized that what changed was "my style rather than my views.
I"ve learned to take it easier and I have more experience working with people. He serves on the Economic Development Council, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District Board of Directors and the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC).
Santa Cruz County Democratic chairman, 1985.
Married Diane T. Hansch (divorced May 1990).