Each of the 15 municipalities in Santa Clara County as well as the County government, have opportunities for citizen to serve in both advisory and decision making positions.  Being appointed and serving on a Board or Commission is a great way to understand how the local government works, the issues faced and it looks great on your resume if you do decide to run for office.

Unlike running for an office, vacancies in these positions happen at various times and you need to apply when there are openings.  Qualifications vary by position from just being a resident of the city/town to fulfilling other qualifications.