A Major Tragedy for San Carlos: Mayor Omar Ahmad Has Unexpectedly Passed Away From a Heart Attack

I am extremely sorry to report that Mayor Omar Ahmad has passed away.  I received a phone call earlier today stating that Mayor Ahmad passed away from cardiac arrest earlier today. This is a huge blow to San Carlos.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE #05102011
Subject :
Mayor Omar Ahmad Passes Away After Heart Attack
Contact :
Andy Klein, Vice Mayor    (650) 773-9883
aklein@cityofsancarlos.org
Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager    (650) 802-4210
bmoura@cityofsancarlos.org
San Carlos, CA – May 10, 2011 – It is with great shock and sadness that the City of San Carlos has learned that Mayor Omar Ahmad passed away earlier this morning.  This morning 911 received a call from Mayor Ahmad, paramedics responded to his home and transported him to Sequoia Hospital.  Mayor Ahmad was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Omar was elected to the San Carlos City Council in 2007.  He had previously served as a member of the City’s Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC).  While on the City Council, Omar selected to serve as the Mayor of San Carlos in November by his fellow Council Members.  During his term on the City Council, Ahmad also served on several committees and boards including the Airport Roundtable,  C/CAG Airport Land Use Committee (ALUC), Caltrain Board of Directors, San Mateo County Council of Cities, Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC) (Council Liaison), Harbor Industrial Association (HIA Council Liaison), Peninsula Congestion Management Relief Alliance,  San Carlos Green (Council Liaison) and SamTrans Board of Directors (Council of Cities Appointment).
He was a well known entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, having been involved in the start up of a number of companies over the years including the Discovery Channel, @Home, Trusted ID, Grand Central Communications, Napster, Netscape and most recently as the co-founder and CEO of SynCH Energy Corporation.
City Manager Jeff Maltbie said “Those of us at City Hall who had the opportunity to work with and get to know him are devastated by his loss.  Omar’s dedication to the citizens of San Carlos and his passion for democracy will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”
* On a personal note, it is a rarity that you get an individual with the passion that Mayor Ahmad had for leading our city.  Whether you agreed or disagreed with him on key issues, the one thing you cannot disagree with is that he was a volunteer committed to our town and wanted more than anything to make it a better place.