in 1981, laird received the most votes in a field of eight to be elected to a seat on the santa cruz city council. he was re-elected as top vote-getter in 1985, serving until term limits ended his council service in 1990. he was elected by the city council to one-year mayor's terms in 1983–84 and 1987–88. during his time on the santa cruz city council, he worked with the environmental organization save our shores to lead local governments in the fight against proposed offshore oil drilling and in favor of the designation of the monterey bay national marine sanctuary.