Broomand ousted in Westlake Village
By Michael Picarella
Acorn Staff Writer

Westlake Village City Council incumbent Iraj Broomand was upset Tuesday night by newly elected Bob Slavin, Mark Rutherford and Susan McSweeney. Broomand blamed the loss on a flyer that claimed he had missed important meetings, a claim that Broomand denied. The city has 5,728 registered voters in four precincts.

Two incumbents and three challengers ran for three open seats. Slavin captured 1,140 votes (27.84 percent), Mayor Rutherford received 1,004 votes (24.52 percent) and McSweeney, another challenger, netted 934 votes (22.81 percent).

The three candidates will claim their seats at the Wed., Dec. 5 meeting. Rutherford will again take a seat as councilman. City Councilwoman Betty De Santis is next in line for mayor and Councilman Chris Mann is next in line for mayor pro tem. Slavin and McSweeney will occupy the remaining two seats.

Mayor Pro Tem Kris Carraway-Bowman will step down from her seat. She chose not to seek reelection. Broomand will also leave the council.

"Obviously, I think the last minute (mailers sent out against my) campaign had a great deal to do with it," Broomand said of his 691 votes (16.87 percent). He still finished well above challenger Ron Klamert who only acquired 326 votes (7.96 percent).

"It saddens me," Broomand said, "that we have to win at any price ... We are still a free country and people can express themselves; but don’t lie." The accusations, Broomand said, which stated that he missed five of nine hospital ad hoc committee meetings were untrue.

"I was rather disturbed by the (negative mailings against Broomand)," Rutherford said. "There was never a time where I showed up at a hospital ad hoc committee meeting expecting him to be there and he not being there." But there’s no record of attendance at committee meetings, said deputy city clerk Beth Schott. It could have contributed to Broomand’s loss.

Regarding his opponents, Rutherford said, "I really felt I could work with any one of those people."

"I did not expect to take first place," Slavin said. "I’m very thankful that I got such a wide amount of support through the community. I’m taking this position very seriously and I want to do a great job for (Westlake Village)."

McSweeney was very happy with the election results. "I was glad to see that I didn’t raise any money in my campaign and glad to (be elected) on a grassroots effort," she said.

Residents also decided if the hotel bed tax should be maintained or if it should be increased. The ordinance, which would ratify and maintain the 1990 increase of the transient occupancy tax from 6 percent to 10 percent, was approved with 1,084 votes or 71.55 percent. The city nets about $550,000 a year from the tax, according to City Manager Ray Taylor.

The second measure, which would ratify the 1990 increase of the transient occupancy tax from 6 percent to 10 percent and additionally increase such tax by 4 percent, with the potential to generate an extra $220,000 per year, wasn’t adopted. It fell short with only 431 votes.

Westlake Village derives its bed tax revenue from Westlake Village Inn.

"(Not allowing an additional four percent on top of the 10 percent bed tax) certainly allows the Westlake Village Inn to remain competitive with surrounding cities," said Westlake Inn general manager Amy Commans.

"In addition, maintaining the status quo of 10 percent will not cause the city services to suffer as a result," she said.