Rutherford new mayor of Westlake Village

By Lori Porter porter@theacorn.com

Mark Rutherford

Westlake Village city council members appointed Mark Rutherford as the city’s new mayor during an annual reorganization meeting earlier this month.

A seven-year veteran of the council, Rutherford served as mayor pro-tem this year and said he’ll stick to the same priorities that he’s always emphasized.

"I’m not a believer in the idea that the city council changes according to who the mayor is. It’s the five members that make the council what it is," Rutherford said.

He said he’s observed many positive changes in the city.

"When I started, we weren’t balancing the budget. Our finances weren’t good," he said. Thanks to the collective efforts of dedicated council members, the city is now in excellent financial condition, according to Rutherford. At the close of the fiscal year on June 30, the city of Westlake Village not only had a balanced budget, its general fund sat at $11 million, the highest reserve in the city’s 23-year history.

Unlike the councils of some cities, the Westlake Village City Council has always been characterized by civility. "We don’t always agree with each other or like what the other person is saying, but we let people say what they want. When I got on this council, it was made clear that we were to maintain civility. That has helped us get a lot done," he said.

The new mayor has been praised for his problem-solving abilities regarding dispute resolution. Rutherford was encouraged to seek office after he helped mediate a problem several years ago between his homeowners association and the city of Westlake Village.

Solving problems plays a significant role in Rutherford’s professional life as well. A graduate of the University of San Diego’s law school, he’s an attorney who practices mediation and arbitration.

"As an arbitrator, I play the role of judge, and as a mediator, I help people look at both sides of the issue and draw out the good and the bad," he said. These are strengths that also serve him well on the city council.

Rutherford purposefully chose not to deliver a "new mayor, new goals" speech because the city already has a full plate of unfinished business. Rutherford believes there’s plenty to do and he’s ready to go to work. "I cannot predict unforeseen changes that might occur in the city but want to be ready for them while working toward changes we do see."

Rutherford and his wife, Gay, moved to Westlake Village in 1994. They’ve been married 18 years. The Rutherfords’ 14-year-old son, Chad, is a student at Agoura High School and their 9-year-old daughter, Brooke, attends White Oak Elementary School.