Groveman, Washburn win reelection in Calabasas
Toby Keeler's challenge falls short
By Joann Groff  joann@theacorn.com

Dennis Washburn

Claiming almost 70 percent of the combined vote, incumbents Barry Groveman and Dennis Washburn prevailed easily in Tuesday's Calabasas City Council election.

Washburn led the four-candidate race by earning 1,431 votes, or 36.7 percent, followed by Groveman with 1,261, or 32.4 percent. The closest competitor was Toby Keeler, who captured 20.6 percent, or 804 votes. Challenger Dale Reicheneder took the remaining 10.1 percent with 393 votes.

Washburn, who has been elected to the City Council five times since Calabasas incorporated in 1991, and Groveman, who was the leading vote-getter in his first campaign in 2003, will serve on the council for the next four years.

"I've worked real hard to reach as many voters as possible, to be as present as possible, to make sure they pick me first," Washburn said. "I'm really grateful to the people of Calabasas. Everyone who took the time to get involved and learn the issues, they picked me and I'm really grateful for that."

Groveman was thankful for the strong voter mandate. "I feel refreshed by the vote," he said. "I'm exhilarated by the outcome."

Barry Groveman

After the election Groveman told viewers on CTV, the Calabasas city television channel, that he was disappointed in the campaign tactics of the challengers. He later told The Acorn that misleading information about him was released to the voters just days before the election. Groveman said his wide margin of victory was proof that the voters perceived him in a different light.

The turnout was low. Less than 17 percent of registered voters in Calabasas came out to vote Tuesday compared to 28 percent in the 2005 election. And almost half the 2,140 ballots cast were absentees. There are 12,836 registered voters in the city.

Washburn was disappointed in the voter turnout, but expressed appreciation to those who took the time to educate themselves on the candidates.

"Not many people came out, but we had an efficient and effective count," said Washburn, the current mayor. "The city clerk staff was very well organized and everything ran very smoothly."

Groveman and Washburn held the top two spots and never trailed Keeler, their nearest challenger, as the vote count unfolded throughout the evening. Keeler, who also ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 1997, won only one of the nine precincts, No. 12 in Saratoga Hills.

Poll workers from the Juan Bautista De Anza Park and Calabasas Library precincts confirmed the uneventful day.

"It has been slow, but this is known to be a slow precinct," said Trish Shaheen at De Anza's Precinct 7. "But it was actually better than we expected."

Washburn said he received a call from a representative of the Calabasas "sister city," Anqing, China, letting him know that officials there had watched the election results live on CTV's webcast (cityofcalabasas.com).

Washburn's last meeting presiding as mayor is March 21, when the election results become official. The council is expect to name Mayor Pro Tem James Bozajian as new mayor. At the same time, a new mayor pro tem will be selected.