Their choice is Carol Kirschbaum

I have lived in Westlake Village only five years, drawn here by the wonderful surroundings. But already I have seen commercial developments whose style I believe threatens our village environment.

There is no doubt that we need a thriving business community to help pay the costs of the great city services we enjoy. But as a 35year participant in city government and community development issues throughout the Los Angeles area, I think our City Council can do more to protect us against commercial development that is out of character to our unique setting here.

That is why I will vote for Carol Kirschbaum in the Nov. 6 city council election, and urge my fellow residents to do so as well.

More than the other candidates, Carol makes a strong but sensible pledge to foster responsible, productive commercial growth that also protects and enhances our neighborhoods' lifestyles.

Carol will give us intelligent, thoughtful, dedicated, harmonious and more inclusive and responsive representation. She truly deserves our votes. Bill Canup Westlake Village

I endorse Carol Kirschbaum for Westlake Village City Council. Carol has proven herself to have the best interest of the citizens of our community. I trust her to watch and protect our "village." Hopefully we will not see nay more 309-foot walls being constructed to hide a gigantic building. I am for development that enhances our community, not development that swallows it up.

Carol would provide diversity to the City Council as the only candidate not coming from a homeowner's association that already has representation on the Council. Two of the candidates are from the same homeowner's association as two seated council members (The Trails), and two of the other council members (one incumbent) are also from the same HOA (Three Springs). Phil Landry Westlake Village

I moved to Westlake Village when the kids were little because it represented a family way of life. It was suburbia at its best. I know that cities change and grow but I hope that things slow down a bit. I see development going on now at a dizzying pace. I would like to see some serious planning to keep our paradise from looking like Los Angeles or The Valley.

Carol Kirschbaum was instrumental in making some great improvements to our community. She and our past president worked tirelessly on the design and development of our new guardhouse and entryway, including the lighting and landscaping of all our greenbelts and common areas. It is something we are all proud of. These changes were made with class and style.

If we want to maintain our property values, we must be represented by someone who has our best interest at heart.

When developers come into our city, they should be supportive of our lifestyle. The new buildings should be of the size and scale of our small town.

Carol wants to keep the "village" feel in Westlake Village and so do I. She has the strength and vision and I know that by being a member of the City Council and she will work to protect our special way of life and help create an ambiance that we can all enjoy and be proud of. Donna Landry Westlake Village

The function of the City Council is to oversee development of projects that are consistent with community tastes and standards. If Carol Kirschbaum is elected she will advocate the appointment of an architectural and development committee so that the council will have on-going input on both community concerns and needs, including financial needs.

We pay a premium to live here because of the quality of life. Some have suggested in this column that we should allow big box stores because of the revenue they bring to the city. I suggest a tradeoff is not worth it.

Carol's community involvement makes her well-suited for the City Council. She has shown both passion and hard work in researching and understanding the needs and desires of this community. She is also forward thinking in working with our neighbor cities and deserves your support at the voting booth.

Growth management is the key issue for the City Council. Unfortunately, the alternative to appropriate management is the congestion, gridlock and pollution one now sees in West Los Angeles and many other local cities. Christopher Rolin Westlake Village

I love Westlake Village. I love the quaintness of our village.

I am concerned our current city planning process may erode the General Plan that created our wonderful city. I am concerned that with some of the recent developments that have been completed and/or presented to our city, that our "village" may turn into the San Fernando Valley that I left 14 years ago.

I look at the recent developments on Lindero Canyon, north of the freeway and have to question the approval of those architectural plans. There is no cohesiveness or design planning between the two new hotels and the restaurant, and the whole corridor is now fractured in appearance and architectural.

I have listened to the proposed Sunrise development project, and hope that our City Council will look beyond the developer's projections and see the negative impact this huge project could have to the surrounding residential and business communities.

With all the above in mind, I have looked into the platforms of the four candidates running for office, and I have chosen to support Carol Kirschbaum. Her ideas on sensible growth, the formation of a citizens advisory committee to oversee future developments, her past support and untiring energy toward listening to and fighting for issues of great importance to our citizens and our community have all made Carol Kirschbaum stand out as the person I would like to have represent me on our City Council. Sheila Ruiz Westlake Village

After nearly two years of continuous negativity, it is time to give our city a fresh start. Out with the old and in with the new.

Carol Kirschbaum has proven that she does listen to the residents and will bring a new angle to the decision-making process. Dr. Corwin is a physician and a longtime resident of our community. Through his experience, he too will add to the dialogue.

I encourage our fellow citizens to take advantage of this great privilege which is the right to vote.

Please take the time to go to the polls and have your voice heard. Ladan Nejad Westlake Village