Sibilia back in race

Former mayor last served
in 2000



Bob Sibilia

Bob Sibilia


Former mayor last served

in 2000

By Michael Picarella

pic@theacorn.com

Former Calabasas Mayor and City Councilmember Bob Sibilia, 46, ran for city council in 2003 telling voters he wanted Calabasas to be the premier place to raise a family in Southern California.


Sibilia, who was on the city council from 1997 to 2000, lost that election, but is back with the same message and the same goal for 2005.


Sibilia is one of four challengers to the three city council seats currently belonging to Mayor Michael Harrison, Councilmember Lesley Devine and Councilmember James Bozajian.


All three seek re-election to four-year terms. The election is March 8.


"I’m doing the same exact thing that I did during the last election," Sibilia said. "And that’s just talking about what I believe in. I believe in taking care of the young people in the community and all good things will follow."


Sibilia, an attorney, has lived in Calabasas since it was incorporated in 1991. He and his wife have two girls who attend Calabasas High School.


While all seven candidates mostly agree when it comes to the main issues, some of them have different goals they want to promote. Sibilia wants Calabasas to be more family- and youth-oriented.


"It benefits all the citizens in our community because I think it will support our home prices and I think we’ll also ensure that we live in a safe and clean community," Sibilia said. "I think we start off with making a youth master plan for the young people."


Sibilia said many people moved to Calabasas for the schools and other opportunities for children. More youth-oriented activities would fulfill those interests and people will continue to move here, increasing home values.


Sibilia also believes crime would be reduced by addressing the needs of the area’s youth.


"We have a low crime rate, but the most likely area where crime may increase statistically is crimes against property, defacing property, graffiti and things like that," Sibilia said. "That’s why we must focus on the young people and make sure that they’re occupied."


Sibilia said he’s also interested in stepping up public safety meaures in the city. He wants to place heart defibrillators in various public locations, for example.


"These things can really increase survival rates dramatically because when someone has a heart attack, each minute delay reduces your survival rate by 10 percent," Sibilia said. "I’ve arranged for a certified instructor to come and train city staff free of charge. He’s already waiting to do it."


As a litigator, Sibilia said he’s very qualified for the job as a city council member.


"Every council agenda usually has a closed session and during every closed session, they’re usually discussing matters of litigation and real property negotiations," Sibilia said. "I’ve been a civil litigator for about 18 years now and I’m also a licensed California real estate broker, so a lot of the important decisions that are made for the people in this town are made in closed session."


During Sibilia’s tenture on the council between 1997 and 2000, the city opened The Commons shopping center, the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center and the first city-owned preschool (Calabasas Klubhouse Preschool).


Sibilia was Calabasas Mayor from November of 1999 to March of 2000. He resigned as mayor after accepting an out-of-state job, but later moved back to the city.


Sibilia has been an Agoura/Calabasas Community Center chairman and board member, Calabasas Park Homeowners Association board member, and "Principal for a Day" at Bay Laurel and A.E. Wright schools. He also was a Calabasas Teen Court judge and currently is a member of the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce.




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