WLV council candidates tackle issues





OPPONENTS—From left, Westlake Village City Council challengers Don Rosenberg, Brad Halpern and Kym Horner at the Oct. 7 debate.

OPPONENTS—From left, Westlake Village City Council challengers Don Rosenberg, Brad Halpern and Kym Horner at the Oct. 7 debate.

City Council incumbents Susan McSweeney and Mark Rutherford, and challengers Brad Halpern, Don Rosenberg and Kym Horner agree on one thing: They all promise to be collaborative leaders who will work to maintain the quality of life in Westlake Village while allowing the city to move forward into the 21st century.

About 120 people attended a candidates forum on Oct. 7 that was hosted by online news source Westlake Revelations, the League of Women Voters and the Westlake Yacht Club. Resident Neil Ticktin, founder of Westlake Revelations, moderated the event.

The five candidates are vying for three seats on the council in the Westlake Village municipal election on Nov. 5.

Robert Slavin, a City Council member since 2001, chose not to seek another term, which means at least one newcomer will join the council.

“Westlake Village is a very neighborly place,” said McSweeney. “I bring respect for the people in my community and want to continue that. I’m not seeking endorsements, just votes.”

Since being elected in 2001, McSweeney said, she has contributed to the betterment of the city.

“Public safety, schools, community parks and municipal infrastructure, and the financial health of the city have all been realized,” said McSweeney, who created and ran the White Oak Elementary School Kinderclub enrichment program.

Rutherford, who was elected in 1997, said City Council members must always be willing to look at both sides of an issue.

A professional arbitrator and mediator and a representative on local committees and regional boards, Rutherford said disputes and dysfunction among elected representatives can waste valuable time and resources.

“It doesn’t just happen in Bell. Years ago it was in Malibu. Ten years ago it was in Thousand Oaks, and right now it’s happening to our water district,” said Rutherford, who urged voters to look beyond the issues when they go to the polls.

Candidates answered 10 questions relating to new development, senior housing, crime trends, technology infrastructure and other topics.

With regard to technology, candidates agreed that Westlake Village needs to do more to improve cell reception, cable and Wi-Fi service for homes and businesses.

“We need a technology strategy that will improve connectivity in the city,” said Halpern, an entrepreneur who is president of the First Neighborhood Homeowners Association.

“The city still has many areas with spotty cellphone service,” said Rosenberg, who owns an entertainment consulting firm.

But while residents want better reception, many people oppose new cell towers when they are proposed.

Horner, a redevelopment services manager for the City of Oxnard, said Westlake’s cable infrastructure should be improved to reduce the spread of satellite dishes on rooftops.

But the incumbents said that with only 3,000 housing units, it’s not easy to get companies to invest in new infrastructure.

On senior housing, Horner said, “I totally support any senior housing that we propose in the future.”

She added that seniors are the backbone of the community and the city should do whatever it can to accommodate their needs. Horner also said she would strike a balance between new development and preserving the quality of life in the city.

Rosenberg said the city could consider rezoning several commercial areas along the 101 Freeway so vacant office buildings could be replaced with housing for seniors.

Halpern said senior housing on a site near Lake Lindero is a good idea, but only if it’s scaled back to lessen impacts on neighboring properties. The land should also include something to benefit the entire community, such as a senior center, he said.

During the discussions, Halpern also said the city should do more to promote local schools, which have helped to raise property values in the community.

After the forum, Westlake Village resident Scott Pritchett said new governance could bring renewed insights to the city.

“We have good candidates coming in . . . and I think it’s time for things to be looked at in a different way,” Pritchett said.

“We have some good members on the council, and they’ve done a great job in the past and may still do a good job in the future, but you really need to start looking at different options. What worked 20 years ago doesn’t necessarily work today,” he said.

Harry and Pat Croner, who have lived in the city for 40 years, said all candidates represented themselves well and would do a “splendid job.”

“They’re all good people and qualified,” Harry Croner said.

“Rutherford is the voice of reason, and he works so hard he should be reelected,” Pat Croner said.

Voter Linda Menges was impressed with Halpern.

“I think he’s very interested in supporting the schools and how that ties into property values,” she said.

Ticktin said the forum allowed residents to get a glimpse of the personality and approach of each candidate and how they may perform as council members.

All candidates said they will run grassroots campaigns with minimal expenditure.


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