BOYDSTON MOVES TO NEW ROLE THEATER GUILD DIRECTOR SEEN AS GOOD CHOICE FOR COUNCIL.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- Timothy Ben Boydston, the Canyon Theatre Guild's executive director, has been cast in a challenging new role that will require tons of ad libbing.

His community involvement, experience and maybe most importantly his promise not to run for a seat on the Santa Clarita City Council in 2008 helped win him an appointment last week to fill a council vacancy.

``Everyone on the council has had the opportunity to watch TimBen build an active arts community in downtown Newhall, build a new facility at the Canyon Theatre Guild, promote the arts, and develop the performing arts center at College of the Canyons, so we know he's a passionate person and committed to our community,'' Councilman Frank Ferry said.

Though Boydston's fans at the Canyon Theatre Guild won't see him as much, they're not complaining.

``He brought the theater, kicking and screaming in some cases, to the place it is now and it was his vision throughout, and it goes on,'' said Ed Hill, president of the Canyon Theatre Guild's board. ``I can't think of a better person to fill out this 14-month period on the City Council. He is tireless.''

Boydston has worked for the organization for eight years after volunteering for roughly 20 years.

The council had been staring down a Jan. 3 deadline for appointing someone or calling for a special election to replace Cameron Smyth, elected last month to the state Assembly. Boydston did not place in the first tier of candidates recommended by a community panel, but when council members were immobilized by gridlock Tuesday they went beyond the top five applicants named by a citizen committee and voted 3-1 to appoint Boydston. Councilwoman Laurene Weste, who called Boydston a good friend, cast the sole dissenting vote.

With a parks commissioner, two planning commissioners, a former two-time mayor, a retired sheriff's chief, the president of a water board, a high school principal and school district board member coveting the same job, Boydston was understandably surprised by the council's decision.

``When I considered the whole thing, it was a little like `shock and awe' when I got the third vote,'' he said. ``This is a very rewarding process in the end because the people will get to pick their council person and it will be a totally level playing field with no incumbency advantage.''

Boydston, 51, was one of two in the select group who pledged not to run in 2008.

Patti Finley, the theater's director of daytime programs, said Boydston studies all aspects of an issue before making a decision. He plans to tackle the city's issues in the same way.

``You get as much good and accurate information as you can and make your decisions,'' he said. ``You have to study the issues.''

Soon he will have issues aplenty, among them a proposed expansion plan for the city's only hospital that drew intense heat at planning commission meetings.

Since 1999 the city has partnered with the theater group to improve its crumbling edifice, located in the midst of the redevelopment area. The theater has raised about $1 million and the city contributed roughly $350,000.

``We worked to take an earthquake (damaged) red-tagged building and another building next door that was boarded up as well -- transients were living inside -- and turned this little depressed corner ... from a dilapidated eyesore and public nuisance into a gem where we present great live theatre,'' Boydston said.

Theater programs attracted 40,000 patrons last year, he said.

Boydston's business know-how blossomed during the years he owned small buildings at Venice beach: a candy shop that he turned into a sandwich shop and sold, and a snack shop. He helped transform properties in Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade for a private developer and in the Hollywood redevelopment area.

Marlee Lauffer, a spokeswoman for The Newhall Land and Farming Company serves on city's Cultural Arts Advisory Council with Boydston -- who offers more than just an artist's discerning eye, she said.

``TimBen is well respected for his dedication to the cultural arts specifically, but his love of community in general,'' she said.

Phil Ellis, chairman of the Newhall Redevelopment Committee, a quasi-official group that advises the city's planning commission, was one of the 16 community panelists who interviewed applicants for the council post. He was impressed by Boydston's business acumen and gave him three points out of the maximum five.

``Tim did a fantastic job, he was extremely knowledgable about issues facing the city,'' Ellis said. ``It was apparent he had given a lot of thought to all these issues and he came across in the interviews as somebody I wouldn't mind (having) as one of my council members.''

Ingrid Boydston was at home when the council chose her husband and was more than a little surprised to pick up the phone and learn the news.

``The likelihood of him being chosen was so unlikely,'' she said. ``He put his hat in the ring on principle because he felt that would be a good way to handle the vacancy, a fair and wise way to do it. He didn't expect to be the one chosen, but he is totally able.''

When Boydston ran for a council seat 10 years ago, earning 282 votes and coming in 13th, he didn't even have the money to file a statement, Ingrid said, but he relished the chance to voice his opinions and ``put some thoughts out there for other people to comment on.''

Ingrid, 41, reflected on the plays Tim has chosen to direct: ``To Kill a Mockingbird,'' ``The Diary of Anne Frank,'' and ``Fiddler on the Roof,'' and said they share a common thread.

``He gravitates toward shows that have a message about how people should treat people,'' she said.

And the show goes on.

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Timothy Ben Boydston was appointed Tuesday to fill a City Council vacancy, promising not to run for the seat in 2008.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer