CITY COUNCIL SPLIT RESURFACES; MAJORITY NAMES MARKEY MAYOR OVER ZEANAH PROTESTS.

Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer

Despite talk of olive branches, courtesy and respect, the Tuesday night meeting at which City Council member Michael Markey became mayor was anything but healing.

After Councilman Andy Fox nominated Markey for mayor, Councilwoman Linda Parks nominated Councilwoman Elois Zeanah and began a speech marked with cheers from Zeanah supporters in the audience.

Parks asked the council to reverse what she called a pattern of suppression by the council's majority that included Parks being passed over for chairwoman of the Planning Commission, Dan Del Campo's being rejected as a Planning Commission appointee and last year's rejection of Zeanah for mayor pro tem.

Parks also called upon the council members to put their recent words of unity to action by appointing Zeanah as mayor.

``Good will and sportsmanship would shine through,'' Parks said.

Then, Fox, Lazar and Markey voted to elect Markey mayor, with Zeanah and Parks opposing. On the Zeanah vote, Parks and Zeanah voted in favor, Markey voted against, and Fox and Lazar abstained.

Markey nominated Parks for mayor pro tem. She was approved by acclamation after no other nominations were made.

In his inaugural speech, Markey called for a transition to a more positive environment in the city. He said he would work for infrastructure maintenance, youth and family activities, economic growth and a return to more cordial council meetings.

``We should agree that even when we disagree, we should do so with courtesy and respect,'' Markey said. ``Let's set a positive example.''

But the rest of the meeting was anything but positive.

Zeanah said that her not being named mayor was equivalent to ``a political hijacking,'' and her supporters, many displaying black-and-white ``Z! Mayor'' stickers, stood at the podium and blasted Fox, Markey and Lazar for what had just taken place.

``Tonight's action by the council majority is a blot on this city's history,'' Robert Knapp said.

Debbie Gregory dubbed the majority ``The Kings and Queen of Mean of Thousand Oaks.''

Some members of the council had grown too bold and dismissed the will of the people, Henri Tapie said.

Other Zeanah supporters looked 11 months ahead to November 1998, when the terms of Fox, Lazar and Zeanah will expire.

``We can change this next year when we go to the ballot box,'' said Suzanne Duckett. ``The line has been drawn. . . . The olive branch has now been stepped on.''