COUNCIL MARKS TIME OF TRANSITION; STRATTON ENDS 12 YEARS AS MAYOR.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Daily News Staff Writer

The last Simi Valley City Council meeting for 12-year Mayor Greg Stratton was quiet and dignified Monday, as he and longtime Councilwoman Sandi Webb thanked their colleagues and supporters before stepping down from the dais for the last time.

Stratton and Webb were treated to ovations from the audience gathered in council chambers to see new representatives sworn in and outgoing members say goodbye.

``As we stand here today looking at a balanced budget, a healthy reserve . . . I feel we're in very good shape and I think it's a very good time to step down,'' Stratton told the group of about 50 people.

Also that night, Bill Davis took up the gavel, ending a 12-year tenure as a councilman and beginning his new role as mayor of the city.

``It's tough to see a person who has served for so long and so well to have to go,'' Davis told Stratton. ``I'll do the best I can to uphold the standards you've built.''

And when it came time for her to leave the seat she's held for eight years, Webb became tearful as she thanked her supporters and residents for giving her the opportunity to serve on the governing board.

``Most of us just sit here and bitch and we never really get to have a hand in the process,'' Webb said. ``And I thank you for giving me a chance to do that. Ours is a good process. It works very well.''

Before he took his leave, Stratton passed on some words of advice to the council as they readied to take the lead for the coming years.

``We don't get personal here on the dais,'' he told them. ``We may fuss and feud and jump up and down, but when that battle is done, we regroup and come back and you never know who's going to be on what team next.''

Finally, he told the panel that they should remember that laws are made for everyone, and that when applied to everyone equally, they keep out special interest groups and cronyism.

``If you can keep these two rules going,'' he said. ``You can be as successful in the next 20 years as we've been able to be in the past.''

At the same meeting, Councilman Paul Miller was elected mayor pro tem by the others on the council, to serve as the ceremonial head of the city in the absence of the mayor.

The council's two new members are now expected to make their appointments to the planning commission.

Stratton will be honored again Friday at the Boys & Girls Club, with a farewell party expected to be attended by many of the city leaders of years past as well as elected officials throughout the area.

The party is scheduled to begin with a no-host bar at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30, and presentations and speeches beginning at approximately 8:30, at the club, 2850 Lemon Drive.

Those interested in attending the party may purchase a ticket for $75 per couple or $40 per person, by calling [phone].

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Outgoing Mayor Greg Stratton attends his last Simi City Council meeting Monday.

(2) Bill Davis, left, is sworn in as the next mayor of Simi Valley by Judge Charles W. Campbell Jr.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Special to the Daily News