COUNCIL SEATS LURE 7 HOPEFULS SCHOOLS, ENVIRONMENT TOP ISSUES.Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer Seven candidates are vying vy·ing v. Present participle of vie. vying vie for three open seats on the Calabasas City Council, with environmental protection and cooperation with the school district emerging as key issues in the March 8 election. The three incumbents say they have put Calabasas on a sound financial footing and made it a desirable place to live and raise families. But some of the challengers say city officials have wasted money and are beset be·set tr.v. be·set, be·set·ting, be·sets 1. To attack from all sides. 2. To trouble persistently; harass. See Synonyms at attack. 3. by conflicts. Here is a brief profile of the candidates and their statements. The Incumbents: -- James Bozajian, 39, is a deputy district attorney for Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County. He was elected to the Calabasas City Council in 1997, re-elected in 2001, and has served twice as mayor. Bozajian said he was proud of his role in the successful battle to defeat the Ahmanson Ranch project and in obtaining grant money to build a library in conjunction with the new civic center project. The City Council appointed him twice to terms on the Calabasas Community Policing Commission. ``I've a lot of experience and have done a good job on my eight years on the City Council,'' Bozajian said. ``I've never missed a meeting, never missed a vote. I attend homeowners associations regularly and make it a practice to keep in contact.'' -- Lesley Devine, a city founder, has been a member of the Calabasas City Council since its start in 1991. ``I am proud that we have created the finest quality of life in the region,'' said Devine, 62. ``That happens by design and hard work, with attention to detail. ``We have some of the lowest crime statistics in the region. We're building a world-class civic complex with a new library, we defeated Ahmanson Ranch and helped turn it into public parkland, and we're in great fiscal shape.'' -- Mayor Michael Harrison--, 53, is an attorney and arbitrator arbitrator n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as a judge who conducts a "mini-trial," somewhat less formally than a court trial. In most cases the arbitraror is an attorney, either alone or as part of a panel. . Harrison says he has taken initiatives to improve the community, including partnerships with the Las Virgenes Unified School District Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) is a K-12 school district in north-west Los Angeles County, USA consisting of 14 public schools in the cities of Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Westlake Village, and several small portions of the West Hills section of Los Angeles. . A council member and former planning commissioner, he said he has fought to protect the area from overdevelopment Overdevelopment refers to a process by which natural resources are impacted by urbanization and/or road construction, at a rate significantly harmful to the ecosystem. Environmental activism is a frequent response to overdevelopment, as well as are many fields of academic study. and supports open space acquisition. ``I care deeply about preserving our small-town quality of life and full citizen participation,'' he said, noting that he initiated a number of park programs. ``As a member of the Civic Center Task Force, I have worked tirelessly tire·less adj. Not yielding to fatigue; untiring or indefatigable. tire  less·ly adv. to bring Calabasas a beautiful
civic center, which will proudly serve as our new town
center.''
The Challengers: -- Mary Sue This article is about the concept in modern literary criticism. For either part of the given name or real or fictional people named as such, see Mary and Sue. Mary Sue, sometimes shortened simply to Sue Maurer, 46, is a businesswoman. She said she and her family were attracted to Calabasas by the city's location in the Santa Monica Mountains The Santa Monica Mountains are a low transverse range in southern California in the United States. Geography They run for approximately 40 mi (64 km) east-west from the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles to Point Mugu in Ventura County. , outstanding public schools and the community's small-town feel. She pointed to her experience as a former field deputy for Assemblywoman as·sem·bly·wom·an n. A woman who is a member of a legislative assembly. Noun 1. assemblywoman - a woman assemblyman representative - a person who represents others Fran Pavley Fran Pavley is a Democratic politician and previously served as a California Assemblywoman and as the first mayor of the Southern California community of Agoura Hills. She served as a Mayor and Councilmember for four terms. , D-Woodland Hills, and said, ``My background, longtime involvement in the community as a parent, and knowledge of our community and my ability to get things done will help me make an immediate difference for all Calabasas residents.'' Maurer said she would work to alleviate divisiveness on the council, which she said delayed construction of the civic center. -- Vernon Padgett, 85, is a retired San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. physician. He is in his second term on the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District board and said one of his main campaign issues is reducing unnecessary city spending. ``At the water district, I was able to help reduce water rates and prevent increases in sewer service charges. If I am elected to the City Council, I hope to make the city more efficient and prevent useless spending. -- Bob Sibilia, 46, is a consumer attorney. A former mayor, he is a member of the Calabasas Chamber of Commerce and the city's Parks and Recreation Commission. ``I'd like to see family-oriented leadership brought back for our decision-makers. I'd like to make Calabasas the premier city in California for which to raise a family,'' he said. -- Jonathon Wolfson--, 38, is an attorney and city planning city planning, process of planning for the improvement of urban centers in order to provide healthy and safe living conditions, efficient transport and communication, adequate public facilities, and aesthetic surroundings. commissioner. Wolfson said he wants to protect the quality of life in Calabasas, which he called unmatched in the region. ``As a planning commissioner, I have worked to protect our city and its environment. Our great city will continue to flourish as long as we deal with the important issues facing our lifestyle and government,'' He said. Eric Leach, (805) 583-7602 eric.leach(at)dailynews.com IF YOU GO A candidates forum for the Calabasas City Council is scheduled by the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Water District headquarters, 4232 Las Virgenes Road. CAPTION(S): box Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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