MCLEAN FINALLY MAY BE MAYOR.

Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA -- With two solid votes in her column and the likelihood of at least one more, Councilwoman Marsha McLean may finally land the title of mayor in two weeks.

Council members serve staggered four-year terms and generally rotate the mayor post each December, but McLean was passed over in 2004 and this year the change overlaps another big council decision -- naming a successor for Assemblyman-elect Cameron Smyth.

Smyth's successor could be named Wednesday, and there has been some question about whether internal council issues could sandbag McLean's hopes Dec. 12.

``The council may choose to postpone the new council member's appointment until after the mayor's selection in order to avoid any question of internal council politics,'' Councilman Frank Ferry said in an interview. ``The issue of deciding a mayor has been a contentious one in our city's history and it would be unfortunate to cloud a new council member's appointment during a time when the mayorship is held over anyone's head.''

He declined to elaborate.

The top candidates for the appointment, out of a field of 15 applicants, include Saugus High School Principal Bill Bolde, Parks Commissioner Laurie Ender, Newhall County Water District board president Maria Gutzeit, City Planning Commissioner Bill Kennedy and retired sheriff's department chief Bob Spierer.

McLean, who won her council seat in 2002, was named mayor pro tem on a 4-1 vote last year, when Councilman Bob Kellar cast the no vote. On Nov. 24 Kellar said he ``probably'' would support her as mayor.

``I anticipate Marsha will be confirmed as mayor,'' Kellar said from Washington, D.C. on Monday.

Kellar and Mayor Laurene Weste plan to meet with legislators who may help resolve the city's battle with Cemex over a massive sand and gravel mine planned in Soledad Canyon.

Weste could not be reached Monday, but Ferry said in public and in private Weste has said ``she's supporting Mayor Pro Tem McLean for mayor.''

``Obviously until the final vote one can change their mind, but for the last year she's been very supportive Mayor Pro Tem McLeans's transition to mayor,'' Ferry said.

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