From the Publisher/Arnold G. York
The Malibu Times endorses Ken Kearsley and Jeff Jennings for seats on the Malibu City Council. We make no endorsement for the open seat created when incumbent Joan House decided not to run again.
This has been a very unusual political year. Normally, there are not any open seats where there is no incumbent running. The retirement of Joan House created the open seat and, much to the surprise of many people, none of the better-known potential candidates decided to run for the office. Instead, we have three relative newcomers to the Malibu political scene and one veteran who have decided to make the run. After following the campaign closely, reading the candidates’ materials, ads and mailings, listening to what they had to say and, in some cases, meeting personally with the newcomers who I didn’t know or know very well, I finally decided there was no reasonable way to make a recommendation to you, so on the third office your guess is as good as mine.
Let me tell you what I do know. We are in a pitched battle with the California Coastal Commission over local control, which is our right to govern ourselves. In the next year or two we’re also going to be looking at a great personal expense to each and everyone of us to upgrade our septic systems because both the feds and the state are pushing it, and they have the muscle to make it stick. Lastly, Malibu is running out of commercial and parking space, and rents are skyrocketing-mom and pops are being pushed out. We’re going to have to get realistic about what’s finally going to be built or the courts are going to give us that answer whether we like it or not. I doubt that we can stall much longer because there are all sorts of things now in the development pipeline.
The incumbents, Ken Kearsley and Jeff Jennings
I support both strongly. They’ve done a good job, the rancor on the council has diminished significantly and they are generally well respected. They have proved very effective in dealing with all the other governmental agencies and officeholders, all of whom have input on what happens in Malibu. (The only exception would be Sara Wan and the California Coastal Commission, who are a government unto themselves.) They’ve made some mistakes, but I believe on balance they’ve been very proactive and tried to solve the problems as they came up, despite some very moneyed opposition.
The challengers
Walt Keller – I perhaps thought for a moment that Keller might have come back from four years on his own personal Elba a little more mellow, perhaps a little more avuncular and a little less contentious and, if so, maybe I could support him. If I ever really thought that, I would have been wrong. Keller came back exactly as he left us four years ago and, if anything, even more contentious, so he was out as an endorsement.
Pamela Conley Ulich-I didn’t know Ulich, so we met for lunch and talked about her, her background and the job. She’s a lawyer and certainly bright enough, but has zero experience in anything related to government so she’d be someone you’d have to take on faith. Personally I can’t see the City Council as a place for on-the-job training, but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be done if she’s a quick learn and has the drive.
Jay Liebig-I didn’t know Liebig either, so we also met for lunch and talked. Interestingly, he comes from a property development background, which he sees as a positive in getting the best deal for the city in the battle over development. But I’m not so sure. My primary reservation other than Liebig’s limited history in Malibu is that I’m not sure he’s his own man. He’s been involved in several lawsuits where he sued the city and someone has bankrolled those very expensive lawsuits to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars, but Liebig refused to disclose who funded the lawsuits, which I think precludes supporting him.
John Mazza-Mazza is the write-in candidate who jumped in when Bill Winokur decided to drop out. He explained to me his background was in stocks and bonds, and also real estate development. He certainly is bright enough, but I’ve seen him at enough events that I can tell you everything that he’s against, which appears to be almost anything on the table, but I’m not at all sure what he’s for, so to me he’s another unknown and therefore no endorsement.
Ozzie Silna-When you check your ballot, Silna’s name doesn’t appear anywhere-but he’s there. Silna is a guy who jumps into the fray with both feet. His checkbook is apparent in every way, from the amount of money that’s being spent on this campaign to the operation of Malibu CAN to political contributions made to many state politicians to support the Coastal Commission. Silna is a kind of a political entrepreneur, and he has all sorts of plans for Malibu. Now, I’m not telling you any secrets because with Silna, all you have to do is ask him and he’s happy to tell it all.
Is what he’s doing legit? We’ll probably know in a couple of years when the Fair Political Practices Commission renders a decision, since there are bound to be all sorts of complaints filed on how he’s spending his money in this campaign.
I must tell you-on this I’m conflicted. I personally believe people have a right to spend their own money for candidates in any way they want. If the other guy has a multimillionaire whose ideas you don’t like, then go find your own multimillionaire to support you. Lord knows there are enough of them in Malibu. But bottom line, I can’t support Silna’s ideas. He and Malibu CAN have spent the last few years supporting the Coastal Commission and opposing the city in the Malibu LCP fight and now they’ve turned completely around and are for local control. I don’t buy it and that’s why I can’t support anyone of his team-Keller, Liebig or Mazza.