As the former president of the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, I was honored when community activist Beverly Taki asked me to be her campaign manager for her city council candidacy. Upon my acceptance of this position, our committee began to launch a positive campaign, dealing with the important issues facing Malibu. Never in my wildest imagination did I expect the hostility and outright lies we’ve experienced running against our opponents.
Campaign volunteers are now attacking Beverly Taki for things she did not do or say. Beverly did not have the questions to the Lily’s Candidate Forum in advance. Beverly was not and has not been endorsed by the Lily’s Cafe Steering Committee because that organization does not endorse candidates. She was never asked about subdivision law. Beverly did a smashing job in the debate because she prepared herself by studying the issues. I know this to be a fact because I personally reviewed all the issues and possible related questions from the printed sheet that included the issues. All candidates received this sheet prior to the debate. In fact, numerous attendees commented to me afterwards that Beverly actually educated the audience on the issues in Malibu.
Last week, I was disappointed to read a letter from Ms. Deidre Roney who is supporting Ms. Barovsky and Mr. Stern. In her letter to the editor, Ms. Roney, who allegedly quotes her own child, all but calls Beverly Taki “anti-children” because Beverly, like 1,000 other Malibu voters, voted against a $15 million property tax increase. So now people who oppose property tax increases are anti-children?
City Councilmember Tom Hasse and former mayor John Harlow also opposed that particular bond measure. Are these respectable community people who voted against Measure K anti-children as well? If the Measure K supporters were truly interested in the welfare of children, then they would have written a bond that specifically called for acquiring land to build sports fields for these children. Rather, the Measure K supporters were promising numerous amenities to appeal to every interest group in Malibu.
There are other ways to fund parks and recreation programs for Malibu’s children and seniors. Simply opposing one way, a property tax increase that was vague and open-ended, does not make one anti-children or anti-park. I personally know Beverly Taki and I am confident that many of you also have knowledge of her integrity and strong character. She is a consensus builder who will work to unite the various interests groups in Malibu. I am committed to the goals of our campaign committee, which is to run a positive, truthful campaign focusing on the issues important to Malibu. Don’t believe the character assassinations, Malibu.
Ani Dermenjian