It sounded like an afterthought last evening when departing mayor Jim Clarke inserted one of his strongest wishes into his farewell speech.
Demonstrating one final time how much he loved being Culver City’s mayor for the past year, Mr. Clarke said he hopes that one day there will be a separate election for mayor for a four-year term with an eight-year limit.
On a drama-starved night when Jeff Cooper and Thomas Small – unanimously, of course — were elected mayor and vice mayor by their City Council colleagues, Mr. Clarke remained the heavyweight champion for a few more minutes.
Vice Mayor Thomas Small and wife Joanne Brody are joined by their 9-year-old twins Joey and Lyra, and his in-laws, Dr. Garry Brody and Sonia Brody
Doubtless his suggestion/request/plea will take a shortcut to the recycle pile.
With Councilman Goran Eriksson participating in a rare telephonic hookup from his native Sweden, the change in roles under City Halls rotation system required merely a hiccup in time. In three bloodless minutes, starting at 7:40, Mr. Clarke nominated Mr. Cooper for mayor. Automatically, all five members affirmed the choice.
A moment later, Councilperson Meghan Sahli-Wells nominated Mr. Small for vice mayor. Before anyone could exhale or inhale, the five automatic votes were registered faster than presto.
Meanwhile, back to Mr. Clarke, who was accorded a standing ovation.
“Rarely have I seen such dedication in a public official,” said Ms. Sahli-Wells, herself a former mayor.
Being mayor for the opening 7½ months of Culver City’s Centennial year, Mr. Clarke invested his identical-twin professional and personal dimensions into serving as leader of the city, the face of the community.
For Mr. Clarke and the supposedly honorary mayor’s role, it was love at first sight, a marriage whose bonds never should be broken.
Since being elected to the City Council when Scott Malsin chose to leave office early, residents have learned that all, not most, of Mr. Clarke’s waking hours are spent at community events.
Glancing at his predecessor on his immediate left, Mayor Cooper said that it will be difficult to think again of Mr. Clarke as “just a Councilman.”
To compound the grayness of the evening for the outgoing mayor and his supporters,