No one paying attention to City Hall will mistake the new one-year term of Mayor Jeff Cooper for the just-expired term of Jim Clarke.

Their lifestyles, their personalities and their approaches to their City Council seats are markedly different.

Not better or worse, just quite unalike.

Mr. Cooper is a banker, Mr. Clarke is a career politician.

As a bachelor, Mr. Clarke turned over his life and his ocean of ability, buttressed by his keen interest in all things Culver City, to seriously pursuing 12 unrelieved months as, essentially, a fulltime mayor. None of this “honorary position” stuff for him.

Mr. Cooper, a family man in his second whirl at the mayor’s chair, will carry a profile closer to the city charter’s description of the position as honorary.

A gladhander in a positive sense, Mr. Cooper will make all of the appropriate appearances. But he will not be nearly as ubiquitous as his predecessor.

Known as a good-time Charlie, he is a serious person who emphatically appreciates the lighter side of life.

It’s a delicate balance – an accomplished bank executive who enjoys the sunny side of the street just as much.

And Away We Go

Speaking of fun in the sun, Italy is scheduled to be the next stop for the new mayor and the old mayor – to greet a new member of Culver City’s Sister City family.