Many things have been written and said about Tuesday’s election for the two open Council seats in Culver City. In the end, only one thing counts; choosing the candidates who have the goods to get the job done.
Despite the fine field of candidates, the answer is easy. Jeff Cooper and Scott Malsin are far ahead of the pack in one thing that can’t be ginned, experience.
Scott is a Yale graduate. In addition to demonstrating four solid years of leadership on the Council, he has served as Mayor, Chairman of the Redevelopment Agency and a Director of the Exposition Rail Construction Authority. Respect for Scott’s leadership skills is so high that fellow elected officials from adjacent cities selected him to Chair the Westside Cities Council of Governments.
Prior to his election, Scott spent five years on the Planning Commission where he heard and considered all manner of contentious development issues. Scott is a longtime member on the Fiesta La Ballona Committee, founded the Culver West Neighborhood Assn. and has been on the board of the Ballona Creek Renaissance since 2001. In his spare time, Scott has been a husband and father, on the Board of Directors and President of the Culver City Exchange Club and a Board Member for the Culver City Friends of the Library.
Jeff’s resume of experience is no less impressive. After graduating from Cal State Fullerton, Jeff was a successful Culver City businessman and is now a respected mortgage banker with Wells Fargo. Jeff was the Chairman and spent nearly 10 years on the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission. During his tenure with the Commission, Jeff presided over the opening of the Culver Senior Center, the Teen Center and a multi-million dollar refurbishment of the city’s parks and recreation centers.
Many Culver City residents associate Jeff with his role as the producer of the annual Cruisin’ Back to the ‘50s Car Show and as founding member of the Friends of the Culver City Dog Park, which led to development of the Boneyard, a facility that is now enjoyed by scores of local residents and their dogs every year. Like Scott, Jeff has also been a past President and is a Board Member of the Culver City Exchange Club where he has been a key organizer of the Fourth of July Fireworks Show, the annual Senior Holiday Party and the Disability Children’s Carnival. Along with raising two exemplary daughters – one in college and the other college-bound – Jeff spearheaded the development of the Culver Skate Park and is an active participant CERT – Community Emergency Response Team.
No community has been able to escape the impact of the deepest recession since the 1930s. Similar to other municipalities, Culver City has been hit hard and is facing daunting decisions over the next several years. The city needs sure-footed leaders who have the experience and confidence to hit the ground running. There is no room for error or time to hope that a candidate will grow into the position.
In this election, only Jeff Cooper and Scott Malsin are ready now to hoist the mantle of leadership. Both have proven track records and years of experience to guide Culver City over the next four years.
If you care about the future of Culver City, especially during these tough times, it’s a no- brainer. Choose experience.
Mr. Cohn may be contacted at john@globewestfinancial.com
