On a physically cloudy, emotionally sun-dappled Sunday afternoon high above Culver City, the patriarch of the City Council, Andy Weissman, launched his re-election campaign surrounded by an eager bevy of dozens of the best known and longest established personalities in the community.
Steve Gourley, Steve Rose, Alan Corlin, Richard Marcus, the Wolkowitzes, Ed and Marla, Ed Baughan, Allan Goldman, Gerald Sallas, John Kuechle, Hank and Mim Shapiro, Geoff Maleman, Joel Forman, Frank Campagna, Jozelle Smith, Scott Wyant, Catherine, Yanda and Crystal Alexander were among the early faces spotted.
Four months before Election Day on Tuesday, April 10, and in the midst of a volatile weekend when the Council may be shedding two members, Mr. Weissman presented himself as a steadying influence, a pillar of needed stability — his popular image in this town.
Charting Council’s Progress
Looking cool by the pool of hosts Michael Whitaker and Darren Au while attired in his favorite short-sleeved black sportshirt, Mr.Weissman, who has been to war and back, was at his light-patter best, his wry-humor style, speaking without notes.
“It always is mind-boggling to me — and this is not false modesty — that a group like this would get together for a guy like me,” he said.
Showing how a happily married smart man conducts himself in public, Mr. Weissman led off his thank-yous with his wife Doneil, “who organized and made a lot of the food.” Then he followed with “Dave Licht of Kay ‘n Dave’s, Jim Rodrigues of Santa Maria Barbecue, Albert Vera from Sorrento’s, Jay Handal from San Gennaro in Brentwood — they provided the food, and the Bacvkjstage Bar provided refreshments.
“Four years ago when I decided I was going to run for City Council, we had 10 or 11 developments in the pipeline on West Washington, we had three corners on Washington and National that were undeveloped, we had two corners on Washington and Centinela that were undeveloped and the Expo train was coming to town. Here we are four years later, having been on the Council all four years, the same two corners on Washington and Centinela are waiting for development, nothing has happened yet on Washington-National and the train is still coming.”
Plenty of Encouraging News
The crowd loved his self-deprecation.
“I pledge to do at least as well these next four years.
“It has been a lot of fun for me. I thoroughly enjoy everything I do for the city of Culver City.
“Many of you know, I have been here almost forever.
“We have done a lot, given the fact that right after I got on the Council, the economy went sideways.
“Everything we had anticipated, from an economic standpoint, either stalled or went away.
“In spite of that, the city has continued to mature and develop. Westfield Culver City has come back on line, which had little to do with me, although I did have the privilege, as Mayor, of making the welcoming speech when they had their grand opening.”
“Was it longer than this?” came the voice of now-retired School Board member Mr, Gourley from somewhere in the crowd.
“They had me on the clock,” the witty Mr. Weissman swiftly rejoined.
“The train is scheduled to arrive sometime in April, we believe.
“Oh, I left out the fact Parcel B was undeveloped, and it is undeveloped now. But we did select a developer last Monday night. Sometime within our collective lifetimes, something actually is going to get built on that site.
“Most importantly, the city is on a sound financial footing as a consequence of our six bargaining groups, all of whom came to the negotiating table this year and worked with the city to reform our pension and benefits system, not only with respect to new hires, which was relatively easy. They also negotiated giving back some of what they had earned over the years in an effort to position the city, structurally, to be able to move forward on a sound basis.
“I am very happy to have been part of the Council that achieved that.”
