No question that the highest Culver City profile among a flock of candidates for the last appointments of the season to three city commissions belongs to two-term former City Councilman Alan Corlin.
Whether that will make a winning difference when the City Council settles in on Monday night to fill the fifth seat on the Civil Service Commission is not clear.
“I put my hat in the ring because no one else did,” said Mr. Corlin, who left the Council 2 1/2 months ago.
Meanwhile, a second former City Councilman, David Hauptman, is pursuing a return to public life. A businessman, Mr. Hauptman lost a bid for a second Council term six years ago.
The competition to replace Vince Motyl on the Civil Service Commission is certain to be spirited, filled with lively personalities from varied backgrounds.
Large Field
Phil Tangalakis, one of the best-known attorneys in the community, is bidding for the seat along with the activist Tom Camarella and Charles Deen, a CPA. Mr. Deen, who just left the Parks and Recreation Board, is hoping to move directly into a new commission appointment.
Shakeel Syed, executive director of the Islamic Shura Council, and litigation attorney Richard Ochoa round out the six-person field.
At least four of the six are familiar figures around City Hall, which has been booth a boost and a hindrance in the past for high-profile contenders.
If he is to win a return to City Hall, Mr. Hauptman has six rivals to beat out as he seeks to join the four present members of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Vicki Daly Redholtz, Jeff Cooper, Rick Hudson and Anita Shapiro.
The winning candidate will succeed Jeanette James.
What if There Is a Tie Vote?
Voting may be made more difficult if Vice Mayor Gary Silbiger recuses himself because his son, Karlo, is in the running. This could lead to tie voting. The elder Mr. Silbiger did step aside the last time his son applied for a commission appointment.
The other four contenders are attorney Ronald A. Valenzuela, Michelle Vogel, who has worked in human resources manager and as an independent film producer, James Alamillo of Heal the Bay, who holds degrees in environmental studies, economics and urban planning, Marianne Kim, a public policy analyst, and Robert F. Smith, an engineer for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Finally, Lauren Werner Hunter, who has 13 years of experience on the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Board, and Mary Ann Webster, a retired educator, are competing to be the landlord representative on this commission.
