I am writing to state that I am proud to support Andy Weissman for City
Council. Andy has consistently shown his dedication to our city, with a
long list of leadership positions in a number of city commissions and
organizations.
I have personally had the pleasure of working with Andy for
the past two years on the Planning Commission. Prior to that, he served on the
Civil Service Commission, and he also demonstrated critical leadership and
consensus-building skills when he chaired the Charter Review Committee. The
list goes on and on, dating back many years. He is intelligent and
creative, and he is keenly aware of the many challenges facing the city. I
know that Culver City residents can count on him to be a thorough, fair and
independent voice on the City Council.
My personal experience of working with Andy on the Planning Commission
demonstrates that he has the ability to apply his leadership and
problem-solving skills in finding workable solutions to the City's
challenges.
I have observed that Andy always arrives at our meetings well
prepared, having identified and examined the multiple dimensions to the
matters that come before the Commission. He asks insightful questions aimed
at identifying the core issues, and this allows him to take a position that
strikes an appropriate balance in the decisions the Commission must make.
Andy has a vision of how to continue to improve our city. This vision is
based on his having lived in Culver City for so many years and participated
in so many organizations. Such a vision is critical right now, when the
city is confronted with the challenges associated with generating city
revenues, the imminent Light Rail project in East Culver City, struggles to
balance development with maintaining our existing quality of life, the
ever-increasing traffic problems, and numerous other issues.
But having a vision is not enough. A majority of three Council members is
required to place his vision on the pathway to realization. Andy’s record
and experience prove that he not only has the vision needed to help guide
our City, but that he also has the essential leadership skills necessary to
build a consensus on his ideas, such that the ideas can ultimately be
implemented.
Finally, let me close with this thought. I happened to grow up in Chicago,
where one always wondered whether City Council candidates would keep the
promises they made during the election campaigns. In Andy’s case, we are
very fortunate that the situation is just the opposite. Anybody who has
ever observed Andy working in the city’s governing process can see that Andy
has already kept the promise by personally making significant and
long-lasting contributions to government decisions. He has already kept the
promise, and we need to elect him to the City Council so he can continue to
serve our community. I know he will always put the interests of our city
and its residents above all else.
Andy Weissman will make a great City Council member, and I urge you all to
vote for him on April 8. He has the record of leadership,
consensus-building, accomplishment, and commitment to the City that, in my
opinion, uniquely qualifies him for the City Council.
Mr. Rockwell is Vice Chair of the Planning Commission.