What makes this low-speed test of wills a curious drama to watch is that both parties are authentic professionals. They don’t have to be kicked under the dinner table in order to do the right thing. Partisan and neutral observers acknowledge that Mr. Fulwood and Ms. Alexander long ago mastered their responsibilities.
Both have reached peak moments along their quite different career paths.
Sources say that neither would bring their jousting into public view.
And the Winner Is…
Who should prevail? Who will prevail? These may be separate questions.
Ms. Alexander is perched astride what has become the hottest seat at City Hall, a reputation that started with her predecessor, Mark Ambrozich.
Often genial and charming, Mr. Ambrozich retired sooner than expected two years ago this month. First he declared his candidacy for re-election. Weeks later, he abruptly announced his imminent retirement, to Florida. Although no formal explanation was given, it seemed that the husky, combative City Treasurer, upon reflection, had lost his once healthy appetite for challenging delinquent residents and for doing face-to-face battle with a resistant business owner or two.
Further, the relations between Mr. Ambrozich on the first floor of City Hall and City Controller Eric Shapiro, also now retired, on the third floor, deteriorated after about five minutes. They never sang in harmony. The rivalry was epic.
“If you think there are competing voices now to have a strong say in finance, it was hotter during the Saga of Eric and Mark,” said a man who had experience with both offices. “There were definitely competing voices. They should not have been competing with each other. People should have listened equally to what they had to say. But it didn’t turn out that way, which was unfortunate.”
Like Mr. Ambrozich, Mr. Shapiro slipped into retirement well before expected. A year and a half ago, Mr. Shapiro elected to leave when his attempt to win certification as a department head was rejected. Mayor Albert Vera led the charge on behalf of the low-key Mr. Shapiro, and some people think that neither man yet has gotten over the City Council’s unanticipated vote.
Must be something arsonic about the air circulating in the offices at City Hall that are charged with fiscal responsibilities. Fires start there regularly.
The present rivals, Mr. Fulwood and Ms. Alexander, doubtless are positioned for a lengthy duel even though, at a glance, they appear to be traveling in opposing directions.
Time to Assimilate?
Mr. Fulwood’s contract was just renewed, covering the next three and a half years. Theoretically, in another one of those Culver City ironies, Ms. Alexander could be out of a job in two years if the Charter Reform measure, which she is supporting, passes in the April 11 election. If the item known as Measure V wins, the City Treasurer’s office will become an appointive seat in ’08 instead of elective.
Sources told thefrontpageonline.com that Ms. Alexander’s objective is to assimilate all offices with fiscal responsibility under a single umbrella, led by the City Treasurer.
As in other similar-sized communities, it might be known as the Administrative Services Dept., encompassing some or all of the following, Finance, Personnel, Risk Management and I.T., on the grounds there are natural relationships that link them. “For example,” said a source, “if you are in Risk Management, you have to know about Finance and about Personnel for Workers’ Comp. And you have to know about legalities. So many costs for the city are labor driven.”
“You can see,” said a City Hall veteran, “that getting rid of an elected City Treasurer presents the city with many different and intriguing opportunities. The present system is not necessarily functional. There are better ways.”
The gentleman has worked near Ms. Alexander and knows her well. “Crystal believes that by having the City Treasurer do not only the treasury functions but all of the accounting, all of the financial reporting, so that everything that happens financial starts there,” he said, “it provides a unique opportunity. The people who are working in that system can have observations that are more detailed and technical necessarily than what the budget people are looking at because their focus in time is different from what the accounting staff is doing. In other words, each one is bringing something different to the table that helps the financial management of the city.”
If voters approve Measure V in a little more than two months, the City Treasurer’s position could become known as the Finance Director. The City Controller designation may or may not go away. Ms. Alexander is known to favor having the Controller assigned to more traditional duties than at present, namely accounting and financial reporting.
City Hall workers who believe that Ms. Alexander’s financial responsibility role should be expanded are convinced that she has a vision for growing and updating her department that will bring more efficiency and creativity to day-to-day finances.
How this plays with Mr. Fulwood won’t really become crucial until the voters make up City Hall’s mind on Election Day.
