Burbank Man Vies for W. Hollywood Job

Larry J. Kosmont, the director of the Burbank Redevelopment Agency, is one of four male, veteran administrators who have been recommended for the job of city manager of West Hollywood by a search committee that had hoped to attract qualified women and minority candidates, including homosexuals.

The four finalists being considered for the job were culled from 170 applicants.

Advertisements and other appeals for applicants were “unorthodox,” according to one member of the search committee. Seven semifinalists were asked questions on topics ranging from their management experience to how they would deal with a staff person who contracted Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, committee member Joseph Thompson said. An estimated 30% of West Hollywood’s residents are homosexual.

Despite the liberal social attitudes of the search committee, its preference for women and minority candidates had given way to white men with more experience as city administrators.

Kosmont said West Hollywood should be conservative in implementing social programs for the “first couple of years to get their financial base together so they can afford (programs) down the road.”

Finalists competing with Kosmont are:

Perry Beck, 37, a student working toward his master’s degree in public administration at California State Unviersity, Los Angeles, and former city manager of La Verne.

Terry Belanger, 41, director of community and recreation services in Pasadena and former chief administrative officer in the City of Brea in Orange County.

Paul Brotzman, 38, city manager of Martinez, a city of 28,000 in the San Francisco Bay area.