Feud Unravels Howard’s Ties to 2 Colleagues on Burbank Council

Last year, when Burbank high school students attended Burbank City Council meetings as part of class assignments, then-Mayor Mary Lou Howard would urge them to return to what she called “the best show in town.”

At the time, Howard could afford to have a sense of humor about the council’s sometimes entertaining Tuesday night meetings.

Angry at two members of the City Council in her previous term, she had flexed her political muscles and aided in the election of two others, plus a third to fill an open seat. She therefore became the leader of a council majority that not only appeared to agree with her philosophically but also owed its victories in large part to her.

It wasn’t long, however, until the post-election honeymoon with those she had supported--Mary E. Kelsey, Michael R. Hastings and Al F. Dossin--showed signs of wear.

Hastings and Dossin, in particular, chafed at Howard’s attempts to speak for them on issues. Kelsey, who this year succeeded Howard in the mayor’s post, which is rotated among council members, found herself the mediator of increasingly rancorous disputes between Howard and Hastings that have made the regular meetings seem more like the Tuesday night fights.

Recently, the rift between Howard and the two councilmen has widened.

Howard has publicly chastised Dossin, calling him an ineffective councilman because of his refusal to attend city functions. She has also said that Dossin seems to favor developers over the wishes of residents who want to limit development in Burbank.

“Al’s forgotten the people who elected him,” she said in a recent interview. “He’s put the residents aside and is now rolling out the red carpet for developers.”

Dossin has refused to respond to the charges.

The tension between Howard and Hastings has manifested itself in heated discussions in and out of council meetings. Hastings said he was particularly angered two weeks ago when Howard opposed him in his motion to give a merit raise of more than 5% to City Manager Bud Ovrom and City Atty. Douglas Holland. Howard wanted them to have a 2% raise.

“Turning her back on our leaders, whom she lobbied the council to hire, puzzles the hell out of me,” Hastings said.

Strained Relationship

As for Kelsey, some city officials who asked not to be identified said her relationship with Howard has been strained in recent months.

Hastings said Howard has implied, in statements made in an editorial in the Burbank Leader newspaper, that Kelsey’s leadership was not strong. In the editorial, Howard said an elected mayor would provide more consistent leadership, but she did not refer directly to Kelsey or the current council.

Both women, who have been friends for several years, say no animosity exists.

“I’m independent and she’s independent, and we vote the way we feel,” Kelsey said. “There’s nothing wrong.”

Kelsey said she has tried to soothe tensions on the council, particularly between Howard and Hastings.

“I think Mary Lou felt that Mike was trying to hurt her in some way,” Kelsey said. “He didn’t mean to. He’s just independent, and he certainly is not doing anything intentionally.”

She said Dossin’s perceived aloofness from city functions “has not gotten any worse, but it’s not gotten any better.”

Most of the recent sparks were ignited at a Sept. 2 council study session when Hastings proposed a charter amendment that would limit council members to two four-year terms. There is now no limit on the number of terms to which council members may be elected.

Hastings said he made his proposal because he wanted more people to have an opportunity to serve on the council. But, since Howard is preparing to run for a third term next year, several officials felt that Hastings’ proposal was directed against her.

The council later unanimously agreed to place the measure on the June, 1988, presidential primary ballot, which would not affect Howard’s reelection effort. Howard said that, although she opposes it, she thinks the voters should have the opportunity to decide.

Although Howard did not say whether she thought the measure was directed at her, during the study session she shot back with a proposal that the mayor be elected by the populace, instead of being rotated among council members. Since Hastings, who is vice mayor, is expected to be appointed mayor next year, Howard’s proposal was apparently a rejoinder to his.

Howard said later that she did not have Hastings in mind when she made the suggestion. In any case, as it stands, the proposal would not affect Hastings. It has not been voted on by the council.

Antagonizing Colleague

Hastings said he believes Howard is trying to antagonize him.

“From what I understand, this is very typical of Mary Lou,” Hastings said. “Election time is coming up and she’s got to be perfect. But I don’t understand why she’s taken on me? I would think that, when it comes to getting along with her fellow councilmen during this time, she would go out of her way.”

When told of Hastings’ statements, Howard said last week: “I think Mike is seeing shadows that aren’t there. We have the same philosophy. We’re all together.”

Still, Hastings said he was wary of Howard. “I’m not looking forward to this political season,” he said, referring to the April election. “I hope everybody behaves, but I think people will do damage to themselves.”

Councilman Robert R. Bowne, the only veteran besides Howard on the council, noted a certain deja vu with regard to the current tensions on the council.

“The rhetoric is heating up in a way I did notice in the past, and those issues clearly brought to the surface deep feelings,” he said. “I don’t know if ill will exists, but there are major disagreements.”