Record Vote Helps Bartlett Bury Rivals for Monrovia Mayor’s Seat

Voters turned out in record numbers Tuesday to elect longtime City Councilman Robert Bartlett to the office of mayor, turning back a challenge by restaurateur Andre Hindoyan, who had never held public office but spent more than $16,000 in seeking the position.

Bartlett won with 3,697 votes, or 80.7% of those cast. Hindoyan received 710 votes, or 15.4%, followed by Don Trowbridge with 174 votes, or 3.8%.

The voter turnout was 34%, the highest ever in a Monrovia city election.

Hindoyan, who registered to vote for the first time 15 months ago, declined to be interviewed before the election and refused to comment Tuesday night. Active in the Monrovia business community for 17 years, he owns Le Papillon restaurant.

Trowbridge could not be reached for comment.

Bartlett said the result was a “message to any candidate that Monrovians care about their community and how a campaign is run. I want to thank Monrovians for their expression of confidence in turning out in such large numbers in my behalf.”

Bartlett has served on the council for 14 years. He has consistently been the city’s top vote-getter and is a major force behind Monrovia’s extensive redevelopment projects. He has two years remaining in his council term, and his vacated seat will be filled by appointment or a special election.

The bizarre race--in which Hindoyan rarely spoke but advertised widely and Trowbridge began wearing a bulletproof vest because, he said, he feared for his life--caused some community leaders to question the wisdom of having an elected mayor.

But Assemblyman Richard Mountjoy (R-Arcadia), who was a Monrovia city councilman when he promoted the idea in 1974, said he still thinks that it is a good idea.

“This shows that there is no apathy here,” Mountjoy said. “With all the money spent by Hindoyan, the people turned out and supported Bartlett. People are not apathetic if something is going on that they care about.”

In the race for two council seats, incumbents Mary Wilcox and William Card were returned to office. Wilcox received 2,942 votes, or 36.1%, followed by Card with 2,468 votes, or 30.3%. Trailing were Lara Blakely with 1,766 votes, or 21.7%, and Patrick Hauk with 961 votes, or 11.8%.

City Treasurer Louis Bernabo received 3,213 votes, or 75.3%, turning aside a challenge by Louis Rab, who received 1,052 votes, or 24.6%.