Hastings Reelected in Burbank; Dossin Loses

Burbank voters reelected Councilman Michael R. Hastings and ousted Mayor Al F. Dossin in Tuesday’s runoff election for two council seats.

Tim Murphy, an attorney and a political novice, scored the victory over Dossin--who along with Hastings was seeking a second, four-year term in the balloting.

Although Dossin, 59, raised more money than the other three candidates, he finished last. He was criticized during the last few months for not being aggressive enough in campaigning and meeting voters.

George Bonney, 55, a Los Angeles County Fire Department captain, finished third in the voting.

In the city’s only other race, also a runoff, retired bank executive Jim Rogers defeated Treasurer Jack B. Whitney, a 20-year veteran.

May 1 Swearing-In

Rogers, Hastings and Murphy will be sworn in May 1 with Tom Flavin, who won a seat on the council in February’s primary election.

The two new members of the council and Hastings said they favor slowing growth in the city. They also said they support a planned-growth initiative to slow the building of apartment complexes, which voters recently approved.

Murphy, 35, said he had expected to do well in the election.

“I’m relieved that the campaign is over and in awe of the job I’m about to begin,” he said. “Now it’s time for me to pick up my bag and get to work.”

Hastings, 35, said: “The people have seen through the rhetoric and innuendo and just looked at my record. I have taken a lot of flak, but now I feel all that is over.”

Opposed by Unions

Hastings, an advertising executive, won despite scathing criticism in the weeks after the Feb. 28 election. He was opposed by unions representing city employees and influential Councilwoman Mary Lou Howard.

In recent weeks, foes had blasted Hastings’ support by the Southern California Caucus, a political action committee of developers and other businessmen. They said outside developers were trying to exert influence in Burbank through him.

Hastings denied the accusations and said he was disassociating himself from the group after the caucus distributed a brochure Friday.

The mailer said “out-of-town” unions would be campaigning over the weekend and “pimping for their hand-picked candidates. Their objective is simple--total control of the City Council.”

Murphy, a deputy public defender, said during his campaign that the council had not acted fast enough to stop development and had been unresponsive to citizens who want to protect single-family neighborhoods.

Large Projects Approved

During the campaign, he cited a number of large developments approved by the council, including a controversial 129-home tract on hillside land.

Many of the projects were in or around residential areas dominated by single-family homes, and density restrictions for some properties were loosened to accommodate the developments.

Murphy is head of the Neighborhood Awareness Committee, which four years ago staged a failed bid to establish districts within Burbank that would be represented by individual council members.

Murphy said he wants to improve relations between neighborhoods and the council.