ELECTIONS / SAN DIMAS : Candidates Focus on Small-Town Atmosphere Versus Development

Balancing the inevitability of development with preservation of a small-town atmosphere is the overriding issue in this City Council race, with most of the candidates pushing to slow development.

Seven candidates are running for two City Council seats Tuesday. Mayor Terry Dipple is unopposed, and Councilwoman Maria Tortorelli is not running for reelection.

Incumbent Sandy McHenry, 41, is running for a second four-year term on the council. A lifelong resident of San Dimas, he promises to continue improving parks, preserving open space and increasing law enforcement with an emphasis on community relations and preventive programs.

He serves on the city Development Plan Review Board and Senior Citizens Housing Committee, and was planning commissioner for four years. He owned a nursery until last year.

Carla Damrill, 50, who last year formed Save Our Rural Environment to scale down a proposed development, is running on a slow-growth platform.

“Our unique small-town lifestyle is threatened by the continued overdevelopment of our hills and residential areas,” said Damrill, who also led a call for a new city ordinance that restricts tree cutting. A commercial insurance broker and a 10-year resident, Damrill said she would like to develop more services for seniors and more volunteer programs.

John Ebiner, 37, a hospital computer analyst, grew up in West Covina and has lived in San Dimas since 1985. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Cal Poly Pomona.

Ebiner, who serves on the General Plan Advisory Committee, said he favors slow growth and doesn’t want to allow duplexes in the 20-block, predominantly single-family residential town core, “to keep that small-town atmosphere.” He also supports additional housing for senior citizens.

Planning Commission Chairman Gary Harshman, 47, says attracting retail businesses for more revenue and maintaining a solid budget are his goals. The El Monte Airport manager has come under fire from other candidates for his county links and support from developers.

At least $2,500 of the $3,000 contributed to his campaign came from developers or investors in development, but he described development as a moot issue because “San Dimas is almost built out.” The 15-year resident has served on the Planning Commission since 1987 and is on the General Plan Committee.

Ed Jones, 39, who has served on the city’s Senior Citizens Commission since October, is making his second bid for a council seat in two years. He is branch manager of a manufacturing firm.

He said the council needs to protect mobile home parks “to give (park) residents peace of mind.” He also advocates a face lift for the Canyon shopping center, calling it a “disgrace” that is forcing residents to shop out of town.

Artist and gallery owner Abraham Vanwyk, 57, says he is running as “a man of the people” and believes development is crucial for the city. “If our town doesn’t grow, it will be dead on its feet,” he said. “The others want to keep the hills green with coyotes running around. I say people own those hills. If you want green space, buy property for a park.”

A former minister in the County Jail, retirement homes and hospitals, he is in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and teaches boat handling and safety at Bonelli Regional County Park.

Mary B. Young, 38, said she moved to San Dimas seven years ago because she liked the small-town feeling and wants to maintain that atmosphere. The homemaker she said she also wants to preserve the city’s remaining natural areas and increase youth programs.

She has volunteered in anti-drug education efforts in the schools and in the Pomona Valley Council of Churches shelter program.