Calabasas Council Campaign Turns From Genteel to ‘Dirty’

The novice candidates seeking election to the first proposed Calabasas city council used adjectives such as “devastating,” “dirty” and “horrifying” to describe the 200 campaign placards that were mysteriously posted along local roadways Friday.

The words that so shocked their senses: “Yes on Cityhood. No on Karen Foley.”

Although the message might be a tame one for veteran, big-city politicians, some Calabasas candidates, who pledged to run genteel races, viewed the overnight appearance of signs as a low-down campaign maneuver.

No one has claimed responsibility for posting of the cardboard signs. And there are no clues to indicate who plastered them on telephone poles, trees and walls. Outraged by the sight, one volunteer worker for a Foley opponent drove around town ripping down the signs.

Karyn Foley, a real estate broker whose goal is to bring parks and recreation programs to the proposed city, said the anonymous opposition “is devastating.”

And, for the record, Foley’s name is Karyn, not Karen.

Foley is one of 13 candidates vying for five seats on the proposed council that would be created March 5 if voters approve incorporation.

Foley said if someone believes she is unqualified for the job, residents should be informed during one of the many candidates’ forums that have been held in the community.

“What I’m upset about is that it has turned out to be this kind of an election,” Foley said. “If it could happen to me, it could happen to someone else.”

Some candidates contacted Friday expressed support for Foley and disavowed knowledge of the posters’ origins. Some said they were saddened that someone in the community would resort to such tactics.

“I can’t believe that anybody would play that dirty,” attorney Jeffrey S. Kurtz said. “So far, this campaign has been very much above-board without many controversies.”

Wendy Brockman, a community activist who is working on the campaign for Dennis Washburn, said she drove around the neighborhood and removed about 24 signs Friday morning. She said she saw other residents take down dozens more.

“It’s horrifying that this type of tactic could happen in our community. There is no place for this,” Brockman said. “If people disagree on things, they can come out and talk about them publicly. I don’t know who would stoop so low as to do this. It’s such poor taste.”

Candidate Peter Eason, a banker, said he had been “impressed” by Foley during forums. I think negative campaigning demonstrates the weakness of whomever is sponsoring it,” he said.

But Lesley Devine, a writer and environmentalist, said she was “not surprised” by the appearance of the negative signs.

Despite the friendly veneer of the candidates’ forums, she said, there is a hostile rumor mill in town.

But candidate Jack Bethel, also a banker, speculated that the signs were posted by a resident with a grudge against Foley rather than another candidate.

Michael Ficherra, an attorney and businessman, offered similar sentiments. “When you do business in a community for a number of years, you are going to have some people who don’t like you,” he said.

Bob Hill, who served as president of the cityhood committee for five years, said the signs were evidence of “the real world showing up here.”