BURBANK ELECTIONS : Howard Loses Bid for a 4th Term as Bowne, Battey Capture Seats

Burbank Councilwoman Mary Lou Howard, one of the city’s most popular and controversial politicians, was defeated Tuesday in her bid to win a fourth term in the Burbank general election.

Howard, 53, the most senior member of the five-person council, lost out in the runoff election for two council seats to incumbent Robert R. Bowne and Planning Board Chairman George Battey. Thomas McCauley, Burbank’s former public service director, came in last.

In another runoff race, real estate agent Elena Hubbell was elected to one of two open positions on the Burbank Board of Education, while current board member William Abbey kept his seat.

Businessman Joe Hooven and neurosurgeon S. Michael Stavropoulos lost out in the school board election.

Howard was attempting to become only the second council member in Burbank history to serve more than three four-year terms.

Bowne received the highest vote total with 6,541, or 29.1%, of the 12,441 ballots cast. Battey gathered 6,144 votes for 27.4%; Howard was third with 5,492 for 24.5% and McCauley was last with 4,283 or 19.1%.

In the school board race, Hubbell was first with 7,445 votes or 34.9% of the vote; Abbey received 5,283 votes for 24.8%; Stavropoulos received 4,697 for 22% and Hooven was last with 3,915 or 18.3%.

In winning the school board race, Hubbell said she was extremely pleased. “I knew I had done everything that I could do,” she said.

Only 29.9% of registered voters turned out, which was less than the 33.5% that turned out in the February municipal primary.

Although Howard has long been one of Burbank’s most colorful and influential officials, she finished only third in a field of 16 council candidates in the February primary. Her reelection bid was regarded by opponents as an uphill battle.

Howard blamed her defeat on a series of scathing mailers by her opponents that attacked her philosophy on growth in Burbank and alleged that she and her late husband Jack had filed several lawsuits against the city over the years that had cost taxpayers more than $110,000.

“This has been a very difficult race,” Howard said before leaving for her election party at the Burbank Holiday Inn. “I don’t know anyone who could overcome that many attacks. I really think it would have been very difficult to win this election.”

Of Battey’s second-place win, Howard said, “I expected it.” She said Battey and his supporters, mostly developers, were behind the anti-Howard mailers.

Howard had said during the campaign that she was one of only two council members who put neighborhood concerns above development interests.

Councilman Tim Murphy, Howard’s lone ally on the council, said, “We’ve lost an ear to the people.”

Battey, on hearing of his victory, said, “Mrs. Howard has made a real contribution to the community. But I think people just felt they wanted to make a change.”

Councilman Michael R. Hastings, who was backed by Howard when he was first elected to the council in 1985, added, “We’ll miss Mary Lou. But it’s time for some new blood on the council.”

Bowne, who was labeled as pro-development during the campaign by his opponents, said his victory signified “a stamp of approval from the people of Burbank that I’m doing the right thing.”