The Rite Stuff : Beverly Hills’ Changing of Guard Done in Traditional Style

You might think that with a new, $120-million Civic Center, the city of Beverly Hills could find a more lavish setting than a tent for its coronation ceremonies.

But traditions die hard in the Emerald City, as evidenced by the 500 or so hardy souls who braved a brisk night under the big top--and several less than brisk speeches--to watch the annual changing of the civic guard.

By the time the hungry throng broke for the Swedish meatballs, chocolate-dipped strawberries and other treats set on the food tables inside the adjoining Fire Department headquarters Tuesday night, they had witnessed the sharing of more hearts and flowers than at an FTD convention. Council members were thanking everybody--their parents, their political patrons, their college classmates, their clients, their children--even, incredibly, the members of the press.

Yet, showing the grit that will be needed to carry her through her first year as the city’s leader, newly appointed Mayor Vicki Reynolds braved the barrage of praise and calmly announced her goals for the coming year.

Among other things, Reynolds said she will appoint a mayoral cabinet, consisting of members of the city’s numerous commissions, to help her tackle such thorny issues as future development, child care, water usage and how to reduce the city’s high commercial vacancy rate.

“My goal is to make a great city even better,” Reynolds said. “And I will have some great shoulders supporting me,” she added, alluding to her four male counterparts on the council and particularly to the impressive frame of former USC lineman Bernard J. Hecht, who was sworn in as vice mayor at the ceremony.

Before passing the torch to Reynolds, outgoing Mayor Allan L. Alexander told the audience that he was thrilled with his year in office, especially since “I haven’t been recalled and I haven’t been threatened with a recall.” He then recalled some of the year’s high and low lights, including the opening of the very costly Civic Center, and, not coincidentally, this year’s $2.5-million budget deficit.

Alexander also admitted, to the surprise of no one, that he wielded one of the lightest gavels in the history of municipal government, stretching some council meetings well beyond the end of the “David Letterman Show.” The crowd was thankful that Alexander’s insistence on allowing everyone to speak at council meetings did not extend to the Tuesday night ceremony.

However, to ensure that his successor won’t fall into the same early-morning trap, Alexander presented Reynolds with a wooden gavel approximately the size of the battleship Missouri. He suggested that, when faced with a typical Beverly Hills council meeting mob, she not use it quite so sparingly as he did.