Rufener, Bennett Keep Council Seats in Westlake Village
Westlake Village Mayor Kenneth Rufener held onto his City Council seat, narrowly defeating challenger Daniel Murphy in an election that focused on a housing development proposed for the shores of Las Virgenes Reservoir.
In a three-person race for two seats, Rufener and Murphy were separated by less than 2%, about 47 votes. Murphy, who campaigned against a project proposed by the Baldwin Co., received 1,010 votes, or 29.8%. Rufener, elected in 1987, received 1,057 votes, or 31.2%.
In addition, Councilwoman Berniece Bennett won her third city election by claiming a comfortable 39% of the vote, or 1,321 votes.
“I didn’t think it would be as close as it was,” Rufener said.
Murphy could not be reached.
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