Agua Dulce Elects 7 Members to Its 1st Town Council

The little village of Agua Dulce may now have a bigger voice in regional affairs.

The semi-rural hamlet has elected the first seven members of the Agua Dulce Town Council, established this fall to represent community concerns to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

Only 281 voters cast ballots in the Nov. 23 election, the same number who voted in September to establish the Town Council.

More than 1,000 people were eligible to vote in both elections.

Despite the low turnout, community leaders say the council will accurately represent Agua Dulce on such issues as the location of a general aviation airport.

County officials have proposed that the local airport be expanded, but many residents oppose the proposal, saying such a facility would severely disrupt the quiet community of ranches.

The council was formed because “others have found that when they appear before other governmental bodies as a town council, they get more respect,” said Nat Gould, a retired aerospace engineer who was elected to the council.

Thirteen candidates vied for positions on the council.

The top vote-getter was Geri Dee, a retired dietitian who garnered 190 votes.

The other winners were Gould, with 172 votes; Rick Curtis, an insurance agent, 153, and Joanne Swanson, a retired TV producer, 150.

More were Nolan Henderson, an attorney, 145; Tana Lampton, an artist, 132, and Richard Tracy, a plumbing superintendent, 118.

The council will be inaugurated in January, Gould said.

It will meet Dec. 7 to decide on the site and date of the inauguration, he said.