BREA : Council Critic Now Becomes a Member

Kathryn Wiser will make the transition from critic to member of the City Council when she is sworn in tonight along with another new member, Bev Perry.

Wiser, an elementary school teacher, has been a harsh critic of the city’s Redevelopment Agency, particularly on its use of eminent domain to acquire properties for redevelopment projects.

As recently as the last council meeting on Nov. 23, Wiser and her husband, Douglas, questioned the council’s decision to give the developer of a proposed downtown shopping center an option to buy the 22-acre site for $5 million.

The Redevelopment Agency has bought the land for $15 million from various property owners, according to city officials. They said the city can recover its investment with the expected increase in property taxes and a share in the income of the shopping center.

Observers say Wiser and Perry will bring a woman’s perspective and more sensitivity to the council, in addition to Wiser’s role as watchdog for city residents.

“There will be profound changes with the two ladies in the council,” said Sherry Norman, executive director of the Brea Chamber of Commerce. “Women tend to look more on the human side; they’re more sensitive in some ways.”

Perry and Wiser were among nine candidates for two open council seats in the Nov. 3 election. Perry, a member of the Parks, Recreation and Human Services Commission and a well-known community volunteer, garnered 6,597 votes and Wiser got 5,341.

This will be the second time in the last 12 years that two have women served on the council at the same time.

In 1980, Norma Arias-Hicks won the first of her two terms. She served as mayor twice, most recently in 1988. Clarice Blamer served on the council from 1982 to 1990.

The City Council tonight will also swear into office Elaine M. Capps as city clerk and John H. Sutton as city treasurer. Capps and Sutton ran unopposed.

A mayor and mayor pro tem will be selected. Burnie Dunlap, the current mayor, and Mayor Pro Tem Glenn G. Parker were appointed last month when Mayor Ron Isles resigned.