Embattled Library Panel President Loses Support : Monterey Park: A majority of City Council members say they will not reappoint Kathleen Brzozowski to another term. She was involved in a racially tinged incident.

The president of Monterey Park’s library board is expected to lose her seat after she made racially tinged remarks about a fellow board member and threw a cup of water at a Chinese American activist.

Three of the City Council’s five members said they would not support another term for board President Kathleen Brzozowski after they learned this week that her term expired June 30, and she would need to be reappointed by the council to stay on the board.

“I think it’s time for some new blood,” said Mayor Judy Chu, “and hopefully we can get the library board working together again.”

The council on Monday set a special session for Oct. 12 to interview applicants for all city boards that have seats up for reappointment, including Brzozowski’s, after earlier hearing a barrage of complaints about her from community activists. The deadline to apply for commission positions, including the library board seat, is Sept. 26.

Brzozowski is the only member of the five-trustee library board whose seat is up for reappointment.

“I don’t think (Brzozowski) has the support of the council because of the events that have occurred,” Councilman Francisco Alonso said.

Alonso, who served on the library board until his election in April, said he expects the council to be prudent and replace Brzozowski.

“I imagine some applicants of a high enough caliber will apply that we’ll see fit to vote for someone else for the position.”

Councilwoman Rita Valenzuela, who witnessed the water-throwing incident, said she will vote for an applicant who will be more effective than Brzozowski at uniting the community and promoting the library.

Valenzuela said public officials such as Brzozowski must behave responsibly and cannot afford to become angry every time a person challenges them. “Certain jobs require certain temperaments,” she said.

In addition, Councilman Fred Balderrama indicated in an interview Tuesday that he also would not support reappointing Brzozowski, although he refused to say so definitely. Instead, he said, “We don’t like to appoint controversial people. . . . I’ve been known not to vote for the incumbent.”

Last Thursday, other members of Monterey Park’s library board called on Brzozowski to apologize or resign after she threw a cup of water at a Chinese American activist and threatened others with her walking stick.

The incident occurred as she walked out before a board discussion about racially tinged comments she made in July about fellow library board member Marina Tse, a prominent resident in the city with a 56% Asian population.

Brzozowski had said in July that Tse “should take a low position” until she learned English better.

Brzozowski told the Chinese Daily News she felt bad about the water incident and would apologize for it. She told the paper she was suffering from flu at the time and had a car accident earlier in the day.

Brzozowski did not return telephone calls from The Times.