Lawyer Takes Seat on Advisory Council

Telling his fellow council members that he planned to forge greater ties with the community, Calabasas lawyer Todd Haines on Tuesday assumed his seat as the newest member of the Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council.

Haines, who was the only candidate for the seat, will replace John Kruer, who served on the council for almost six years.

In addition to joining the advisory council’s continuing quest for a new library, Oak Park’s own ZIP code and a full-time sheriff’s patrol car, Haines said he plans to work hard at increasing communication between the council and the public, including the community’s youth.

“One thing I want to do is improve communications with the community,” he said. “We have no communication with the homeowners’ associations, and a sizable portion of our population belongs to those associations. We should go to their meetings more and they should come to ours.”

Haines, 32, moved to Oak Park almost three years ago with his wife, Nicole. The couple were looking for a good place to raise children.

It was the birth of his daughter 18 months ago that motivated him to run for office, Haines said.

Haines vied for a seat on the five-member council last March, when county Supervisor Frank Schillo appointed members to replace two members who had resigned, but was beaten by Douglas Hewitson and Chuck Monico.

As the only two candidates slated for the November ballot, Haines and Anterasian, an incumbent, were appointed by the county to serve four-year terms.

But to cut costs, the council last month decided to schedule elections to coincide with statewide general elections in even-numbered years--a decision that will extend Haines’ term by one year.