San Gabriel Valley : City Councils in Five Cities Pick New Mayors

In an annual changing of the guard, city councils in five west San Gabriel Valley cities have selected new mayors.

Arcadia Councilwoman Barbara D. Kuhn, a real estate broker elected in 1994, was chosen for the post with the unanimous support of her colleagues. Kuhn’s selection last week marks the first time in three years that the council has selected a mayor without a split vote and multiple meetings.

Newly elected Arcadia Councilman Robert Harbicht skipped over senior colleagues to become mayor pro tem. Harbicht, who received the most votes in the recent council election, immediately criticized the city staff for placing controversial issues on the council’s consent calendar, where several items are approved with a single council vote.

In neighboring Sierra Madre, veteran Councilman Gary B. Adams, 56, was elected to his third term as mayor. During the term, Sierra Madre voters are expected to consider whether to continue a 6% city utility tax that provides $600,000 annually.

Like Adams, San Gabriel Councilwoman Mary Cammarano is returning to the mayor’s post. The 55-year-old councilwoman, elected seven years ago, was elected by her colleagues to the post she last held in 1991-92.

In San Marino, Councilman Donald A. Cotton was named the city’s 19th mayor during its reorganization. Cotton was elected to the council in 1992 is up for reelection in March. His City Council colleagues said they wanted to ensure that Cotton held the post before his term expires.

And South Pasadena Councilwoman Dorothy M. Cohen will serve a year as the city’s mayor, helping to lead the city’s ongoing fight against the proposed Long Beach Freeway extension that would cut a path through several neighborhoods.