City Council Elects Lazar New Mayor

In an emotional ceremony attended by dozens of current and former elected leaders, Linda Parks officially joined the City Council on Tuesday and voted along with her peers to appoint Councilwoman Judy Lazar as the town’s next mayor.

But the political split that has long divided the Thousand Oaks City Council resurfaced immediately afterward when Councilman Andy Fox, the outgoing mayor, voted along with Lazar and Councilman Mike Markey to appoint Markey as mayor pro tem instead of Councilwoman Elois Zeanah, who did not attend Tuesday night’s meeting because of an eye infection.

Parks, whose shared slow-growth views with Zeanah make them a minority on the council, argued that according to city tradition, Zeanah was next in line to become mayor pro tem because of her seniority. Zeanah has served on the council since 1990.

“A lot has been said this evening about tradition,” Parks said, “and I think it is our norm to have every council member during their four years serve as mayor.”

However, the council majority of Fox, Lazar and Markey, who more often support growth and business interests, decided that Markey should be mayor pro tem.

Uncharacteristically reading from a prepared statement, Lazar gave a stunningly harsh critique of Zeanah and the reasons she should not be mayor pro tem or mayor.

In Lazar’s opinion, Zeanah has failed to live up to the ethical standards Thousand Oaks has come to expect from its elected leaders.

Specifically, according to Lazar, Zeanah has failed to represent the city at intergovernmental meetings, failed to ask city officials for help in understanding complex issues, and failed to hold constructive conversations with her political opponents to find common ground.

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“I cannot support the selection of Elois Zeanah as mayor or mayor pro tem,” Lazar said, “She is notorious for not stepping foot in City Hall to speak with staff. It is well known--even outside of the city.

“She has attacked me personally . . . and yet she would ask for support to be elected from this council. I do not think she deserves it.”

Parks, who cast the lone vote against the selection of Markey, did so with a parting shot: “Those in glass houses should not throw stones.”

Markey, a Compton homicide detective, first joined the council following a special election last year to fill the seat vacated when Frank Schillo joined the County Board of Supervisors.

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Markey won his first full council term in last month’s election, but received almost 5,000 fewer votes than Parks, a former planning commissioner who led a successful initiative drive to protect open space earlier this year.

In Thousand Oaks, council members appoint a mayor from among their colleagues. It is a one-year, rotating position, and the mayor pro tem is typically chosen as the subsequent mayor.

But that has not always been the case: Several council members have been passed over in Thousand Oaks’ 32-year history, including former Councilwoman Madge Schaefer.

“It is unfortunate that the motion [nominating Zeanah] was even made, in my opinion,” Fox said. “This should be a night of celebration.”

Indeed, the majority of the meeting was taken up by numerous speakers from Thousand Oaks community organizations, as well as several former mayors, who praised Fox’s tenure as the city’s top elected official.

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Fox received words of thanks--and a trophy case full of plaques and medals--from organizations including from the Conejo Valley YMCA, the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, housing advocate Many Mansions and the city’s school district, park district and open space agency.

“You have done an outstanding job,” said former Mayor Ray Garcia.

“Sometimes it takes a little courage to cut people off when their time is up,” Garcia said, joking about Fox’s reputation for keeping speakers to their agreed upon time limit.

“You have graciously faced your detractors, who have come to these chambers and hurled insults to you, the council and our staff,” said Judy St. John of the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“And many times you have even thanked them for their comments.”