Mayor, 2 Challengers Capture Council Seats

Former councilwoman Virginia Bremberg, Mayor Sheldon S. Baker and challenger David Weaver won City Council seats in Tuesday’s municipal election.

Baker overcame anti-incumbent sentiment to capture another four-year term, while incumbents Mary Ann Plumley and Richard Reyes were defeated in their bids for reelection.

The council race featured 10 candidates, including the three incumbents, vying for three seats. Residents could vote for up to three candidates.

Reelection does not mean Baker automatically continues as mayor. Voters choose City Council members, who then select one member as mayor.

In the five-candidate school board race, incumbent Jeanne K. Bentley and candidates Chuck Sambar and Louise Foote won the three seats at issue.

Almost 19% of the city’s registered voters cast ballots Tuesday.

Top issues facing city officials include hillside development, a $5-million budget shortfall, the ongoing battle over the proposed Burbank Airport passenger terminal expansion, and rundown schools that led city leaders to seek a $186-million school bond issue which will be decided by the voters June 3.

In the council race, Baker received 5,215 votes, Bremberg received 6,677 votes and Weaver received 5,723 votes.

They will be sworn in April 14 and join council members Eileen Givens and Larry Zarian, whose terms expire in 1999.

The defeated candidates were Kat Bayati, with 1,049; John K. Beach, 1,660; Gus Gomez, 3,789; Plumley, 4,654; Reyes, 3,895; Michael Joseph Smith, 5,077, and David Wallis, 2,137.

The school board race featured two available seats besides Bentley’s because board members Jane Whitaker and Lynda Rocamora declined to seek reelection.

All the school board candidates supported the bond issue, which would cost property owners about $50 a year for every $100,000 of assessed valuation. Repairing and rebuilding schools is an investment in one’s own property values as well as in the education of local youth, they said.

The two school board candidates defeated were Henry Scheetz and Dennis Rihn.

Running unopposed in Tuesday’s election were City Clerk Aileen B. Boyle and City Treasurer Elizabeth W. Evans.

Residents from nearby unincorporated areas were included in the voting for the Glendale Community College Board of Trustees. That race featured six candidates, including two incumbents, competing for three seats.

The early leaders were Mary Hamilton, with 5,745 votes; Victor King, 3,744, and Kenneth Sweetnam with 3,559.

The candidates who were trailing in their bids for the board of trustees were Valerie Byer, 3,254 votes; Ed Cameron, 2,448 votes; Al Clemens, 3,027 votes.

Hernandez is a Times staff writer and Satzman is a correspondent.