Candidates Back New Terminal, Conditionally

With critical Burbank Airport decisions still looming, all four candidates for Burbank City Council say they support building a new terminal, as long as it comes with a mandatory nighttime flight curfew as a minimum condition.

But whatever those conditions, the next City Council will have to negotiate with the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority for a new terminal.

On Tuesday, Burbank voters will choose which two of the four candidates will represent them in the stalled negotiations. They also will consider a 5% pay raise for council members and a noncontroversial charter amendment.

City Council member Stacey Murphy was reelected outright in the Feb. 27 primary. Four other candidates will vie for the two remaining open seats in Tuesday’s general election, with the winners taking office May 1.

The candidates include one of the city’s most outspoken critics of airport expansion, Howard Rothenbach, founder of Restore Our Airport Rights (ROAR). His candidacy has increased attention on airport issues and the upcoming ROAR initiative, which would put stringent conditions on all future airport construction.

“People just want a resolution,” said Marsha R. Ramos, 43, a political newcomer who led all four candidates, including incumbent Dave Golonski in the primary.

She said she supports building a 14-gate terminal, preferably on the former Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Plant B-6 site, which the Airport Authority bought but is obliged to sell because it missed a deadline for developing the land.

Golonski, 42, said that during his eight years on the council, airport officials have been forced to become more accommodating, especially with last year’s passage of Measure B, which requires voter approval for a new terminal. “The Airport Authority has recognized that they are going to have to be sensitive to the needs of the Burbank community,” he said.

Later this summer, Burbank voters will consider the ROAR initiative. Rothenbach said he wants to be elected so he can protect the measure from legal challenges.

“When the ROAR initiative does pass, if it is attacked in the courts, someone has to be on the City Council to make sure it is properly defended,” said Rothenbach, 55, who is distributing 6,000 coffee mugs with his campaign slogan, “Put people before planes.”

Gary Olson, 59, the self-proclaimed “business candidate,” said Burbank already has paid more than $10 million for airport-related litigation. He predicted the ROAR initiative, which is expected to face a legal challenge, will require the city to spend millions of dollars to defend it.

In the primary, Ramos made a surprisingly strong showing, beating out Golonski, 5,247 votes to 5,165 votes, for a second-place finish. Neither, however, won the 50% of the votes needed to avoid a runoff. They were followed by Olson with 3,189 votes and Rothenbach with 2,676.

On Tuesday, the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters may also cast their ballots today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Burbank City Hall, 275 E. Olive Ave.

City Clerk Judie Sarquiz predicted turnout of about 20% of the city’s 55,801 voters.

If elected, Ramos, a Latina, would become the council’s first minority member. According to the 2000 census, as many as 25% of the city’s 100,316 residents are Latino, an increase of nearly 10% since 1990.

Golonski led all candidates with $14,245 in campaign contributions as of March 24, the last reporting period. He was followed by Olson with $12,463; Ramos, $10,977; and Rothenbach, with $11,894, of which $8,500 was from loans.

During the campaign, both Golonski and Ramos spoke about revitalizing neighborhoods and increasing programs for the city’s youth. They were endorsed by unions representing city workers, firefighters and police.

Olson and Rothenbach criticized the city’s use of community redevelopment money. Rothenbach said the city should build more low- and moderate-income housing for families.

Olson, past president of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, proposes that master plans be developed for Burbank Village and the south San Fernando Road corridor. “We need to think about what we want Burbank to look like in 25 years,” he said.

In a separate measure, the council is asking voters for a pay raise. If passed, council members, now paid $881 a month, would receive a 5% pay hike to $925 a month, effective May 1, and another raise of no more than 5% on May 1, 2002.

Under state law, the council may increase its salary by 5% a year without voter approval, but it has not done so since 1997.

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Burbank City Council Race

On Tuesday, Burbank voters will choose two of four candidates to represent them in negotiations over Burbank Airport, among other issues. The candidates, top vote-getters in February’s primary, are:

Dave Golonski, 42

Incumbent. He says that during his eight years on the council, airport officials have been forced to become more accommodating.

Gary Olson, 59

Self-proclaimed “business candidate,” who predicts legal challenges over an upcoming initiative that would put stringent conditions on all future airport construction.

Marsha Ramos, 43

A political newcomer who supports building a 14-gate terminal, preferably on the former Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Plant B-6 site.

Howard Rothenbach, 55

Founder of Restore Our Airport Rights (ROAR) and one of the city’s most outspoken critics of airport expansion.