Golonski, Ramos Win in Burbank

Incumbent Councilman Dave Golonski and political newcomer Marsha R. Ramos won two seats on the Burbank City Council on Tuesday in a race that focused on a proposed new airport terminal and other quality-of-life issues.

Golonski, 42, was elected to his third term on the City Council, with 5,699 votes, or 51%, with all 42 precincts reporting. And Ramos, 43, a businesswoman and community activist, garnered 6,135 votes, or 55%, to succeed Councilman Bill Wiggins, who has served on the council since 1993 and did not seek reelection. He serves as mayor.

They beat out Gary Olson, 59, a past president of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, who got 4,293 votes, or 39%, and Howard Rothenbach, 55, a founder of Restore Our Airport Rights (ROAR), which opposes airport expansion, who received 3,130 votes or 28%. The returns are complete but not official.

After winning the election, Ramos arrived at City Hall with her husband, David, and son, Steven. She said she was gratified by the results.

“We did what we did in the primary, meet people, walk precincts and kept the same message,” she said.

Golonski watched election returns on a screen in council chambers as the City Council met.

After the session, he said his election means continuity on the council.

“We need to see the projects that we have through,” he said. “And we need to grow and nurture youth programs.”

Golonski, Ramos and Stacey Murphy, who was reelected to a second term in the Feb. 27 primary, will be sworn in May 1.

All three winners were endorsed by unions representing city employees, firefighters and police.

They also were the top vote-getters in the primary election, but Golonski and Ramos fell short of the majority of votes needed to win without a runoff.

Burbank voters also approved a pay raise for City Council members and a charter amendment whose provisions included changing the name of the Public Services Department to the Burbank Water and Power Department.

The City Council asked voters to approve a 5% pay raise, effective May 1, with a second increase of up to 5% a year later. The first will increase members’ monthly salary from $881 to $925. Their last pay raise was in 1997.