Laura SturzaResidents favored City Council candidates who...

Laura Sturza

Residents favored City Council candidates who live close to their

precincts in this month’s general election, but also cast their

ballots based on the experience of those running for office.

“I think that my expertise in dealing with airport and port

authorities had something to do with [my strong showing near the

Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport,]” said Todd Campbell, the policy

director for the Coalition for Clean Air.

Campbell, who won the second open seat on the council, and

incumbent Jef Vander Borght, the top vote-getter, earned more than

40% of the votes in some precincts -- Campbell in one and Vander

Borght in four.

Vander Borght attributed his high yield in three precincts on the

south side of town to his ability to approach residents there as a

neighbor, since he lives in the area. But the councilman also visited

precincts that typically receive less attention from candidates, like

in the north side of town near Woodbury University, he said.

“Several people said ‘Gee, nobody ever gets to us here,’” Vander

Borght said.

While Brian Malone placed fourth at the polls, his strongest

support came from residents south of the airport, where he lives. The

real estate agent also served on the city’s airport review committee.

“I got a lot of questions on the airport,” Malone said. “Being

right on the flight path, we live there together.”

Restaurant owner Gary Bric came in second in the primary election

and third in the general election, and made his strongest showing in

the north end of town, where he lives and works.

“I went after areas not reached the first time,” Bric said of his

pursuit of a win in the general election -- though he visited some

precincts twice, prior to both elections, he added.

While Campbell said he tried to “get my message out to everyone,”

his strongest showings were in the southwest end of town, near where

he grew up and his mother still lives, and the hillside area where he

lives today.

Bric and Malone said they plan to apply for posts on the city’s

boards and commissions. Malone also aims to assist the school board

in obtaining funding, he said, while Bric might run again for a

council seat.

“We’re definitely considering 2005,” Bric said, when council

members Dave Golonski, Marsha Ramos and Vice Mayor Stacey Murphy are

up for reelection.