Calabasas Councilman: More Discussion Needed on Mayor Pro Tem Appointment

Recently reelected Calabasas Councilman James Bozajian said Monday he plans to provide a wider explanation for his reasons for tabling a discussion about the next mayor pro tem for the city.

Last week, three incumbents -- Bozajian, Mary Sue Maurer and David Shapira -- were sworn in following their victory in the March election. The council also reorganized, voting to appoint Fred Gaines as the next mayor.

However, when it came to to appoint a mayor pro tem, a position which was supposed to have gone to Councilwoman Lucy Martin, there was silence at the table.

Martin tried to nominate herself, but Bozajian asked the council to table the discussion until the April 10 meeting at Calabasas City Hall.

"It was a uncomfortable moment or two up there," Bozajian said of the meeting. "I wanted to discuss the issue more in depth rather than just take a vote."

Bozajian said he wanted to delay the discussion to the next meeting because most of the people there who had come for the swearing in ceremony.

"It was not a meeting designed for a half-hour discussion of some of the issues needed to be discussed," Bozajian said. "I wanted to move it to a more appropriate evening where we get to devote more time to it and not rush it and not make it uncomfortable for the people there."

He said he did not know what was going on in the mind of the other councilmembers.

"I have some real concerns after this election cycle," Bozajian said.

While Bozajian would not go into the specifics of what he hopes to discuss, he promised that he will air his concerns at the next council meeting.

"I think the public needs to hear some of the concerns I have regarding the mayoral rotation," Bozajian said. "I don’t feel entirely comfortable going back and forth online and in the paper."

He said that he has quite a bit to say, but added that the city council has a long history of acrimony over the mayoral rotation, starting in 1994.

Martin told Calabasas Patch she still wants to be appointed as mayor pro tem.

"I am hoping cooler heads will prevail here and that we will move forward according to protocol," Martin said. "I have served the residents of Calabasas honorably with dedication, professionalism and competence. And it is my turn."

She said it is unfair for the City Council to hold her responsible for vitriol during the campaign.

"Clearly I was not a candidate," Martin said. "I had absolutely zero input on any campaign decisions. And I obviously have zero control over the opinions of independent publications or bloggers. To hold me responsible for any of it would be a disingenuous act of misplaced political payback."

At last week's meeting, Martin told her fellow council members, "You should be ashamed of yourselves."

During this year's elections, Martin had supported challenger Jody Thomas, and the incumbents had been vocal about Thomas and her supporters' harsh campaign tactics.