Town Council District to Hold Election

There will be an election this year in one of three districts represented on the Crescenta Valley Town Council, even though all seven candidates are assured a seat on the advisory board.

Two seats and an alternate position are open in each of three census tracts in which voters were to select representatives in a special March 19 election. But only two candidates applied for positions in each of two census tracts, which means that they automatically will assume regular two-year terms as voting members.

Two alternates will be appointed to serve in the one-year, non-voting positions.

An election will be held in the third census tract to determine which two of the three candidates will win regular terms. The person finishing third will become the alternate.

The candidates in the election are Margaret Klug, an incumbent; Charles Beatty, a real estate broker and employee at a La Crescenta market, and Bruce Hale, now serving as an alternate.

One incumbent from each tract said they will not seek reelection. They are Tom Johnson, Larry Lousen and Rob O’Neil.

Incumbents Jill Larson, the current council president, and Don Hogue will automatically retain their seats. Newcomers joining them are Kathleen McCauley and Sharon Martin, both longtime residents.

The election last year--the first since the council was formed two years ago--was canceled because none of the seats was contested. The filing period was extended from two days last year to nine days this year, with the hope that the more candidates would seek office.

Council members are now considering changing the date of the election to coincide with the group’s fund-raising community jamboree in the fall, Bill Beavers, chairman of the election committee, said.

He said the celebration, which was widely attended by residents last year, “could get the candidates in front of the people and encourage participation in the election.”

Beavers said the committee hopes to move up next year’s election to this fall.

The October celebration was used to raise money for mailings and other expenses of the Town Council, a quasi-governmental committee otherwise supported only through donations.

It has no official power, but advises the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on local issues.