Veteran Burbank Official Attends Her Final Council Meeting

Mary Lou Howard, Burbank’s first woman mayor, bid farewell to the city’s politics Tuesday night at her last appearance as a councilwoman, giving an emotional address laced with gratitude to staff members and quiet parting jabs at some of her council antagonists.

Howard, 53, who was defeated last month in her attempt to win a fourth term, told her fellow council members that the past two years “have been a real experience. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. It was a tough two years, but it helped me grow.”

Howard, who served as mayor in 1985-86, added that the past few years “made me realize a lot of things are important in the world and in life,” and that priorities must be set.

She was apparently referring to her frequent clashes with Mayor Tom Flavin and City Council members Michael R. Hastings and Robert R. Bowne. Howard has said repeatedly that the majority of the council sided with the interests of developers rather than the wishes of residents who wanted to preserve single-family neighborhoods.

Howard’s defeat came after a bitter campaign in which her philosophies and her late husband, Jack, were attacked in mailers that she said were put out by political opponents and major builders unhappy with her attempts to decrease development.

Howard singled out Bowne for one of her parting shots. Citing a recent statement attributed to Bowne that said Howard represented only “the little people of Burbank,” Howard replied: “I certainly hope I do.”

Bowne and planning board Chairman George Battey, another rival of Howard’s, were elected to the two open council seats in April’s runoff election. Battey will be sworn in today during the council’s reorganization ceremonies.

Although Howard remained composed during her parting speech, her voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes as she thanked several officials, particularly City Manager Bud Ovrom, whom she called “my city manager.”

She was presented with plaques and resolutions saluting her years on the council by representatives of several state and local officials, including state Sens. David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) and Alan Robbins (D-Tarzana); Assemblymen Pat Nolan (R-Glendale), Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) and Tom Bane (D-Tarzana); Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) and Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich.

Throughout her 12 years on the council, Howard prided herself on being accessible to residents who she said were afraid to approach other elected officials. She was a colorful presence, inevitably appearing in bright, well-tailored outfits and driving a gold Mercedes-Benz with an MS MAYOR vanity plate.

She was, however, often criticized by her opponents as being vindictive against those who disagreed with her politics.

If Howard had been reelected, she would have been only the second council member in Burbank history to serve more than three four-year terms.