Frank Ferry made two nominations at tonight’s special meeting: (1)A nomination for Laurie Ender to be Mayor of Santa Clarita , which was approved unanimously, and (2)A nomination for himself to be Mayor Pro-Tem. It wasn’t clear how surprised Bob Kellar was. Based on the usual rotation, Kellar was next in line to be Mayor Pro-Tem and protested with a no vote, saying “I would prefer to go with the usual progression.” However, Ender, Ferry, McLean, and Weste all gave their vote to Ferry.
There have been many 4-1 votes during Kellar’s tenure on the City Council, and this was a clear sign that not everyone has been happy about that. Ferry made this point all but explicit when he nominated Laurie Ender, citing her work for the HMNMH campus expansion and the library takeover as evidence of her leadership abilities. Kellar, of course, was a dissenting voice on these major projects.
While mayordom is largely ceremonial in Santa Clarita, Tim Myers has pointed out that a “Mayor” or “Mayor Pro-Tem” next to one’s name helps during elections. How tense are things going to be over the next four months?
*UPDATE
After Public Participation concluded, Mayor Pro-Tem Ferry explained that after his coma, the ensuing “reflection and re-prioritizing”, and developments in his family life, he felt that being in line to be mayor again was something he needed. He claimed he was not at all trying to marginalize Kellar. Ferry said he was doing this for himself–”I did this today because, really, for myself”–and not to keep Kellar out.
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4-1 votes earn you your time in the corner. In Burbank, the one “outsider” councilman (who will disagree with everyone on everything for what appears to be just his own amusement) has been snubbed every time its his “rotation” into the vice-mayor and mayor slot.
You ever want to shoot yourself…. well watch a Burbank City Council meeting sometime.
I heard Ferry wanted to be Mayordudeprotem. Watch for the launch of mayordudeprotem.com in January.
Bob brought this upon himself. He worked against his fellow incumbents over the past three election cycles. You can’t have it both ways.
It’s good to know Frank will be in line to serve as mayor one final time if he doesn’t run for re-election.
Good to know he will be mayor again? Why exactly? Please enlighten us how mayordude will use this ceremonial position to better the community. As for the rest of the council people, they are a bunch of babies and none of their behavior is surprising. They simply cannot respect that someone oftentimes has a different opinion than they do.
Mayor Dude will be back in the Saddle!
Hey, they still have the domain. Guess they are keeping it warm for him:
Registrant:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
23920 VALENCIA BLVD
SANTA CLARITA, California 91355-2175
United States
Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: MAYORDUDE.COM
Created on: 17-Nov-08
Expires on: 17-Nov-12
Last Updated on: 08-Feb-11
Well, as my good friend Berta once said, “Birds of a feather…”. And as for Laurie Ender’s work on the HMNMH campus, hopefully it was worth $30,000.
What a complete Douchebag. Like it really matters that much to have the title. I guess if you are an egotistical maniac like Ferry has proven to be it matters. Yet another episode in the long line of Frank Ferry funtastic times.
I have to agree with you on this one.
Just proof that what we have on the Council is Fabulous Frank (in his own mind) and the three stooges. We need folks on the council who can think independently and listen (like Bob Kellar) and who don’t just become followers of Frank because they are intimidated by his bullying tactics.
How shallow must you be to “need” this. Douchy McDouchbag.
I am at a loss of what Ferry “needed.” The title for his own self-esteem? Is this some bucket list pursuit? Or did he “need” to snub Kellar?
The guy is a joke. “Mayor Dude”? Seriously?
This is a man who had posters plastered up all over town of himself riding a skateboard. What he needed? I think it’s obvious what he wanted this for. I am glad Kellar shrugged it off and let the baby have his bottle.
And lest we forget:
http://santaclaritacitybriefs.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/screen-shot.jpg
This man represents us?
In the picture of Frank on the skateboard looking at his cellphone, you realize he’s looking at a picture of himself, don’t you?….His favorite Joe Cocker song….I am so beautiful, to me….
Obviously what he “needs” is to be the center of attention.
Woo-hooooo! We’ll take Mayor Pro-Tem Dude over a divisive “proud racist”!!
http://scvnews.com/?p=23204
This was clearly meant as a means to prevent Bob from becoming mayor next year. Frank supported Bob for reelection in 2008, but Bob worked to defeat Frank in 2010. This turn of events unfortunately does not surprise me. I’m told that Bob’s wife Kathy was not at the meeting, so apparently it was not a surprise to Bob either. Bob is a proud man so I expect this disappoints him. Say what you want about Bob, but he is to be admired for his support of many charitable causes that benefit many in our community.
I recall reading in The Signal recently that he was having some sort of fundraiser at his house. Anyone was invited and his home address was published. Does Ferry even live in the city?
Angelo there were three council positions on the ballot so saying “but Bob worked to defeat Frank in 2010.” is pure speculation on your part.
Bob endorsed and actively supported Gauny, but I don’t recall which, if any, incumbents he endorsed. Anyone?
I can see an Ender / Hatami victory in April (not that I am really an Ender fan). Time for the city council to say goodbye to a “proud racist.” Kellar will be out in April 2012 and Ferry will be out in 2014.
HAHAHA.
One proud racist deserves another.
I’m willing to bet that Frank likes to eat at buffets…you know, because they’re “self-serving”.
Mayor dude???) Terrible. Just terrible. We only have ourselves to blame.
And 150,000 to improve the city council chambers???? Seriously????? Thank goodness there is an election coming up.
Details on the $150,000 please…
Hi, Michael! I thought you’d still be in mourning over LSSI getting the contract operate the Osceola County (Florida) Public Library, and for being in position to get the contact to run the Simi Valley Public Library now that Simi has withdrawn from the Ventura County Library. In both of those communities “the decision has been made” as you like to say.
They should enlarge In God We Trust and move it down a foot or two so that you can read the words on SCVTV, either that or Leon should move the camera angle up and increase the zoom.
You are obsessed with the fake motto.
Why not just skip this whole government thing and just pray?
Works in Texas … um .. right?
But you wouldn’t see it behind Frank’s ginormous ego.
You know, I thought the update portion to Iheart’s post was a joke. Really, I did. Then I see The Signal this morning and he actually did say this. Wow, the audacity of this man.
He didn’t do it on his own. He received four votes, including his.
When I read the agenda last week, this was in the back of my mind. I couldn’t see them elevating Kellar in this day.
On these votes 4-1 votes, I’m on usually on Bob’s side, but if the city council consisted of Bob Kellar, David Gauny, Bill Reynolds, Kevin Korenthal and Carol Lutness, do you think they’re going to let Lutness be the mayor?
Back in the day, they had a true rotation. It was actually Ferry who took the initiative to derail that system. Considering that all five members are elected by the people and are in equal standing, I think the rotation ought to be automatic.
Classless move on Ferry’s part, without a doubt, but all of them, at one time or another, have passed over another councilmember.
I wonder in the gang of four has an establishment-friendly candidate they are looking to prop up for 2012?
Hi! Actually the rotation was derailed several years before Ferry got there => http://scvnews.com/?p=23204
BTW Petz I have no control over the camera angles
Petz will note that the current diplay does not conform to any of the proposed designs when In God We Trust was approved by council He believes that Ken Pulskamp placed IGWT in small diminutive type outside the camera angle so that people cannot read it clearly. Just like the House chambers where the networks never show it above the speaker-engraved in the walls.
Kind of like the bible: people cannot read it clearly.
Leon,
Help me out, because I see Klajic elected in 1990, getting the mayorship in 1992, losing in 1994, returning to the council in 1996. Ferry was elected in 1998, and Klajic was denied in 2000. IIRC, Ferry was irritated that a council with three Republicans was allowing these two Democrats to serve as its mayor. It’s a distinction that ceased to matter because months later it became an all-Republican council (and has remained so ever since, correct?)
Hi Mike! You could be right. You’ve given me second thoughts about it. Can’t go back and figure it out right now, so I’ll go ahead and assume you are correct.
One thing, though, the whole Democrat-Republican thing has never really mattered in real life. It’s more about people’s ability to get along with their fellow council members (or school board members or any other board). Party affiliation only matters in elections/electability …. which is why Kljajic re-registered as a Republican. By 2000, when you say she was denied, hadn’t she already re-registered Republican? Denying her would have more to do with her refusal/inability to play nice.
Mike – Not sure about the whole 2000 thing. Jill was off the council from April ’94 to April ’96. When elected in ’96, she probably would have gone to the bottom of the pile, rotation-wise. Clyde would have been elected pro-tem in December ’95, Jan pro-tem in December ’96 (when Jill was there). Jo Anne was mayor in ’99 so I guess she would have been elected pro-tem in December ’97 ahead of Jill, even though it was only a 4-year wait for Jo Anne (instead of 5), because Jill was only in her second consecutive council year. At that point, the rotation went haywire. I think we need Tim to do the math on who should have been what and when. I can’t.
My details are sketchy here. My recollection was from a single article in The Signal that’s always stuck in my mind, it quoted Ferry either to a reporter or in session as characterizing like that.
I don’t know if it was on the occasion of passing over Klajic or the year before. It may not have been directed at Jill (who made her own bed, for sure), but more to the custom of automatic rotation and a reason he gave was party-oriented.
Here is how the paperweight got thrown. Klajic was in line to become Mayor at the December 1999 meeting for 2000, when she was up for reelection. Frank Ferry and Laurene Weste convinced JoAnn Darcy to join with them to deny her the chair as punishment for the letter writing and other things. Klajic was so angry at the double cross that she threw a paperweight that JoAnn Darcy had just given as a gift since she was the outgoing Mayor.
Ironically, Klajic decided NOT to run for relection and this opened up two seats for Cameron Smyth and Bob Kellar to take. (Jan Heidt had already decided not to run for reelection.)
We don’t take too kindly to folks that think independently. This council’s obsession with political solidarity above all else has been manifested many times over. Of course Ferry didn’t do it on his own, it was the collective.
Resistance is futile.
Who nominates themself? That’s really tacky……. And I really don’t get the connection. Crazy me – I would think if I had a near death experience I would be spending more time with my kids and family. His Alemany job consumes many, many hours of his life – sad to see how he sets his priorities after all he went through last year.
Maybe shameless self promotion and meaningless titles is the only way he can get any respect from his family,.
C’mon Phil. You’re a smart guy. Can you actually defend this? Just because they did this does not make it right.
What did I defend? I just made an accurate observation that Frank did not take this action on his own, It was a 4-0 vote. I think that the COC Board did something similar. When a member opts to side in an election with opponents to one’s colleagues, that member can’t realistically expect to be warmly embraced for those efforts. BTW, thanks for your second sentence,
You’re right Phil, this was not done on his own, at least on the surface. Sorry, but this explanation of the others voting for it seems to be a way to deflect criticism off of Ferry. Ultimately, he nominated HIMSELF. Do you really think this plan was not conceived beforehand, and the other council members were expecting this? Yes, the other three all share some guilt in this, but Ferry is the master conniver in this case.
Well, Angelo’s post above suggests that Bob may have been expecting it so I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole council was.
They definitely were expecting that to happen – no doubt about it.
I am sure Bob knew this was a possibility. But the other 4 had to have discussed this beforehand. Just like the library and who knows how many other issues. Wouldn’t this violate open meeting laws?
I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion that open meeting laws were broken – they talked about it obviously. Getting their ducks in a rown to knock Kellar out.
Like others have pointed out it has happened before multiple times, so although there is a “traditional” rotation – that is not the status quo based on history. The tradition actually is maybe or maybe not there is a rotation and no one should be surprised.
Everyone is forgetting about the national headlines Bob Keller made with his comments… making him Mayor will make headlines again. “Proud Racist made mayor of Santa Clarita” Everyone is making this about Frank and not looking at what Bob did…
Anyone with an ounce of integrity and intelligence would interpret this correctly. Those looking for political grenades to lob will continue to take the comment out of context. Not everyone that supports enforcement of immigration laws is a racist.
…he quoted President Teddy Roosevelt’s philosophy that America only has room for one flag and one language. Kellar told the crowd that when he voiced that opinion at a City Council meeting, people told him he sounded like a racist.
“If that’s what you think I am because I happen to believe in America, then I’m a proud racist. You’re darn right I am,” he said.
Most people may not realize that our city council voted to pass a resolution supporting proposed immigration legislation…
“” Mayor Weste introduced seven pieces of federal immigration (and immigration-ish) legislation that the City Council could vote to support. They included a resolution to support English as the official language of the United States, a resolution to add 350 miles of fencing to the border, one to de-fund ACORN, and a resolution to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition unless all legal citizens from out-of-state were also given access to the same in-state tuition rate. More controversial was H.R. 1868, the Birthright Citizenship Act that would “exclude granting naturalized citizenship to those persons born in the United States of parents who are residing in the country illegally.“[3]
The council voted unanimously to support all but two bills, and 4-1 in favor of two (Laurie Ender opposed). Sounds like the entire council supports English as the official language, but only Bob is the lightening rod, while the other council members hide behind the dais.
Thank you for this. This is exactly what happened in context with the Teddy Roosevelt quote.
I think Summer and anyone else who took Bob’s statement out of context (whether for political reasons or simply because he or she failed to read what was actually said) should read Eric’s post carefully.
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One more thought: the mayorship doesn’t matter much, but that’s all the more reason why the Mayor Dude ad campaign (or the Got Mayor? campaign, for that matter) was a really awful idea. The only persistent effect either achieved was raising the celebrity of the respective councilmembers. Smyth’s came soon before running for Assembly, and Ferry’s ran the year before the election.
Right – the point was to raise awareness of local government. But it preyed on the ignorance of people who assume “Mayor” means so much more.
It seems the whole idea would have a backwards impact, i.e…if I were a younger citizen that started paying attention on account of Mayor Dude, it wouldn’t take long to figure out that Santa Clarita’s Mayor doesn’t have any authority beyond that of a regular councilmember…. I mean…. I’d feel so scammed, I think I’d go right back to being ignorant.
What a clown show. Not to quote Chris Matthews or anything, I can’t stand the guy. Nor can I stand what our council is doing. The rotation should be no respecter of persons and go as follows.
I just can’t shake this image of the big man, lip quivering, eyes moistening struggling to get out the words “I need this” as he forms his hands into a heart he says “this completes me” sniff, sniff.
What a pathetic little man.
What if Ender and Hatami teamed up?
Is that a possible reason/strategy to get Kellar out ?
Hatami?
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Hatami is Turkish for “fault.” As in, “It’s hatami’s hatami.” For real. Look it up.
Woah, Turkish? I am surprised a certain someone who speaks in 3rd person hasn’t jumped on this and investigated him for terrorist connections #sarcasm
Hahahahahahahahahahaha
… Carry on
Laurie Ender attended Bob Kellar’s campaign kick off at Robinson Ranch on 10/13//11 as a “supporter” so I doubt she is endorsing Mr. Hatami.
And I am sure we can trust her, right?
Whether to trust anyone or not is an individual decision. I look at all of the factors involved. Supporting Bob is a better decision for Laurie since all Jon Hatami has done is criticize the current council, which includes Laurie. Bob has at times disagreed with decisions made by his fellow council members but has been respectful of his colleagues when making his comments.
Leon- what?
If I could be serious for a moment (just kidding)….how do we address Frank….
1) Mayor Dude Pro-tem, or;
2) Mayor Pro-tem Dude?
I think it is Mr. Mayor Pro-tem Dude.
No, it’s the Honorable Mr. Mayor Pro-tem Dude.
I’m thinking something along the lines of “MayorDouche Pro Tem Style”.
Answers.com suggests that the proper way to address the Mayor pro tem is: Councilmember/Councilman/Councilwoman [Name]
Phil – you’re absolutely correct. “Mayor pro tem” is jargon, and jargon is to be avoided. In a news story, “mayor pro tem” is never used unless discussing the office itself, in which case it should be referred to generally as “vice mayor” with “mayor pro tem” as a parenthetic. In all other instances it should be “councilman” or “councilwoman.”
This has been the style as long as I’ve been doing it (about 20 years).
And never mind the fact that in practice, it’s not a pro tem position. It functions as a vice position. It’s misnamed. The so-called “pro-tem” is not a “tem”-porary holder like an attorney who sits as judge pro-tem or the pro-tem of the senate. The mayor pro-tem is actually a vice (or lieutenant) position, filling in for the mayor when the mayor is absent – not because there isn’t a mayor, which would be the case if it were truly “pro tem.”
Leon, I disagree.
The CA government code doesn’t make a single mention of a “vice mayor”, but it makes several mentions of the “mayor pro tempore” (see Sec. 38601), so as a general city, we have a MPT, not a VM.
“Vice mayor” is a position unto itself and the role of a vice mayor varies from city to city and its role can include several responsibilities, which can include, but is not limited to serving as the the city’s mayor pro tem.
Our mayor pro tem is just that. The person who serves as mayor in the absence of the mayor. When the mayor isn’t there, the mayor pro tem is temporarily the mayor. It’s actually very much like the President Pro Tem of the US Senate.
I agree that it’s a secondary distinction, so it should only be used when describing the person in relation to the position. He continues to be Councilmember Frank Ferry for the sake of most discussions.
I’m curious where the instructions are to default to vice mayor? I can’t find that anywhere, and all the major newspapers use “mayor pro tem” quite often.
Terrorist connections? What is going on in here?
How can Ferry assume he’s next in line to be mayor, when clearly the “line” doesn’t mean anything…? He just broke the rotation so that he’ll be in line to be mayor for the next rotation? Screwy logic.
Hi! Many boards have an ascension and no rotation. On many boards that have a No. 2 position (“vice chair” or “chairman elect,” etc.) there is a presumption that the person in the No. 2 seat is “in line” to become chair … and thus the real battle is for the No. 2 position each year.
Does the city council have an ascension?
No. No more formally than it has a rotation. I was just saying you CAN have an ascension without having a rotation. That’s the case with many nonprofit boards, for instance. And I’d have to guess that’s what Frank must have been thinking with regard to being “in line” for mayor, regardless of the absence of a formal rotation.
Thanks, Leon, for the rather obvious observation.
So Frank stepped out of the rotation to be mayor pro tem this year so that he could be in line to be mayor next year, although neither the mayor pro tem nor the mayor title are guaranteed to anyone, regardless of where you are in the assumed rotation – be it in a spot with a title (ahem, mayor pro tem) or not.
Basically, if Weste and McLean turn on Ferry, or if Hatami and Boydston both win seats in April – stick with me here, this is all hypothetical – Kellar could have a 3-2 majority to successfully nominate himself mayor next year, yes?
As Frank proved Tuesday, all bets are off regardless of any assumed rotation or ascension.
Hi Mia. Unfortunately, one of the seats up for election/reelection is Bob Kellar’s. If Laurie Ender and any other candidate were to receive more votes, Bob Kellar would not be reelected. If any two new challengers received more votes, then both Laurie and Bob would be off the council.
But if there is no rotation or any other formal method to select mayor and mayor pro tem, then conceivably they could just continue passing the titles back and forth between the members of the clique, as long as any three on the council vote for that person they win.
Mia – Ummm … you’ve managed to leave me speechless with your vision of a Kellar-Boydston alliance.
We’d actually have a 3-3 tie, if that were the case
If, somehow, Laurie Ender were to lose, Kellar and someone else win, Ferry’s chance of ascending would be lower. I doubt it would be enough to put Bob in the seat, but you’d never know. Hypothetically.
Mike on the council there could never be a 3/3 tie since there are only five council positions at any one time.
As for Frank ascending (?) to mayor, it is a done deal since all he needs is three votes including his own, so even without Laurie if she were to lose, he has the three votes needed, his, Weste, McLean.
I really do not remember any professional strategist etc involved in David Gauny’s campaign, just us old hands.
Yes of course I know that, hence the wink.
Mike – Re: pro tem
I don’t remember. Probably in an older AP Stylebook. Not seeing it in my current one. But you’ll never catch me using “mayor pro tem” (hyphenated, capitalized or otherwise) unless discussing the office itself.
And I’ll argue until I’m blue in the face that there is no such word as “councilmember.”
best,
=;->LEON
Haha, good point Berta, Mike! And here the only thing I thought to be ridiculous about my hypothetical scenario was the premise: that we are talking about which ego-driven man may secure the mayor title next year.