Bill Wiggins

Having publicly stated in the past that I am in favor of term limits, I would also like to publicly state what we all know -- there are exceptions to every case. I believe that Dave Golonski is an exception, or more aptly, exceptional. I believe that when an individual demonstrates he can do a job well and desires to continue in that job, as is the case with Dave, then vote him in. I have had the pleasure of working with Dave Golonski for the past eight years and have come to admire Dave's honesty, work ethic and unique ability to "think outside the box."

Bill Wiggins I strongly agree with your Dec. 6 editorial "Handling of water concerns laughable." In the editorial you state "city and school district officials have seemed to rely too heavily on public relations rather than frank and open dialogue to handle the recent concern over the presence of chromium 6 in Burbank's water supply." Nothing could be further from the truth. The City Council has approached the chromium issue from two fronts. The first is to give the public as much information as possible on the subject.

As the holiday season subsides and the new year begins, residents of the city of Burbank will be asked to select a representative to serve on the City Council for the next three years. In this particular election there is one candidate that clearly stands out from the rest: Bill Wiggins. Since the early 1990s, Bill Wiggins has played a vital role in enhancing the excellent quality of life that Burbank offers to those who live, work and visit here. He has done that by steeping himself in the issues that face our city; being responsive to those whom he serves; and, perhaps most importantly, by possessing the unique quality of being able to work with divergent interests to identify what is best for our city, our neighborhoods and our overall quality of life.

In response to Jack O'Neill's Community Commentary, "Let's stop the personal attacks" in the Jan. 28 Burbank Leader, his comments struck me as odd -- that council candidate Bill Wiggins' record as a former city councilman and current airport authority commissioner were off limits. According to O'Neill, criticizing a voting record and actions as a public servant is a "personal attack." As an active supporter of Councilman-elect David Gordon's campaign I am very pleased that he won his first bid for election to City Council.

Congratulations to David Gordon on being elected to the City Council ("Gordon wins in tight race," Wednesday). I appeared before Gordon many times when he was on the Planning Board and, whether we agreed on something or not, I found him at all times to be open and available to me. No one bringing a project before the Council or Planning Board could ask for more, and I always appreciated my dialogue with him. I wish him much success as he joins...

CONFIRMING FACTSDavid Laurell's ode to Bill Wiggins for the vacant City Council seat ("New man, new year," Community Commentary, Dec. 21) would be positively laughable if the issues facing Burbank were not so serious. Something I have never understood is how politicians, even ex-politicians such as Laurell, are so comfortable in mangling the truth. Let me point out some of the falsehoods in Laurell's letter: "Wiggins was a major force in the Chandler Bikeway." That's not my recollection.

After 15 years in Burbank I'll be moving out the end of September and not because I don't love Burbank. o7Au' contrairef7; Burbank is a wonderful place to live, except for the scandalous politics here. I was very politically active for a long time having attended 100 or more City Council and Planning Commission meetings. I was even considered for airport commissioner more than once. One thing I learned from my experience was the Burbank City Council, Planning Commission and City Manager were all too often unresponsive to the will of the people.

Molly Shore A 45-minute video by Burbank teens dealing with problems they face and the solutions they have devised is going through its final edit, and will be aired on Charter Communications Channel 6 starting next month. "One of our goals was to make sure that whatever we did would be appealing to teens," video narrator Brynn Larsen, 16, said. The video is the end result of a questionnaire distributed a year and a half ago to Burbank students.

Lolita Harper CIVIC CENTER -- Burbank city officials had much to celebrate Tuesday as they bid farewell to two longtime public servants, renewed the terms of three veterans, welcomed two rookies and selected a new mayor and vice mayor. New Councilwoman Marsha Ramos and City Treasurer Donna Anderson stood at the podium and took their first oaths of office next to reelected council members Dave Golonski and Stacey Murphy. Returning City Clerk Judie Sarquiz swore in the city officials, but she had to turn the microphone over to be sworn in herself.

The Burbank Chamber of Commerce took members and supporters on a nostalgic stroll down a lane of musical memories as it presented its annual gala fundraiser Saturday at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. Arriving guests were welcomed by Chamber of Commerce President Gary Olson, Sue Sebastian of the Burbank YMCA, and event Chairman Don St. Clair , who serves as the organization?s chairman of the board, and the vice president for enrollment planning and marketing at Woodbury University.

This past Saturday was a day of reflection in Burbank as dignitaries, family and friends reflected on the career of retiring Burbank Police Chief Tom Hoefel , and the women of the La Providencia Guild of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles honored those who have served as the organization's presidents over the past 60 years. Brownstone Street on the back lot of Warner Bros. was the beginning of the trail that will ultimately lead Hoefel and his wife, Bunni , into the sunset of Texas retirement.

Sunshine and a clear sky ideal for golfing marked the start of the Burbank Sunrise Kiwanis Club 10th annual Mayor's Cup Golf Tournament on April 27 at De Bell Municipal Golf Course. Established in 1997, the tournament brings golfers and spectators alike together in a day of fun and fundraising with 100% of the proceeds benefiting youth programs and organizations in Burbank. The final tally is not in, but funds raised from this year's event could reach $30,000, club officials said.

The Burbank Chamber of Commerce ushered in the St. Patrick's Day weekend with an Irish-themed fundraiser on Friday evening. Presented as "Monte O'Carlo Night," this annual gala gives participants the opportunity to tip their hats to the chamber's outgoing board of directors and formally welcome in the new board. Among those mingling at the pre-dinner cocktail party and silent auction were city officials along with community and business leaders including Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gary Olson , his wife, Sharon , and son Kyle; City Manager Mary Alvord; former Mayor Bill Wiggins and his wife, Marilyn; and former Burbank city manager and now Deputy Los Angeles Mayor Bud Ovrom.

Burbank optometrist Dr. David Gordon's election to the City Council in the wake of the Stacey Murphy scandal signaled to many the emergence of a new era of local Burbank politics. A councilman-elect whose unapologetic criticism of Bob Hope Airport expansion and overzealous land development — what his campaign derided as the "Los Angelization of Burbank" — made him a clear antidote to a City Council that Gordon supporters complained had become a rubber stamp. After beating out council veteran Bill Wiggins with 37% of the vote, Gordon made good on pledges to fight for the public's access to information, scrutinizing meeting agenda items that would not likely have drawn much attention had Gordon not been on the council.

Gordon deserves respect from council Although I do not attend the council meetings as I should, I think I know the reason Councilman David Gordon might be getting poor treatment by some of the councilpersons. First, he defeated Bill Wiggins, an affable, establishment ex-councilman. I think Wiggins was convinced to run to defeat Gordon, who had anti-establishment credentials. But Wiggins lost. Enough voters wanted a maverick councilman. As a conscientious councilman, he does deserve respect from Councilman Dave Golonski and others.