Gary Bric

The lone incumbent in the Burbank City Council election, Gary Bric spent four years on the Traffic and Transportation Commission before he was elected to the council in 2007. The 50-year Burbank resident served as mayor from May 2009 until the following year and said he believes the city still needs the common sense he brings as a small-business owner and councilman. Nighttime noise relief in the area surrounding the airport initially prompted Bric to run for City Council, but the difficult budget times have kept him committed to the city, he said.

CITY HALL — Gary Bric ascended to mayor of Burbank on Friday, with Councilwoman Anja Reinke taking his previously held seat as vice mayor. In a reorganization ceremony full of hearty welcomes to newly elected Councilman Jess Talamantes and tender farewells to outgoing Councilwoman Marsha Ramos, Bric, a restaurateur entering his third year in office, assumed the center seat on the dais before thanking a host of family, friends and business associates in the audience. “I do have a few comments, but I’ll try to keep them short.

BURBANK — As voters learn of City Council candidate Gary Bric's criminal record, he hopes it won't mar his chances in April for one of two open seats. Court documents show that Bric pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol in June 1997 and was arrested in 1990 after he was accused of being involved in bookmaking, which is accepting bets on results of sporting contests. The bookmaking charges were dropped after the district attorney prosecuting the case would not reveal the identity of a key informant in the case.

-- PRECINCT 1 -- STOUGH CANYON NATURE CENTER Candidates Votes Pct Todd Campbell 121 36.9 Gary Bric 63 19.2 Brian Malone 40 12.2 Jef Vander Borght 104 31.1 PRECINCT 2 -- FAITH CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Todd Campbell 23 32.9 Gary Bric 13 18.6 Brian Malone 12 17.1 Jef Vander Borght 22 31.4 PRECINCT 8 -- FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Todd Campbell 117 35.9 Gary Bric 63 19.3 Brian Malone...

I came across an article in the Burbank Leader that both concerns and infuriates me. (“ Split council OKs transitional living homes ,” April 27). I was under the impression the Burbank City Council worked for the betterment of our community and our residents. Imagine my surprise when the council voted to change the zoning code in Burbank, thereby allowing transitional and sober-living facilities in residential areas of our city. Isn't this something the residents of Burbank should have voted on, or at the very least had a say in?

BURBANK RESIDENTS CELEBRATE 90 YEARS Burbank residents Joe and Louise Roberts celebrated their 90th birthdays at Victorio?s Ristorante in North Hollywood on Oct. 27. They were both born in 1919 ? Joe on Sept. 24, and Louise two months later on Nov. 22. Childhood sweethearts, the couple married in 1943 and have lived in Burbank for 59 years. Joe has owned Joe Roberts Optical in Burbank for 30 years. Louise has given her time to volunteer with the PTA, and as a youth director and Sunday school teacher at Magnolia Park Methodist Church.

That’s what signs are supposed to do I noticed the electronic pricing sign at the gas station on Hollywood Way (“Sign sparks debate,” April 29). It keeps reminding me not to go there since it generally has the highest gas prices around. The lighting does draw one’s attention, but then aren’t all signs supposed to do that? In the same business block of Magnolia Park, I noted a bright yellow sidewalk sign pointing to pianos inside, a storefront brightly painted with jelly beans spotted all over it, and an optometrist office with a big political banner draped across the front.

Two years ago a Mailbag contributor wrote that Councilman David Gordon didn't have the right to serve as vice mayor or mayor because he came into office with fewer votes than council members Dave Golonski and Jess Talamantes (“Passing over Gordon makes sense,” May 15, 2011). I think this same reader now has to eat crow after the recent municipal election. Gordon has been returned to office with more votes than Talamantes, and Golonski has been soundly defeated. Can we finally see Gordon getting this long-overdue honor?

It's not Thanksgiving, but I am thankful. As a candidate for City Council, 2,741 people had faith in me on primary election day in Burbank ("Four in council race," Feb. 28). I received more than 70 contributions and numerous endorsements. Volunteers spent many hours working on my behalf. I met wonderful people while knocking on doors, at coffee socials and other events. I met the people of Burbank. No Monday morning quarterback; I got to play in the game on Sunday afternoon.

I am writing this letter in response to a flier received in today's mail. This was a mudslinging, nasty bit of political hate mail. One side spews bile at Gary Bric and the other side at Anja Reinke. I am appalled by the gutter-scraping tone and allegations. Since this flier attacks two of the candidates for City Council and not the other two, I wondered who sent the flier and why. What I do know is this: The flier was sent by the Coalition for Responsible Leadership, which is also known as the Good Government Committee.

I came across an article in the Burbank Leader that both concerns and infuriates me. (“ Split council OKs transitional living homes ,” April 27). I was under the impression the Burbank City Council worked for the betterment of our community and our residents. Imagine my surprise when the council voted to change the zoning code in Burbank, thereby allowing transitional and sober-living facilities in residential areas of our city. Isn't this something the residents of Burbank should have voted on, or at the very least had a say in?

Two years ago a Mailbag contributor wrote that Councilman David Gordon didn't have the right to serve as vice mayor or mayor because he came into office with fewer votes than council members Dave Golonski and Jess Talamantes (“Passing over Gordon makes sense,” May 15, 2011). I think this same reader now has to eat crow after the recent municipal election. Gordon has been returned to office with more votes than Talamantes, and Golonski has been soundly defeated. Can we finally see Gordon getting this long-overdue honor?

The City Council on Tuesday approved a $1 million loan to the city-owned DeBell Golf Course and agreed to defer loan payments on $2.1 million in outstanding debt for two years as the troubled course tries to recover from a drop in revenue. The council also set aside $1 million as a possible cushion for the cash-strapped golf course, bringing the total package $2 million — far more than the roughly $567,000 in proposed cuts to public services as City Hall works to close a projected $8.7-million budget gap for next fiscal year.

City Council incumbent Gary Bric cruised to re-election on Tuesday, securing more than 50% of the vote and bypassing the April 12 general election, when candidates Emily Gabel-Luddy and Bob Frutos will face off for Mayor Anja Reinke's vacated seat. With all 42 precincts reporting, Bric received 4,642 of 8,072 votes cast in the election, followed by Gabel-Luddy with 3,845 and Frutos with 3,071. Jacqueline Waltman, a state probation official, failed to make the primary cut, with 2,131 votes.

The lone incumbent in the Burbank City Council election, Gary Bric spent four years on the Traffic and Transportation Commission before he was elected to the council in 2007. The 50-year Burbank resident served as mayor from May 2009 until the following year and said he believes the city still needs the common sense he brings as a small-business owner and councilman. Nighttime noise relief in the area surrounding the airport initially prompted Bric to run for City Council, but the difficult budget times have kept him committed to the city, he said.

[UPDATED] Three candidates have filed papers for the Burbank City Council primary election in February, and Mayor Anja Reinke is not among them. Spots held by Councilman Gary Bric and Reinke will open at the end of the current term ending in April. Reinke, who pushed for an arts commission as part of her campaign platform in 2007, said she was excited to see it finally come to fruition. Reinke declined to be interviewed, but in September said she thought it was "a little shameful that we're the media capital of the world and didn't have a cultural arts commission.

It has been my honor to serve as mayor of the city of Burbank. I am grateful for the support of family, friends and the community during this past year and will always treasure this amazing opportunity. During the last year, I have attended important meetings, special events and celebrations. Whether it was presenting the State of the City address or throwing out the first pitch at Burbank Dodger night, representing our great city has been a privilege. There were so many memorable occasions.

In 1907, a tradition began in New York’s Times Square that has since become a signal to the world that the new year has officially begun — the dropping of the New Year’s Eve Ball from the top of One Times Square. The first ball, made of iron and wood, was adorned with 100 25-watt light bulbs, measured 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds. Since then, the ball has dropped every year but 1942 and 1943, when the ceremony was suspended because of World War II. Today the ball is a 12-foot geodesic sphere that weighs 11,875 pounds and is covered with 2,668 Waterford Crystals and 32,256 LED lights.

BURBANK RESIDENTS CELEBRATE 90 YEARS Burbank residents Joe and Louise Roberts celebrated their 90th birthdays at Victorio?s Ristorante in North Hollywood on Oct. 27. They were both born in 1919 ? Joe on Sept. 24, and Louise two months later on Nov. 22. Childhood sweethearts, the couple married in 1943 and have lived in Burbank for 59 years. Joe has owned Joe Roberts Optical in Burbank for 30 years. Louise has given her time to volunteer with the PTA, and as a youth director and Sunday school teacher at Magnolia Park Methodist Church.