Candidates for GWNC Elections Include Wide Spectrum of Neighborhood Activists and Enthusiasts

Eight years since its initial certification by the City of Los Angeles, the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council – a body of volunteers representing our neighborhood interests to the City of Los Angeles  – is going stronger than ever – giving neighbors a voice in local land use issues, awarding financial grants for neighborhood improvement projects and acting as a booster for the Greater Wilshire area in many aspects of city governance.  This coming Sunday, October 8 (from 2-6 p.m. at Wilshire Crest Elementary School, 5241 W. Olympic Blvd.), the GWNC will hold its biennial election for its 21 board members.  15 of the 21 seats represent the various neighborhoods within the GWNC, and the other six represent special interests such as Renters, Education, Religious Organizations, Business and Other Non-Profit organizations, as well as an At-Large seat.

So who are the people who sit on (or would like to sit on) your neighborhood council…and what do they hope to accomplish?

Here are the registered candidates…and candidate statements, from those who have chosen to provide them.  As you’ll see, they include people who have been deeply involved in their neighborhoods for decades…young folks just venturing into the waters of local government…and everything in between.  They include professionals, business owners, students, renters, homeowners, parents, folks who were raised here, newcomers and more – in other words, a wide cross-section of our own neighbors.  But they all have something in common — a deep love for, and pride in the Greater Wilshire area of Los Angeles, and a willingness to donate their time and talents to making our neighborhood a great place to live.  We hope you’ll honor their commitment by voting on Sunday.

(For more information on the election, please see the Election Information published by the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, the GWNC’s Candidate List, map of its neighborhoods, summary of Voter Information and qualifications, and list of acceptable Documentation you can bring to the polling place to allow you to vote in each category.)

Candidates for GWNC Board Elections

GEOGRAPHIC AREA DIRECTORS – AREAS 1-15

Area 1 – Brookside

•  Owen Smith

Area 2 – Citrus Square

•  Jeffry Carpenter
  Along with my wife, I have been a residential property owner in the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council’s area since 1978, first in Brookside and, since 1994, along the La Brea corridor north of 3rd Street. I have a professional interest in land use and transportation and seeing those challenges managed to preserve and enhance the livability of neighborhoods. I see these as particular areas of challenge and opportunity for GWNC and hope to be able to work with my neighbors in creatively engaging on our issues.

Area 3 – Country Club Heights

•  Frances McFall
  I am a retiree and have resided in Los Angeles for the past 68 years and a resident of Country Club Heights for 22 years. My Neighborhood lies on the southeastern edge of greater Wilshire and bordering along the commercial corridor of Western Avenue & Olympic Boulevard. As a current GWNC board member, I would like to continue representing Country Club Heights(Area3) focusing on the quality of life issues that we are confronted with from potholes to sidewalk repair in and around the neighborhood, traffic overflow onto the residential streets from the major commercial corridors, and the adverse effects from over development.

• Irene McFall

Area 4 – Fremont Place

• Barbara Kumetz
  I am a candidate to represent the interests of my neighbors in Fremont Place on the Neighborhood Council. I am a semi-retired attorney, I am a member of the Calif. Bar Assoc and I have been active in the Fremont Place Homeowners Association and have been a Homeowners Assoc Board Member for many years. I have lived in Fremont Place for more than 30 years.

• Patricia Lombard
  I am a candidate to represent the interests of my neighbors on the neighborhood council. I have been actively involved in land use issues since my family moved to Fremont Place in 1994. I currently serve on my neighborhood association board.

Area 5 – Hancock Park

• Cynthia Chvatal-Keane
  I have been a member of the HPHA board for fifteen years and currently serve as the Board President and co-chair the Block Captain/Neighborhood Watch, Historic Preservation and Land Use Committees. I currently serve as an alternate director on Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, am a member of the Executive Committee of the California Science Center and an Executive Producer of the television series C S I.

• James Wolf
  As a Hancock Park resident since 1983, I have been an active member of the community serving on the Hancock Park Homeowners Association Board since 1987 and presently serving on the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council as Vice President and as Chairman of the Landuse and Planning Committee. I look forward to providing continuing service and enrichment to the community.

Area 6 – La Brea-Hancock

• Michael Bircumshaw
  I moved my business into the Greater Wilshire council area about 10 years ago and would like to get involved in its development and help represent the needs of its residents, businesses, property owners and employees.

• William Funderburk
  –Candidate for La Brea-Hancock Geographic Area No. 6 representative to the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council
  –Homeowner and resident in GWNC area from 1998 to 2005 and from 2010 to the present.
  –Block Captain for the La Brea-Hancock Homeowners’ Association (2010-present).
  –Appointed to GWNC Board as an Alternate in March 2012.  Served on GWNC Land Use Committee since March 2012.
  –Attorney in private practice
  –Served on several national and local charitable boards concerning environmental education, natural history and children’s after school programs.

Area 7 – Larchmont

• CharlesD’Atri

• Fred Mariscal
  I’m running because I care about the city I live in, my community, and my neighborhood. I want to represent the area I have lived in for more than 10 years in order…
  TO help make our neighborhood safer, and better for all of us to live in.
  TO work with the leaders of the NC for the betterment of our Area.
  TO bridge the gap between City Hall and the Community.
  TO make The Neighborhood Council and City Government more responsive to our needs as residents and citizens of Los Angeles.
  TO give my neighbors the important information they need which may affect their lives as residents, so that they will have a say in the decision making process.
  TO encourage more participation and involvement from the Community in city life.
  TO better serve my neighborhood, and give back to our community.

Area 8 – Melrose

• Jeff McManus
  Seventeen years ago I purchased, carefully restored and lived in my first house at the corner of Mansfield and Clinton. I now live across the street in my second, carefully restored house with my wife and teenage daughter. I have restored several other homes in this area and am very familiar with housing, development and building issues.

   I am concerned about maintaining the integrity of our neighborhood and I pledge to do my part to look after our interests.

Area 9 – Oakwood-Maplewood-St. Andrews

• Jason Peers

I’ve really enjoyed serving on the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council as the Area 9 representative for the past year and hope to be elected to another term so I can continue my work helping make our neighborhood the best it can be.

I’ve enjoyed working alongside some of our neighborhood’s finest residents, staying informed and up-to-date on behalf of my immediate   neighborhood and having the opportunity to bring my own ideas to the table in hopes of making a positive impact on the area.

I’ve particularly enjoyed working alongside the outreach committee to find new ways to educate the community about the work the neighborhood council does while also honoring those residents who give back to the community.

Area 10 — Ridgewood/Wilton-St. Andrews Square

• Patricia Carroll

As the current GWNC representative for Area 10, I serve on the Land Use and Outreach Committees.

I also am the Treasurer of the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council.

Passionate about my community, I am on the board of the St. Andrews Square Neighborhood Association (SASNA). I care about preserving this wonderful neighborhood where my grandparents owned their first home in the 1950′s.

• Kathleen Mulligan

I am president of the Ridgewood-Wilton Neighborhood Association, RWNA.

I have been the alternate representative to GWNC for 4 years, from the Ridgewood – St. Andrews Wilton Area.

Area 11 – Sycamore Square

• Ann Eggleston
  I closed escrow on my home in Sycamore Square in January 1999, and my husband and now daughter and son have lived on Orange since then. Before that, I worked in the area at Marlborough School. As a resident of Sycamore Square, I have served several terms on our neighborhood association board, including two years as president. During that time I connected with residents, city officials, and the presidents of local area neighborhood and homeowners’ associations. I care deeply about this area and plan to live here for a long time to come, and believe I understand the issues fairly well. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood and connect with other area residents outside of Sycamore Square to strengthen our community.

• Sue Horwitz
  My name is Sue Horwitz. Sycamore Square has been my families’ home since 1991. I have served on the Sycamore Square Neighborhood Association board for several years, and am in my second term as President. I am running for to serve on the GWNC because involvement is the key to our neighborhood’s long-term safety, preservation, and sense of community. My qualifications to serve include my experience on the neighborhood board, understanding the issues facing the city, and professional experience enrolling others to create win-win situations.

Area 12 – Western-Wilton (We-Wil)

• Matthew Oldham
  I previously served as Board Member of Area 12 as well as Treasurer and Outreach Committee Chair. Because of work commitments, I resigned my duties. My work schedule has relaxed and I would now like to become involved in the GWNC again.

• Greg Wittman
  I am a young renter who is passionate about helping Greater Wilshire become a healthier, more active and more sustainable community.

Area 13 – Wilshire Park

• John Gresham
  Neighborhood Resident/Activist for 23 years
  Current GWNC Board Member
  Active in GWNC formation since 1999
  Wilshire Park Board since inception
  Wilshire Homeowners Alliance
  Park Mile Specific Plan
  Preserve our quality of life in the middle of this great city!

• Roberta O’Donnell

I am looking forward to participating as a representative for the Wilshire Park Community. Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council is our best line of communication directly with our elected officials, developers, community workers, and residents, and it would be a privilege to serve.

Area 14 – Windsor Square

• Jack Humphreville
  Neighborhood Councils are a vital component of our City Charter. They allow ordinary citizens the opportunity to understand and influence our City government.

NC’s were instrumental in the 2009 defeat of Measure B, the Mayor’s Solar Initiative. This payback would have given the IBEW (DWP’s dominant union) a monopoly on the construction of solar power, costing us billions extra.

NC’s were an important forum in pressing for the Ratepayers Advocate. We now have increased independent oversight of our DWP.

Neighborhood Councils must be leaders in reforming LA’s finances. We need to eliminate the projected four year budget deficit of $1.1 billion and our $10 billion unfunded pension liability and repair of our streets and sidewalks.

As a Board member and a contributor to City Watch, I have informed GWNC stakeholders and all Angelenos about DWP and the City’s finances.

I will continue these efforts on your behalf.

• Caroline Labiner Moser
  Caroline Labiner Moser is an architect, native Angelina and resident of Windsor Square. She has been a member of the GWNC Land Use Committee for two years and an alternate for Windsor Square for over a year. She is a Board Member of the Windsor Square Association where she is Block Captains Co-Chair. She is the Architect Board Member of the Harvard Heights HPOZ and a member of the Park Mile Design Review Board. She has been on the Boards of the Barnsdall Art Park Foundation, Ebell, LA Children’s Museum, WSHP Historical Society and the Association of Women in Architecture.

   Her Masters of Architecture is from M.I.T and her undergraduate degree is from Harvard. She is licensed to practice architecture in  California and formerly in New York, where she worked for Kohn Pederson Fox and Ehrenkrantz and Eckstut before opening her own practice.

Area 15 – Windsor Village

• Betty Fox

SPECIAL INTEREST SEATS

Business

• Joane Pickett
  I have owned and operated Pickett Fences, a clothing and gift boutique in Larchmont Village for the past 18 years. My family and I reside in Brookside. I serve as Secretary of the Larchmont Boulevard Association, am a Past President and have served on the Larchmont Board for approximately 16 years. I serve as President of the Saint Brendan School Parent Board and have served on SBS Parent Board in various capacities for 7 years. I serve on the Property Owners Business Improvement District Board. I am currently an Alternate on GWNC and am running for re-election.

Renter

• Robert Ahn
  I have been a resident of our NC since my family moved to Fremont Place in 1994, and over those many years I have developed a deep respect and love for our neighborhoods.

Most recently, I served as a Commissioner for the Los Angeles City Redistricting Commission and had the pleasure of meeting many of you during these hearings. I would love to continue my public service and I can’t think of a better way to serve than on behalf of my neighbors and on the Neighborhood Council that I live in.

I am a real estate attorney and serve on the Board for a local environmental non-profit volunteer organization. I would be honored to serve you on the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council.

• Sam Roseme
  I have lived and rented in Greater Wilshire for over two years and plan on making the neighborhood my permanent home. I’m an attorney who has worked in both private practice and city government, and I would like to get more involved in helping make Greater Wilshire an even better neighborhood.

•  Briana Valdez 

I have lived in the Larchmont area for 6 years. Walking my two dogs regularly allows me the chance to chat with my neighbors frequently and stay abreast of the concerns of the neighborhood. I am grateful to be a member of this unique community and would be honored to be the voice of the renters in the area.

Education

• Clinton Oie
  As an employee of Marlborough School my duties include, Neighbor Relations, Conditional Use Permit compliance, Food Services, Event Management, Student Store, Textbooks, Master Calendar, Parking, School Buses and Transportation.

Religion

• Michael Genewick
  Michael Genewick has been a resident of Windsor Square and a member of St. Brendan Roman Catholic Church for 40 years.  Currently he serves as a Lector and an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist.  He and his wife Kathi raised five children who attended St. Brendan School. An active member of AYSO soccer for over 20 years in the Greater Wilshire neighborhood, Mike now serves as Treasurer of the Windsor Square Association. In 2005, Mike and Kathi traveled to the Holy Land on an Interfaith Pilgrimage as members of a Wilshire Center Interfaith Council group of Christians, Jews and Muslims.

Other Non-Profit

• Daniel Whitley

At Large

• Karen Gilman
  I have lived in the Larchmont Village area since 1986. I care deeply about quality of life, crime prevention, land use issues, traffic and pedestrian safety, and maintaining and creating parks and other green spaces. I am the Larchmont Village Neighborhood Assn. board secretary and a member of the GWNC Land Use committee.  I pledge to support the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council’s mandate to help represent our neighborhood if elected to serve you.He vivido en el vecindario desde 1986. Cuido mucho por la calidad de vida, la prevención de crimen, asuntos del utilizo de propiedad, tráfico y seguridad de los que caminan, y con mantener y crear parques y espacios verdes. Soy secretaria de la Asociación del Vecindario de Larchmont Village y miembra del comité de utilizo de propiedad del GWNC. Les juro a apoyar la misión del Concilio del Vecindario Greater Wilshire si yo este eligida para servirles.

• Jane Usher