From local attorney Leonard Klaif, who for years has been a frequent speaker at Ojai City Council meetings:
“When Joe Devito’s resignation becomes effective at the end of 2009, the City Council will either schedule a special election or appoint someone to complete the remainder of Joe’s term. In either case, I am a candidate. I love the City of Ojai, my home for nearly 20 years. I have attended City Council meetings for nearly that long as an outspoken advocate for the arts, for the skate park, the preservation of open spaces, and, in general, to preserve our small town charm. I have been a member of the Board of the Ojai Art Center for 15 years. I am an attorney, and can quickly read and understand the legal documents presented to the Council before each meeting.”
Click here to download petitions Lenny-PetitiontotheOjaiCityCouncil10-23-09.pdf
The petition asks the Council to appoint Len Klaif to replace Joe DeVito. Please sign the petition as soon as possible.
For more information and/or assist in our efforts, attend our organizational meeting:
Monday, October 26th, 5:30 at the Art Center 113 S. Montgomery.
E-mail Lenny Klaif at ljkesq@roadrunner.com.
Or contact Len at 640-9659.
Leonard Klaif
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
suza, does this mean you are taking yourself out of the running?
Lenny, You’ll be a terrific and much appreciated member of the City Council. I’m for you. Candy P.S. great photo! C.
Suza Noooooooooooo!!!
I greatly appreciate the loyalty of people who voted for me in the last election.
In 2010 there will be three empty seats. The chances of me running again in the future are much better if Lenny Klaif is appointed or elected (by special election) to fill the vacancy at the end of this year.
Check out the City website (link in left margin of Ojai Post)
When you get to the home page click on City Council Agenda, October 27, 2009.
Then click on Item 3 – Process to Fill Unexpired Council Term
Council Vacancy Options.
I urge you to come to the Tuesday night meeting to fully understand the vacancy appointment/ special election process.
I will be making a statement soon on why I am endorsing Lenny Klaif.
This Klaif candidacy looks like a mistake. Suza was the runner-up (to Sue Horgan) in the last election, and an analysis of the votes showed that neither Sue Horgan nor Suza got a majority of the votes, on account of the way the votes were split among five candidates…… so that if a run-off had been held, Suza might well have beaten Sue.
For these and other reasons, Suza is the obvious candidate to replace Joe DeVito.
Actually impartial,
This is Joe DeVito’s seat we are talking about here and the last time Joe ran for election in 2006, Len lost by less then 75 votes. He had a closer margin than did Suza. For me, as long as Suza is okay with Len being the primary candidate to be appointed, so am I.
spk,
I didn’t know there was such a thing as a seat belonging to an individual, as in “This is Joe DeVito’s seat.” As far as I am concerned, a seat is a seat.
Clarification to Comment #4
The Link to the City of Ojai web site is on the home page, left margin under Elsewhere.
The plot thickens!
I agree that Joe Devito’s seat does not belong to anyone. I am not sure that my having finished close behind Joe three years ago is a reason for me to be appointed or elected to the council. I am also not sure that Suza having been the first runner-up in the most recent election is a reason to elect or select Suza for the soon to be vacant seat. Rather, the best reason for Suza and I to be on the council is that we share a belief that Ojai needs vigorous advocates on behalf to protect our wonderful and unique attributes; that we need to think outside the box to address our housing, transportation, energy, and other needs; that we need to do a better job of promoting the arts, supporting our business community, keeping the good jobs we have and bringing in new businesses that will strengthen our economy.
I hope to earn the support of Suza’s supporters, as well as others in the community, in my quest to replace Joe Devito on the council. In November, 2010 there will be three seats on the ballot, and I hope to run with Suza for two of those seats.
Len Klaif
YEs Suza Yes! and the spokespigs (meg & tellie)
Len Klaif,
Everything you said in your comment #9 makes good sense except for one thing. The fact is, Suza being first runner up in the most recent election IS not only “a reason” but the best possible reason for her to be appointed to this seat. In the absence of a special election, this is the nearest thing we have to an expression of the will of the people.
I look forward to you joining her on the council in November.
Hello Impartial,
I too was am a Suza supporter, but it looks to me like Suza is supporting Len. She is the one who posted this article.
Yes Impartial!
I swear that photo of Len looks like a young Jim Loebl, the attorney who served on the council for about 28 years! Thanks to Jim there is no freeway through downtown Ojai. (If there was there would be no downtown and no small town).
Who will stand up for those who have no voice, no power, and no vote?
Who will speak on behalf of the spirit of the bear?
You know I will!
And so will YOU!
Check out our mentors:
http://www.bear-with-us.org
http://www.savebears.org