Photo: FLLewis/Media City G — Councilman Dr. David Gordon selected as mayor during Burbank City Council reorganization meeting May 1, 2014
Some issues, like the debate over the selection of Burbank’s mayor, never seem to die. It frequently comes up in the spring when a new mayor is picked by the city council members. In the past, there have been some ugly episodes with certain council members being shut out of the rotation for mayor.
Dr. David Gordon has been passed over several times for the position, which is mostly ceremonial. Last May, following outrage and pressure from the public and media, Gordon was voted in as mayor by a majority of his fellow council members.
Outspoken resident, Irma Loose, has brought up the mayor selection issue many times during public comment at city council meetings. Recently, some of the council members briefly discussed the issue, but tabled a deeper study often citing the 2011-2012 Charter Citizens Committee’s decision not to consider changes to the process.
However, at the July 22 city council meeting, Mayor Gordon offered up a reason why the selection process should get a closer look: “… about a month ago I requested information… charter information … relating to the annual reorganization of the council leadership with respect to mayor and vice-mayor. How the council operates. I can’t tell ya, I think that’s the most commonly asked question in the community. “How do you get to be mayor or vice-mayor? How does it happen? Who votes for it? When do we vote for it?” So one part of that request would be for the public’s benefit. For the second part would be actually the mechanics. What are the city written policies on it. What does the charter call for. So maybe we should just bring it back as an item, report item on the agenda as soon as practical.”
Now, we’ll have to wait for the item to appear on a future city council agenda. Hopefully, as the mayor requested, it will be soon.
