The Hermosa Beach City Council chambers erupted in cheers while residents rose for a standing ovation on Tuesday night after outgoing Mayor Kit Bobko handed the gavel off to incoming Mayor Michael DiVirgilio.
“These last seven years have truly been the best in my life, working on your behalf,” Bobko said during his final speech on the dais. “I have no prouder moments than the moments I’ve spent here working for you and doing the things I thought were important to you… I can’t express the gratitude I have for you entrusting me to do those things.”
Bobko came in fifth in last week’s council election with 13 percent of the votes. DiVirgilio will serve his second installment as mayor for the next ten months with Peter Tucker as Mayor Pro Tem.
“I’m reminded of when Robert E Lee surrendered his sword to [Ulysses] Grant,” Bokos said. “Grant had his soldiers salute, and treated him like the General he was. And when others have lost, the victors have resisted the temptation to be vindictive or vengeful, and I don’t think that’s Hermosa’s spirit – I certainly don’t think that’s anyone on this council’s sprit. While we have had our differences, I believe we have always maintained civil and healthy respect for one another and I hope that will continue.”
Bobko said that he is proud of what was accomplished in his seven years on the council.
“I hope that you gentlemen will come together, because the community needs you,” said Bobko. “I will not lie and say I’m not sorry [not] to be there to help – I wish I were, but I won’t. I think I leave the city to you in a time of crisis in a sense, but I have every confidence you gentleman will find a way through it, and I ask that you and the new councilmembers will come together for a common goal.”
During Bobko’s two terms, the city has redesigned Upper Pier Avenue, hired a new city manager and police chief, settled the McPhearson Oil litigation and also rewrote the city’s outdated strategic plan.
“In our years together I think we’ve moved the city immensely forward,” Tucker said. “I think we’re the pride of the South Bay… You made us all think and we’ve debated, sometimes a little contentiously, but in the end we all had Hermosa at heart and moved the forward.”
“I certainly appreciate your service to the city,” fellow councilmember and almost constant council opponent Jeff Duclos said to Bobko. “Divergent opinions on things are not necessarily a bad thing, and you hope that by having them that you end up with something better than you would have thought to begin with.”
DiVirgilio added that the upcoming months and years will be tough, but he is committed to lead the council in a way that’s respectful to the community and produces results. He also said that he hopes to focus on the sewer replacement program as well as creating a city facilities plan.
“This community deserves a serious elected body with a serious mayor, and I intend to be that,” said DiVirgilio. “We have a lot of work to do and we have a team in place to deliver these things.” ER
