Comedy, comity characterize Hermosa Beach candidates forum
by Kevin Cody
At the start of Hermosa Beach City Council Candidates Forum Monday night at the Beach House Hotel candidate Brian Sheil pulled open his sports jacket to show he was wearing a black and white referee’s shirt.
“If you saw the last council meeting, you know what the council needs is a referee,” he quipped. At the last council meeting Mayor Dean Francois twice felt compelled to bang the gavel to bring order to the dias.
Sheil’s line drew a laugh from the audience, and from the four other candidates, reflecting their collegial relationships.
The forum was sponsored by the Hermosa Chamber of Commerce and focused on business issues. Emcee and Chamber Board Member Lenny LaRocca asked each of the candidates the same questions. Rebuttals were not allowed
Why are you running? was LaRocca’s first question.
Hermosa council candidate Michael Detoy is an incumbent Hermosa Councilmember, and City of Riverside Fire Department captain.
Of the five candidates for the two open seats on the November 5 ballot, Michael Detoy is the only incumbent. Councilmember Justin Massey, whose term also expires in November, is not seeking reelection.
“I moved here 15 years ago because I fell in love with the beach culture, and knew this is where I wanted to raise my family,” the City of Riverside Fire Captain said. His typical day, when not at work, he said, begins with taking his two young children to school, followed by coffee or a walk on the beach with his wife, meeting with local businesses and community groups, and coaching youth sports in the afternoon.
“The last five years have been the best years of my life,” Detoy said.
Hermosa council candidate Jani Lange is a Hermosa Beach Parks and Rec commissioner and business owner. Photos by Kevin Cody
Candidate Jani Lange described himself as an independent business owner, Parks and Rec commissioner, Chamber of Commerce board member, and Hermosa native.
“My parents still live here. My wife’s a Hermosa kindergarten teacher. My daughter’s a cheerleader at Mira Costa, which I don’t hold against her even though I went to Redondo. I went to El Camino College and Long Beach State. But I tell people I graduated from the University of Hermosa Beach,” he said.
Hermosa council candidate Brien Sheil is an entertainment industry production company owner.
Candidate Brian Shiel said he is a 29 year resident and owner of an entertainment industry production company whose clients include America’s Funniest Home Videos and the BeachLife Music festival.
“Newspapers keep referring to me as a comedian. And it’s true, I appear at Comedy and Magic Club. But I don’t know how many jokes you would have to tell to afford a house in Hermosa Beach,” he said, eliciting his second laugh of the evening.
“The people I work with in television are very passionate, and work very long hours, which has prepared me for serving on the council,” Sheil said.
Hermosa council candidate Elka Worner is a retired national news television producer.
Candidate Elka Worner said she has lived in Hermosa since second grade.
“I was in second grade when my family moved here from Germany. I was scared. I didn’t know any English, and the community embraced me. I didn’t know how lucky I was until I went off to college. I love the people who live here. You’re smart, hardworking, you care about the environment and you’re very opinionated, which is a good thing,” she said.
Worner began her career in journalism at United Press International (UPI), and recently retired after 25 years as a television news producer.
“Now it’s time to give back. I have the time and energy to do this job 110 percent,” she said.
Hermosa council candidate Michael Keegan is a former Hermosa Beach Councilmember and business owner. He participated in the forum by Zoom because he was in South Korea.
Candidate Michael Keegan served two terms on the Hermosa Council, from 2001 to 2009.
He began his career in commercial real estate and then opened five bakeries in the Los Angeles area, including Manhattan Bread and Bagel.
Keegan participated in the forum over Zoom, but because of technical difficulties, was unable to fully participate in the forum.
Following the forum, he emailed Easy Reader the following response to the question, Why are you running for city council.
“I am a 38 year resident, business owner, husband and father. I served two terms on Hermosa Beach City Council. I am against the current City Council and Managers plan to build a new city hall complex at a cost of over $125 million dollars. I believe the City needs to live within its means and not raise taxes and fees on residents,” Keegan said.
“The City must be more efficient and stop allowing city personnel to work from home, unsupervised. We need a course correction in the management of our city. I will use my experience to lead our City to finish more municipal work on time and on budget.”
Candidates were asked their suggestions for improving business in Hermosa.
Several suggested streamlining the permit process for music and other outdoor events downtown.
Detoy noted that during COVID the city relaxed restrictions against outdoor events to support businesses.
“When COVID ended, the restrictions came back. We need to find a balance so live music doesn’t negatively impact the business next door. We are doing a zoning update right now to find that balance. We are doing this because the current council embraces live, outside events,” he said.
Sheil, who is also a musician, and frequently performs at downtown restaurants, said business is good on the weekends, but slow mid-week. He proposed sidewalk sales and outdoor music Monday through Thursday.
“Invite bands to perform from local schools, and music schools like Coast Music and School of Rock,” he said.
He also contended the Hermosa Beach Community Theater is underutilized and proposed more music performances and a distinguished speaker series at the theater.
Worner and Lange said the 2028 Olympics provide a unique opportunity for Hermosa to promote itself. Both suggested the city hire a business liaison.
“I think the city needs a liaison to recruit new businesses. El Segundo actually goes to Silicon Valley to recruit businesses,” Worner said. El Segundo’s motto is “Where Big Ideas Take Off.”
Lange cited his work as a Parks and Rec commissioner in bringing back Concerts on the Beach this past summer, and bringing the Rams Event to Hermosa last April as examples of helping to stimulate business downtown.
“In retail, April is known as an economic black hole, because its music festival season and people go out of town,” he said.
Worner commented, “We need to find the balance between what the residents want, what visitors want, and what the chamber and the city want. I’m not opposed to having Rams and Kings events here. They’re great, family friendly events. But I want to make sure we don’t have events every single weekend.”
“As a co-author of the city’s special events policy guide, I am very mindful of that,” Lange responded. “That’s why we put in ‘nothing’ weekends at the beginning and end of the summer.”
“The downtown is a delicate ecosystem because we have business and residents right next to each other,” he added.
In addition to voting to fill two council seats in November, Hermosa residents will be asked to vote on Measures HV, and Measure HB.
The candidates were unanimous in their support of Measure HV, a $28.7 million school bond.
Opinions were mixed on Measure HB, a 75% increase in the sales tax. If approved, measure HB would generate $3 million annually, all going to the city’s general fund. The city receives only 1% of the current 9.5% sales tax. The rest of the current tax goes to the State and Los Angeles County. If Measure HB is not approved, another County agency could seek voter approval for the increase.
“I am opposed to the tax,” Worner said, “because we need to do everything we can to give our businesses an edge. There are empty storefronts downtown, and I don’t think adding a tax will help attract new businesses. The city says it needs $3 million to fund police, but the department is fully staffed. We don’t have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem.”
Keegan also opposed Measure HB.
“I’m opposed because after a measure to increase sales taxes failed two years ago the council did nothing to analyze why that happened. They waited two years, put it back on the ballot and now are spending money to promote it,” he said via Zoom.
Sheil said of the proposed sales tax, “The city is using our tax money to produce advertising to get more of our tax money. I don’t like that.”
Lange said of the sales tax measure, “It’s up to the will of the people. The question is, if it passes, how will we spend it. I would spend it on public safety.”
Detoy voted with the council majority to put Measure HB on the ballot. He described it during the candidates forum as “a local control mechanism.”
Detoy named a dozen other cities, including Manhattan Beach, that are seeking, or have already approved a similar sales tax increase.
“Many of you in the room voted for Measure O, to stop oil in 2015. The city had to pay $17.5 million to settle the oil lawsuit. We are paying $750,000 a year on that debt until 2035. That’s money that is not going to our parks, downtown, sidewalks, lighting….”
He added that the city’s contract with the Los Angeles County Fire Department is coming up for renewal and is likely to cost the city an additional $1.5 million annually.
Worner, in her closing statement, told the audience, “My platform is simple. We need safe streets, smart spending and more communication with residents. And we need to support our local businesses.”
“I have reported on local businesses. I told your stories. I have the inquisitiveness to get to the bottom of things so you can make good decisions about the issues that affect your lives.”
Sheil said in his closing comment, “The City of Hermosa Beach and the City Council work for us. I think we should bring back Friday (work days at City Hall).”
Lange told the audience, “The city doesn’t need a referee. It needs a friendly face on the city council. I am that friendly face. I let my resume speak for me. During 10 years on the parks and rec commission, I have led by example and have brought a lot of success to the community.”
“Pennywise is endorsing me, so I’m pretty stoked,” he added.
Keegan, in an email to Easy Reader, stated, “I am the only candidate with both public and private sector experience. I founded and ran multiple successful businesses, employing hundreds of employees. The present council has three current and former government employees. That is not representative of the voters of Hermosa Beach.
“We need people with experience in running successful enterprises. We need to use experience to help make better decisions and stop wasting money,” Keegan said..
Detoy spoke about his efforts as a councilmember to be responsive to residents.
“Over the last five years, I have worked collaboratively, listened respectfully, and tried to make sure information is distributed in an accurate manner.
“Before every meeting, I post an abbreviated agenda, a single page on my social media page to increase communications. If you go back over my five years on the city council, you’ll find quality of life and public safety are my focuses. I want to make sure my family is safe when I leave for the fire station. I want to protect our small town culture and local economy. I wish I was lucky enough to have grown up here,” Detoy said.
Two additional Hermosa Beach City Council forums are scheduled.
The Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Association (HBNA) will host a council candidates and city treasurer candidates forum on Thursday, September 26 at 7 p.m. in the Hermosa City Council Chambers. For more information visit HBNeighborhood.org. The debate will be streamed live on the City of Hermosa Beach’s YouTube channel, Spectrum Channel 8 and FIOS Channel 31.
Leadership Hermosa Beach will host a candidates forum on Thursday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hermosa City Council chambers, 1315 Valley Drive. Questions for the candidates may be submitted at LeadershipHermosa.org. ER