After conducting hours of interviews for prospective candidates to fill the vacant District 1 City Council seat, both on the dais and in one-on-one meetings, it only took the Redondo Beach City Council but a few short minutes to reach their decision.
On July 19, the City Council unanimously appointed Martha Barbee to run out the final seven months of Jeff Ginsburg’s four year term, putting an end to a vacancy situation that the City hadn’t faced in more than a quarter-century.
“This is the most thought-provoking or toughest decision I can remember being involved with over anything we’ve talked about, from the Harbor to AES to…anything,” Mayor Steve Aspel said.
Many of District 1 candidates made their reputations on city commissions; some did so by volunteering around town; and some raised their profiles through community activism.
That last grouping concerned District 2 Councilman Bill Brand. City Attorney Michael Webb noted issues, such as potential lawsuits, that might arise should an appointed candidate have made a firm stand for or against an upcoming project, such as CenterCal’s Waterfront project, which he called “the elephant in the room.”
“When you’re campaigning, talking about your policies – that’s how you get elected,” Brand said. “But when you’re [on Council], in situations where you have to operate in a quasi-judicial position…you can’t bring prejudice to the table when you’re making that decision.”
Conflicts of interest were a point of discussion much of the night, in light of Ginsburg’s need to recuse himself from Waterfront-related discussions due to his real estate interests. Candidates such as Tom Bauer and Randall Kimose were asked about their interests in owning or managing properties, and verifying that those properties were not in the vicinity of projects such as the Waterfront.
Similarly, two founders of Rescue Our Waterfront, which recently filed a ballot initiative to change the language of the existing Waterfront development zoning plan passed as Measure G in 2010, were among the applicants. When asked how he would treat his relationship with ROW should he be appointed, Martin Holmes didn’t hesitate.
“I would discontinue my affiliation with Rescue Our Waterfront and view the facts as I receive them from closed session,” Holmes said. “I don’t think it’d be fair for me to be in those two positions, and I would most certainly be open-minded in how I approached decisions.”
While Martha Barbee was most recently a member of the City’s Historical Commission, her resume lists her as a software engineer by trade whose software startup grew to do business across the world. “I’ve closed deals in five different languages,” Barbee said. “I also learned to listen well in all five.”
Barbee also counts her tenure as president of multiple home-owner associations, positions with the 33rd Congressional District PTA, and volunteer work with organizations throughout Redondo and Los Angeles on her list of accomplishments.
Erika Snow Robinson, wearing homemade pro-Barbee signs pinned to her shirt, called her a “breath of fresh air.”
“She’s an active volunteer, she’s community-minded and a thoughtful member of the city…most importantly, she’s clearly had experience with the city’s Historical Commission,” Robinson said. “But not so much experience that she’s been jaded…I’m looking forward to clear thinking and unbiased thoughts.”
District 5 Councilwoman Laura Emdee concurred.
“I’d like to have fresh perspectives and fresh blood,” Emdee said. “But we need to balance it with people who are engaged and have experience.”
In short order, Emdee motioned to appoint Barbee. Almost immediately, Brand seconded the motion.
“I’m extremely impressed with all she’s accomplished, her enthusiasm, open-mindedness and ability to bring people together on complex issues,” Brand said, calling her a “dynamo.”
The motion passed unanimously, and after a standing ovation led by Aspel, Barbee was sworn in immediately.
“I thought we might have to go through many hours of debate and talk about qualifications, or lack thereof, with everyone in the room, and create ill will,” Aspel said. “When Laura made the motion, I thought it might be premature, but when Bill seconded it, I almost fell out of my chair.” Aspel spent at least an hour and a half over coffee with Barbee and came away very impressed with her qualifications — that she came in without affiliations or ties to any one organization, group, or “Good Ol’ Boys network,” Aspel said, was a cherry on top.
“I feel humbled — it was very unexpected,” Barbee said after the meeting. “I’m looking forward to getting to know my constituents and finding out what their needs are and understanding from either side of the issues why we all feel so strongly one way or the other…I’m looking forward to helping in whichever way I can to move the city forward and help create an even better Redondo for generations to come.”
