Palos Verdes About Town
Robert and Sheila Medawar attending a 2015 Chamber of Commerce Salute to Business. Photo courtesy of Peninsula magazine
14 votes separate
Medawar and
Zuckerman
Robert Medawar spent election night enjoying dinner at the Red Onion with his wife Sheila, parents Michele and Yolla, his brother- and sister-law and their kids.
The following morning, he was back at work at Medawar Fine Jewelers while awaiting the outcome of the Rolling Hills Estates City Council race. Incumbent Britt Hume was in first place with 35 percent of the vote. Medawar was in second with 33 percent, just 14 votes ahead of 20-year incumbent Steve Zuckerman in the race for the two open seats. Final results won’t be known for at least several days when counting is completed of provisional ballots (cast by voters whose names were missing from the voter rolls).
“Whatever the outcome, I feel blessed. If elected, I’ll be happy to serve with my fellow councilmembers. If not, I’ll remain honored to serve as chair of the planning commission,” Medawar said Wednesday morning.
Whatever his role, Medawar said his focus will be on attracting more retail to the downtown business corridor, between Crenshaw and Hawthorne boulevards.
“I want to make sure we don’t move toward more medical offices. Sales taxes and business licenses are the city’s second largest source of revenue, behind property taxes. We need to attract more retail,” he said.
“Retail has suffered in the last few years, not through any fault of the council, but because of changes in retail. I’ve been in retail on the Peninsula for 38 years, and I’ve got some ideas on how to make retail better,” he said.
Among his ideas are a more pedestrian-oriented landscaping and traffic design.
Measure A a clear winner
Also on Tuesday’s Rolling Hills Estates ballot was Measure A, which would simplify the city’s 30-year-old business license tax ordinance. The measure was placed on the ballot by a unanimous vote of the council and was overwhelmingly approved by residents, 78 percent to 22 percent.