By Mary O’KEEFE
On the heels of a contentious national election, in a much calmer manner local residents throw their hats into the ring for a seat on the town council.

All registered voters who live within the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County/La Crescenta are urged to vote in the upcoming Crescenta Valley Town Council elections. The elections are being held tomorrow, Nov. 13, and Saturday, Nov. 14 at Sadler Hall at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church at 2563 Foothill Blvd. The hours to cast a ballot on Friday are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For close to 30 years the CVTC has been a conduit to the office of the LA County Board of Supervisors. The council is an elected body of volunteers that is, at its base, the true foundation of local government. The CVTC deals with local issues from new construction through its Land Use Committee to beautification projects.
There are six seats open that seven candidates are vying for – three will be elected for three-year terms and three will be voted in for one-year alternates.
CVW submitted two questions to the candidates; their answers are below in the order in which they were received.

Why did you decide to run/run again for CVTC?
Johnny Brookbank: The old La Crescenta Motel is being torn down and dense multi-family housing structures are moving in. We all want La Crescenta to thrive but what happens to our community when this new development arrives?
If the traffic increases at the Foothill and Rosemont light, do drivers grow impatient and begin to “shortcut” down our residential streets for the freeway? Briggs, Rosemont, Prospect, Community, Altura and Mary will take on the majority of the additional traffic. With limited sidewalks, speeding cars are already a serious concern for our children and this structure promises to increase that problem. The outside developer is cash-positive but La Crescenta is left holding the risk and managing the consequences.
If you elect me, I would do all I could to stop the permitting process of this development in an effort to keep our streets safer.

Jo Ann Stupakis: I am running for another term on the CV Town Council because I have five years of past experience and I believe that there needs to be some stability in every organization. The institutional knowledge that I have gained is a valuable asset to the Council and I am committed to serving my community as a member of the CVTC.

Charles Beatty: I was asked to run again by several of my constituents because of my past work with the CVTC in our community and my association with the city, Los Angeles County and state leaders.

Ted Yu: I decided to run for CVTC because I love this community. I want to make La Crescenta better for my family and neighbors. I am currently a high school science teacher at a local school. I also have a PhD from Caltech. I will do my best to contribute my scientific background to help the town council. I feel there is a disconnect with the way information is relayed due to the ultra-partisanship in politics today. I feel my role is to provide an honest filter for the La Crescenta community. Today there are so many issues that need a straightforward scientific explanation such as the wildfires, highway construction and the coronavirus. The town council needs to be a credible source of information for the community.

Chris Kilpatrick: I grew up in the Crescenta Valley, attended local schools and have been involved in the community my entire life. I now feel very fortunate to call it home. I also run a small business here.
This is a very special community and has been built over the years by our fellow hard-working citizens. We must all continue this legacy of hard work and community spirit.
Our community faces a unique set of needs and challenges in order to maintain its excellence, character and continued growth. As a proud citizen of the Crescenta Valley, I want to lead the effort to “Preserve our Community” as a member of Town Council.

Jeffery Rodriguez: I decided to run for CVTC again because I’m a lifelong resident of the area, and this is the city I call home. I cherish La Crescenta and, as much as possible, I’d like to see it stay the way I’ve grown to love. We have a lot to be proud of when it comes to La Crescenta, but we also have an obligation/responsibility to keep it that way. The challenges and issues we currently face, and will face, are the reasons I’m running so I can help make a difference for my community. We’re a unique community and, really, unlike any other in LA County. If elected, I pledge to continue to fight for La Crescenta’s best interests, and to tackle any new challenges that face our great community.

Kerri Lewin: I decided to run for CVTC because I love where I live and I want to see that our town continues to grow as a community. Recently I have seen a wonderful increase in helping one another during these unprecedented times and I want to continue that vision of our community banding together. We are a diverse community and yet the hometown atmosphere is the common theme that ties us together. I would like to see that ideology move us forward. As a longterm resident of the Crescenta Valley I am proud to be asked to serve as a Town Council member and am looking forward to working along side the other members who equally have passion for the Balcony of Southern California.

What is the importance of local government like the CV Town Council?
Johnny Brookbank: Remember the “Welcome To Glendale” sign that kept getting hit by cars? That’s local government and for better or worse it plays a large part in our day-to-day lives. Local government allows us the ability to shape our community as we see fit. Whether that be city beautification, street safety, litter cleanup or community outreach, local government is the tool by which we accomplish these things. I love living in La Crescenta and would like to be one of the voices that helps elevate our corner of the planet.

Jo Ann Stupakis: Local government is invaluable to a community because we are the eyes and ears of our constituents. Our general meetings provide a forum for the community to express their input on local issues and the subcommittees delve deeper into specific areas affecting us. After gathering information from our community members, we are then able to communicate more effectively with the County to have our needs met.

Charles Beatty: In the beginning of the United States our form of government was a democracy. Each citizen could individually participate on issues and vote. Due to increases in population cities, counties and etc. we evolved into a Democratic Republic.
The importance of local government is that each of us can participate and vote on local issues within the jurisdiction of the CVTC. These issues can either be presented by “we the people” or presented to us by the CVTC for affirmation.

Ted Yu: Local government is responsible for local services essential for the community such as the parks, roads and libraries. This country is strong only if all levels are running smoothly. One of the biggest challenges facing our partisan government today is trust. It’s important for town council to relay information to the public in a way that is credible and trustworthy without political bias. In addition, the information needs to be timely. For example, we are going through a critical moment that will affect the trajectory of our society. There are many questions on whether the coronavirus vaccine will be safe. Will it be effective? Our community’s trust in this vaccine will be important for our economy moving forward.
This is just one example of how the town council can contribute to our society, making it better for everyone.

Chris Kilpatrick: In an environment dominated by national news and politics, we often forget the importance of local government. As a member of CV Town Council, I will be a voice of the community. I will work hard to address the following issues:
• Maintain and Improve public safety
• Support and Grow small business
• Halt and Reform out of control development
• Protect the character of the community
For more information, visit www.votekilpatrick.com.
Together we will “Preserve our Community!”
Remember to vote! Vote! Vote!

Jeffrey Rodriguez: The role of the CVTC is to be a voice, a liaison for the community’s thoughts and concerns; but also a voice for new ideas, innovation and improvements for our community. There are many challenges that La Crescenta will be facing, from wildfire preparation and affordable housing to transportation and GUSD support. We’re here to listen to your thoughts on the items listed, but also the many items that weren’t listed. The CVTC is here to be the voice of the community to the other branches of our local government, and I’d be proud to help serve as that voice again.

Kerri Lewin: A local Town Council is formed of uber-local community members who volunteer to be the voices of the community and ensure that the best interest is being met and addressed. Whether it is safety, beautification, history or future visions, a Town Council is crucial to keeping the cohesive and strategic plan together. Working together with residents to hear needs and concerns and our local elected County officials and departments, the Town Council is able to make things happen.