Peter Amundson is the new Mayor of Arcadia and Gary Kovacic is the new Mayor Pro Tem who will likely wear the city’s highest crown once again in April 2011.
Mayor Peter Amundson (l) and Councilmen Mickey Segal (c) and Bob Harbicht (r) are sworn in by City Clerk Jim Barrows.
In his opening comments, Amundson said he wanted the City to focus on the development of Downtown Arcadia and prepare to maximize the potential of the Gold Line light rail train to begin running through and stopping in Arcadia in 2013.
Moments after being sworn in following the most costly campaign in Arcadia’s history, City Councilman Mickey Segal told the Mayor and the three other members of the Council that he would like the City to consider putting a cap on campaign spending in the future.
Councilman Bob Harbicht seconded the concept though he said he was doubtful that there would be a legal way to do it.
Both men said the more than $240,000 spent in this year’s campaign, including $112,000 by a single candidate, would discourage other qualified citizens from mounting a campaign in the future, even though Harbicht spent the least ($11,000) yet collected the most votes.
Harbicht informed the audience of late-breaking news that the owners of Santa Anita Park had pulled out of their joint venture with Caruso Affiliated for the long-planned $500 million Shops at Santa Anita and said the Council would do all it could to get the project back on track.
Check back later this week to see video highlights of the Council meeting.
— By Scott Hettrick