The City Council of La Palma has reorganized following the November elections, and the Council elected Mark Waldman as Mayor for the next year.
City Clerk Kimberly Kenney swore in Waldman, Council member Debbie Baker, and Vitesh Patel, the brother of Council member Nitesh Patel, before the Council reorganized.
Outgoing Mayor Marshall Goodman was lauded with gifts, thank you and certificates for his service on the Council and as Mayor for the past eight years.
Goodman has termed out.
“When you look at Marshall, he’s always calm, cool and collected,” said Nitesh Patel. “We’d like to thank you for your service,” he said, thanking Goodman for leading with “grace and dignity” which is “hard to find in politics.”
Connor Medina represents the Orange County Division of the League of California Cities, an association that represents the state’s 483 cities.
“That’s a lot of cities and towns,” said Medina, “especially for a smaller city like La Palma.”
“You look at all the different cities and towns that exist in the state trying to work together,” said Medina, “so how do such little cities pack the biggest punch?”
“You look at the service of Mayor Goodman and here he’s given to our organization and the voices given to La Palma in these statewide policy discussions, you can see how even the smallest city can be effective and influencing all of the good things happening in our organization.”
After introducing each member of his family, Goodman took citizens with him on a stroll down memory lane. He recalls when he was initially motivated to sign up to volunteer for one of the city’s volunteer boards and later being elected to serve on the City Council eight years ago.
He thanked several organizations, such as the state Joint Powers Insurance Authority and a long list of elected officials, especially former La Palma mayors Peter Kim and Gerard Goedhart who he said have helped him understand the essence of governing.
“So I took the time to enumerate all of these great public service providers to emphasize the importance of good relationships and teamwork for public service,” said Goodman.
“And I want to emphasize that you cannot provide need of service of alone, whereas either one of these folks or anyone else,” he added. “I’ve learned that magic happens when you form teams of good people that have come together to do good things,” he said.
The outgoing mayor thanked staff and the people of La Palma for allowing him to serve.
Goodman was also given many certificates from various groups and agencies thanking him and recognizing his service.
Former Mayor Nitesh Patel was elected Mayor Pro-tem by the Council, though the vote was 4-1 as Council member Janet Keo Conklin, who nominated herself for the post, voted no.
Conklin suggested the city’s leadership is meant to be shared with others, not a revolving door for the same Council members.
Conklin, during her first two years, said she had established a regional recognition for Asian American leaders during Asian American Heritage Month in La Palma and also established the first Veterans Day ceremony.
“I know that there are some things that we all need to learn, but that’s why we have a position of Mayor Pro-tem,” she said. “I think we should have a different person,” she said, “nothing personal, but if the council doesn’t think it’s my time, I respect that.”
In addition, she said since voters passed Measure W, and flyers distributed by the city promised greater transparency,
“So I propose that we have greater transparency with video and audio, since I think that was a big reason voters approved Measure W,” said Keo Conklin, asking to put the issue on the city Council’s next agenda.
She said only the City Council and those in the room had a chance to witness the video about outgoing Mayor Goodman. “All of our citizens should have a chance to see it,” she said.
The City of La Palma is only one of two local governments that refuse to show their Council members to the public, according to a recent survey by the Voice of OC.
Mayor Pro-tem Patel thanked the city’s Recreation Department and staff for a series of holiday events that he suggested were the best ever in La Palma. “If anybody attended the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony, it was a true winter wonderland.
“I know staff put in a lot of time and effort and from the smiles and comments we received, this was perhaps by far, the best one I’ve ever seen,” said Patel, said he had been to the event every year for the past 22 years.
Jack Amsell, a Vietnam Vet and local martial arts instructor, spoke during public comment congratulating the new Council, asking them to put aside petty concerns “to work together for this fine community.”
In addition, he thanked Council member Keo Conklin for putting together the city’s Veterans Day recognition, saying it “is important to recognize veterans” and also asking the new council to offer more services to seniors.
This post has been edited since the print edition.