The Weekly Newspaper of El Segundo Herald Publications - El Segundo, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hawthorne, Lawndale, & Inglewood Community Newspapers Since 1911 - (310) 322-1830 - Vol. 105, No. 5 - January 28, 2016 Inside This Issue Certified & Licensed Professionals.....................12 Classifieds............................4 Crossword/Sudoku.............4 Film Review..........................4 Legals.............................. 9,10 Police Reports...................10 Real Estate.......................5-8 Sports....................................3 Weekend Forecast ESHS Team Wins MIT’s Zero Robotics Virtual Challenge Members of the El Segundo High School Zero Robotics Team were named the 2016 MIT Zero Robotics ISS Virtual Challenge champions on January 25. ESHS competed against other finalist teams from 19 countries across the U.S., Mexico, Europe, Russia, and Australia. Students, teachers and family members were able to watch via live video stream while the team’s code was loaded onto robotic satellites and directed by International Space Station astronauts. ESHS Space Eagles Zero Robotics Team (left to right): Jakub Koziol, Ari Berkowicz, Ian Hurd, Victoria Chu (team captain), Adrian Osorio, and Henry Smith. Not pictured: Luke St. Regis. Photo provided by El Segundo School District. • Five to Run for Three Spots on El Segundo City Council By Brian Simon The field is set for the April 12 municipal See City Council, page 2 election, as five candidates will vie for three available seats on the El Segundo City Council. Incumbents Dave Atkinson and Marie Fellhauer hope to secure second terms, while former Councilmember Don Brann looks to return to the fray after a four-year hiatus. Two individuals will run for the first time—Economic Development Advisory Council (EDAC) Chair and business owner Drew Boyles, and El Segundo Education Foundation CEO and small business co-owner Carol Pirsztuk. Current Mayor Pro Tem Carl Jacobson opted not to run again after serving two separate 12-year stints (1984 to 1996 and 2004-now) on the Council. A potential sixth candidate, Janna Payne, submitted paperwork just before the January 20 filing deadline but failed to qualify because she did not obtain the minimum number (20) of registered voter signatures required as part of the packet. Former Councilmember Mike Robbins and attorney Robert Stenson also pulled papers, but did not file. The offices of City Clerk and City Treasurer will remain intact, as respective incumbents Tracy Weaver and Crista Binder will run unopposed in April. The Council unanimously appointed Binder as City Treasurer in January 2013 to replace Chris Powell, who had resigned from the post. Weaver outlasted two other candidates in 2012 to garner her first term as City Clerk. Local voters will also weigh in on Measure B, which aims to raise the City’s transient occupancy tax (TOT) imposed on customers who stay in El Segundo hotels. The ballot statement for Measure B reads as follows: “Shall the hotel tax measure which increases transient occupancy taxes on lodging from 8% to 12% (indefinitely increasing annual general fund revenues by an estimated $3,200,000.00) for all City services be adopted?” Sample ballots will contain arguments for and against Measure B with corresponding rebuttals, as well as an impartial analysis from the City Attorney. Meanwhile, each of the Council candidates submitted candidate statements--with the following a rundown of the content from each: Atkinson, who has lived in town for 38 years, joined the Council in 2012 after prior four-year stints on the Capital Improvement Advisory Committee and Senior Citizens Housing Board. He is also a United States Air Force veteran. He listed his chief goals as continuing to pursue ways to add revenue to the City, keeping expenses down, staying involved in advancing the local educational system, remaining active in fixing and/or replacing El Segundo’s infrastructure, repairing/upgrading various buildings and Recreation and Parks facilities, and passing Measure B--which he emphasized will “cost residents nothing.” His candidate statement also mentions his 45-year marriage to his wife Carol, their “two terrific sons Matthew and Zachary,” and rescue dog Buster who is “a big part” of his family. “We all enjoy the unique benefits El Segundo has to offer,” Atkinson wrote. Boyles, a 46-year-old entrepreneur and business owner with an MBA in Finance from USC, noted that his leadership and business experience makes him uniquely qualified to serve on the Council. In addition to his EDAC role, he listed stints as a US Navy veteran, El Segundo Museum of Art (ESMoa) board member, AYSO commissioner, Malibu/ Santa Monica Surfrider Foundation co-chair, Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) US West Regional Director, and soccer coach. “I will strengthen the future of El Segundo by fostering commerce, protecting our interests in Los Angeles County, bolstering our finances and enhancing preparedness and public safety, while maintaining our small town charm,” he wrote. Boyles added that he fell in love with El Segundo when he moved here with his sons 20 years ago and looks forward to giving back further to the town. “As a proud resident and community volunteer, I am fully invested in our community. As a successful local business owner and entrepreneur, I create jobs and excel in analyzing, solving and implementing solutions to complex organizational challenges.” Brann, 70, sat on the Council from 2008 to 2012. He opted not to seek reelection at that time and is currently retired and a community volunteer. He listed enhancing public safety Friday Partly Cloudy 70˚/54˚ Saturday AM Clouds/ PM Sun 66˚/55˚ Sunday Showers/ Wind 59˚/47˚
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