Harmony Seen for Council in South Gate : Politics: Two council members who had been on the losing side in key votes welcome three newcomers.

SOUTH GATE —  The election of three new council members will bring harmony to the City Council, according to two councilmen who frequently found themselves on the losing side of key votes by the five-member council.

There will be less bickering and split votes, said Councilmen Robert A. Philipp and Gregory Slaughter, who endorsed newcomers Mary Ann Buckles, Larry R. Leonard and Johnny Ramirez.

The new council, for example, would not have approved a controversial plan last year to develop an auto sales lot on city-owned land, Philipp said. The present council approved the plan by a 3-2 vote, with Slaughter and Philipp dissenting.

The new council members, who were elected Tuesday, worked on a successful petition drive to prevent automobile dealer Pete Ellis from constructing the lot next to a mobile home park, Philipp said. Ellis dropped the controversial plan, but the issue will be before voters on the June ballot as an advisory measure.

Ramirez, Leonard and Buckles said during the campaign they opposed the project because it would bring unbearable traffic congestion to the area.

Slaughter, Philipp and the newly elected council members all said getting more police will be a major issue facing the council, although no one offered a specific plan for increasing the 91-officer force.

All of the newcomers said they want to increase the force but do not intend to raise taxes to do it. Efforts to pay for more police protection in the past through raising taxes have failed. In 1988, voters defeated a ballot measure that would have added a tax to monthly telephone bills to pay for more police.

For the first three months of this year, major crimes, including murder, burglary and automobile theft, were up 7% over a similar period for last year, Police Capt. Gary Kennedy said. Auto thefts rose 24%.

Mayor Herbert W. Cranton, who was defeated, said he is not convinced that a more harmonious council will be best for the city.

Cranton, the only incumbent who sought reelection, said the three newly elected council members will be puppets under the control of Philipp. Incumbents Odell L. Snavely and William H. DeWitt decided not to run.

“Slaughter is controlled by Philipp. Because of their lack of experience, the new council members will also be controlled. Philipp will say jump and they’ll ask how high,” Cranton said.

Buckles, Leonard and Ramirez all said they will be independent.

“Cranton is bitter (because he lost),” Philipp said.

Cranton said he is concerned that a Philipp-controlled council will fire top city administrators, including the city attorney.

“Philipp wants to get rid of the city attorney, the city administrator and the assistant city administrator,” Cranton said.

Philipp said: “It would be pretty immature to make a statement about getting rid of someone. The new council isn’t even seated.” New members will be officially sworn in Tuesday.

Philipp pointed out that the council, on the eve of the election, unanimously approved a resolution giving top administrators more job protection, and increasing severance. Administrators could be fired only for work-related causes, or for committing a felony, according to the resolution. Administrators would be given 60 days notice of termination, and paid leaves of up to six months to search for another job.

The resolution was approved after questions were raised during the campaign about whether the top administrators would be retained, Philipp said.

“It was no secret that the city attorney and I have had disagreements,” Philipp said. “But I’m only one vote.”

Slaughter said he too had disagreements with City Attorney Bruce Boogaard, but declined to elaborate, saying they involved personnel matters. He said he would not rule out the possibility of suggesting that the city attorney be dismissed.

Boogaard, who has been city attorney nearly nine years, said he believes his job is secure. “I’m not particularly concerned,” he said.

The new council members also said they had no plans to dismiss top administrators. “I don’t know of any plan to go in and wipe out the staff,” Buckles said. “That would be stupid.”