Candidates: Ed Buck, Sal Guarriello, Shawn M. Hoffman

By Ramy Eletreby

IN Los Angeles magazine does not make political endorsements. But leading up to the West Hollywood municipal elections for three City Council seats on March 6, we will publish (in no particular order) snapshots of the 10 candidates from unverified information they provided. Included are Web sites or contact information so you can ask your own questions. Since the race will probably become increasingly nasty, we beseech you to consider thoughtfully the candidates and their positions, as well as the veracity of the expected avalanche of allegations. Most importantly, please vote.

Ed Buck

Age: 52

Occupation: retired, full-time volunteer animal rescuer

Political or civic associations: founding member of the West Hollywood Neighborhood Alliance (WEHONA); member of TakeBackWEHO, a grassroots organization dedicated to the promotion of ethics in West Hollywood city government; helped establish Mobilization Against AIDS, the first AIDS education organization in the state of Arizona; participated in a national organizing conference that lead to the formation of National Coming Out Day.

Why are you running for the West Hollywood City Council?

To stop the over-development of the city, and end the wholesale evictions of my neighbors and friends. The current Council has promoted explosive development that has led to severe traffic and parking problems. It’s more than “housing” that is being lost. We are losing our homes, losing the very character of West Hollywood. The local businesses are disappearing, replaced by Starbucks, Subway, and soon Walgreens. Long-time residents of our creative city are being evicted from their homes to make way for ‘McCondos,’ and the developers have bought City Hall with huge contributions to fund the campaigns of the current Council, leading to illegal and unethical fundraising by members of this Council. It doesn’t have to be like this, we deserve better: we can vote them out.

What is your top priority?

When elected, I will put an end to over-development. We will put the interests of the residents ahead of any developer, preserving our homes and small businesses from the wrecking ball. We will promote slow growth development that is more like a village than a jungle. We’ll take down the ‘For Sale’ sign at City Hall and return control of your city and your future to you, the people who live here.

For more information, visit www.saveweho.com.

Sal Guarriello

Age: 87

Occupation: retired, West Hollywood mayor pro tempore

Political or civic associations: West Hollywood City Council (1990-present), Los Angeles County Sanitation District No. 4 (1994-present), Los Angeles County Library Commission (2004-2005), West Hollywood Rent Stabilization Commission (1988-90), West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation Board of Directors (1986-1990)

Why are you running for the West Hollywood City Council?

As a city, we have accomplished a great deal in the past 22 years since incorporation. However, much more work remains to be done to ensure that our city continues to thrive while our residents' needs are met and their qualities of life preserved … While I am proud of all the services we currently offer, I believe we must do more to serve our senior citizens, our disabled residents, people with HIV/AIDS and others who depend on us for a variety of services. One way we can accomplish this goal is by allowing smart and sensitive growth in some of our commercial areas. This would bring much-needed affordable housing units, alleviate traffic and congestion by creating walking communities, and provide tax dollars which we as a city can in turn use for the benefit of our community.

What is your top priority?

Given the continuing rise in the cost of housing, affordable housing is clearly my top priority. The cost of housing continues to rise while affordable housing units remain scarce. I will continue to work with my colleagues on the City Council, our Rent Stabilization and Housing staff, the West Hollywood community Housing Corporation and the West Hollywood community to search for creative new ways to add to our affordable housing supply. Every day, more and more of our residents on fixed incomes need a permanent place that they can call home. Working together, I believe we can—and will—continue to grow the number of affordable housing units in our city.

For more information, contact Sal Guarriello at sal@salguarriello.com.

Shawn M. Hoffman

Age: 32

Occupation: Administrative medical professional

Political or civic associations: Not a career politician.

Why are you running for the West Hollywood City Council?

The Council needs a voice, which is not affiliated with other Council members or ex-Council members who are trying to be re-elected. Both of these camps are pushing their same agendas. What we the citizens do not need for this election is to fill those three open Council seats as if they were only one seat. The Council needs fresh blood in at least one of those open seats to balance the Council’s agendas and perspective. If elected, I intend to maintain a balanced hand with the citizens, businesses, renters and all who are passionate about being involved in this great community.

What is your top priority?

To represent the West Hollywood citizens’ concerns as a Council member should with any issue—this should be the simple core of any agenda. Many citizens are voicing that this is not being done currently. With that in mind, my top issues are the parking/traffic issue and the renter/developer issues. I believe that new measures should be explored and acted upon regarding traffic control. I also believe that parking has not been considered with some of the developments and should be a priority for new developments. I am not anti-development, but I do not agree with the other extreme of development at any cost. Citizens should not be punished with poor development deals. I intend to work with all involved to find the proper solution.”

For more information, contact Shawn M. Hoffman at hoffman4u@gmail.com.