It’s a new era in Culver City. Mayor Christopher Armenta’s term concluded Monday night with a fitting tribute to his many accomplishments. His chair, the center seat in the city council, will now be occupied by the former vice mayor, Micheal (Mehaul) O’Leary.
Culver City’s political structure is an unusual one. City council members take turns as mayor, whose duties seem rather limited by the nature of the system. One thing seems clear, however, and that is the role of the mayor in setting the tone of city council meetings. And in that capacity, Armenta was a role model.
Three minutes can seem like an eternity when subjected to the ravings of an angry resident. And that’s if you’re seated in the back of the room, out of the line of fire. For council members, they are targets of what is often vile, personal attacks on their character. Speakers at council meetings are given three minutes to address the council on each agenda item. For the most part, speakers are respectful – or at least, civil – even if in disagreement with the council. Others take advantage of their allotted time with smearing, besmirching and name-calling. The experience is reminiscent of the two minutes of hate from George Orwell’s novel 1984. Only, these episodes last three minutes.
On occasion, a council member will respond to an attack. Such instances usually do more harm than good, sometimes inciting boos and hisses from the crowd, but in most cases, simply rendering the elected official as less than stately.
Former Mayor Armenta listened patiently, sometimes with an eye toward the clock, as each speaker was given a turn. He warned speakers if they were about to cross a line, and firmly steered them back to the issue at hand. He seemed to understand the wisdom of a system that allows citizens to voice their concerns to their public officials. He maintained an air of calmness in a forum that could easily have lapsed into a barroom brawl with a lesser man at the helm.
Enter “Mehaul” O’Leary, a man who knows a thing or two about barroom brawls. O’Leary’s professional experience dealing with belligerents provides reason to believe that he will continue the tradition of maintaining a sense of dignity and order come what may.