SAN GABRIEL VALLEY ELECTIONS : Arcadia : Political Question: Anyone for Tennis?

ARCADIA — “We have elections every two years and what is the hot issue is random chance,” said Robert C. Harbicht, a City Council candidate. “That’s politics, but it is unfortunate because you shouldn’t elect councilmen on the basis of one issue that will be forgotten in four years.”

But that is exactly what appears to be happening in Arcadia, where 10 candidates, including one incumbent, are vying for three council seats in the April 8 municipal election.

The hot issue is a proposed private tennis and social club that would be built on a county site in a debris disposal area at the base of the foothills in northern Arcadia. It would be accessible only through the exclusive Highland Oaks residential area.

Residents there are opposed to the club even though its developers, who have signed an option-to-lease agreement with the county, have yet to present a proposal to the city.

Only One Has Not Taken a Stand

Nine of the candidates are opposing the club to some degree in the belief that it would be a commercial development in a residential area. The 10th candidate has not taken a stand.

The only incumbent in the race is Dennis A. Lojeski, who has served one four-year term. Councilman Don Pellegrino cannot seek a third term under terms of the City Charter, and Councilman David Hannah has chosen not to seek reelection.

In addition to Lojeski and Harbicht, the candidates are Lewis H. May, Roger Chandler, Charles Chivetta Sr., Andrew L. Bard, John D. Bon Eske, William Carpenter, William T. Gahr and James Neumeister.

Contrasted with other San Gabriel Valley cities, Arcadia traditionally has had a high turnout for City Council elections, with 30% to 34% of the 28,000 registered voters casting ballots. But this year’s election occurs during the Arcadia Unified School District’s spring vacation, which could lower the turnout in this affluent city of 48,500, where many families go out of town for the week.

Much of the interest in the campaign has centered on the proposed $2-million tennis club, which Arcadia developers Ralph Alfieri and his son, Dennis, want to build on 8.3 acres. It would include 14 tennis courts, two racquetball courts, a clubhouse with a dinning room that would seat 150 people, health exercise equipment and a swimming pool. The club would be named the Santa Anita Canyon Racquet Club and would be limited to 500 tennis members and 500 social members.

Part of the land on which the facility would be built is in Monrovia. The developers’ next move is to present plans to the councils in both cities. They also have said they first want to discuss the project with nearby residents.

May is the only candidate who has not taken a stand on the tennis club. “Now everyone is up in arms against it,” he said, “but nothing has been presented to the City Council or Planning Commission, so those for it haven’t had a chance to present their view.

“If it would be an improvement to the area, that needs to be looked at, as well as the detriments. But I think because of the opposition it will never get as far as the council so the candidates don’t have to take a position on it.”

Harbicht said he has a negative reaction to the club but is not taking a position absolutely against it. “I think we should take testimony first and should not take a position until we have a public hearing,” he said. “It would be wrong to say I am absolutely opposed because due process hasn’t taken place.”

Lojeski said that based on what he knows about the club, he would vote against it because there are many negative aspects, such as opposition from residents, the possibility of increased traffic and what he regards as commercial use in a residential area. But he said he has seen no proposal on the project and his views are based on what he has read and been told by residents.

The other candidates have stated that they are firmly opposed to the project.

Commercial Viewpoint

Commercial development, the major issue in recent elections, has drawn strong support from only a few of the candidates, although most favor it to a limited extent.

Lojeski, a 42-year-old dentist who has lived in Arcadia since 1952, said he is proud of the development plans for Huntington Drive between 2nd and 5th avenues. The plans call for restaurants and office buildings.

“Arcadia is a regional little community in a lot of respects, and we’ve let things go to the point where we are still catching up with (neighboring) Monrovia,” Lojeski said. “But there is no reason why we can’t come back and be even better than Monrovia. The important thing is to perpetuate our community of homes while building up the business areas.”

In the past the council has made a mistake by waiting until an area has deteriorated before planning for redevelopment, he said.

Lojeski has served four years on the council. He was defeated when he first ran in 1980, but said he attended every council meeting for the next two years.

Former Duarte Official

Harbicht, 45, agreed that “Arcadia has fallen behind in redevelopment.” His experience as president of Harbicht Research Inc., a marketing research consulting firm, has given him the experience needed to improve planning, he said.

Harbicht was a member of the Duarte City Council from 1970 until late 1974, when he resigned because he was moving to Arcadia. He served on the Arcadia Planning Commission from 1982 to 1984, when he had to resign because he ran for the City Council. He lost, finishing third in a field of eight candidates. He then was reappointed to the Planning Commission.

May, 57, a physician who has lived in Arcadia 19 years, served on the Arcadia Unified School District Board of Education from 1970 to 1982.

He thinks some redevelopment is necessary but said he prefers to assist existing businesses rather than have the city get involved with large developers.

“We may have missed the golden years in financing of it (redevelopment),” May said, “so one project has to pay for the next. Arcadia is still a community of homes and most of the people want it to remain that way.”

Critical of Insiders

Chandler, a 41-year-old lieutenant in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who has a master’s degree in public administration, said it is time the city government be open to newcomers. “I believe that for too long Arcadia has been influenced, if not controlled, by a closely knit group of political insiders who periodically exchange city leadership positions among themselves,” Chandler said.

Chandler, who has lived here 18 years, said his major priority is redevelopment. “We are falling behind adjacent communities in revitalizing and redeveloping our commercial corridors,” he said.

“But in our community of homes, more shopping centers, offices and traffic are not necessarily the marks of progress. My vision of progress is to build a convention center for community cultural activities in music, entertainment and sports” on the north side of Huntington Drive near hotels and streets leading to the Foothill (210) Freeway.

Six-Time Candidate

Chivetta, 56, a 27-year resident who owns an urban planning management consulting firm, is well known to Arcadia voters. He ran unsuccessfully for the council in 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982 and 1984. “This is 1986 so I am consistent about wanting to serve the community,” he said.

Chivetta said that in previous campaigns he did not spend more than $500 and did not have a campaign committee. But this year he has changed his approach. He said he already has spent $500 and has a committee at work on his behalf.

Before establishing his own company, Chivetta worked in the planning and building departments of Lakewood, Culver City and Baldwin Park.

“I have a master’s degree in urban planning and my work involves advising people in land-use changes, zoning and other city hall problems,” he said.

Chivetta, who also is president of the Arcadia Business Assn., said commercial development is needed to forestall deterioration. He also plans, if elected, to hold regular office hours because he thinks the present City Council has not been responsive to citizens.

Specialist in Financing

Bard, 36, has been an investment banker for 14 years, specializing in long- and short-term financing packages for municipal governments.

“I have been involved in helping governments manage finances, so my understanding of community problems is greater than people who have been involved in community activities,” he said.

Bard said he does not consider the fact that he has lived here for only two years a handicap.

“Arcadia is not a transient community and this is nice,” he said. “I want to be able to give to the community, preserve what is good and provide growth in areas that need growing.”

Bard is in favor of redevelopment because, he said, “the only source of revenue growth Arcadia has is in sales tax, so we have to promote business. And the city underutilizes its financing ability for redevelopment.”

In Favor of Moratorium

Bon Eske, 53, charges that the City Council ignores residents in favor of developers. “I think there should be a moratorium on commercial and industrial expansion and am in favor of redevelopment only insofar as it helps the existing business community,” he said.

Bon Eske, who grew up in Arcadia and has lived here off and on since then, is a retired engineer for the Los Angeles County Road Department.

“I am not politicking now, I am not asking for money and I am not making speeches,” he said. “With my attitude, I don’t have a chance to win, but I am in the race for what it’s worth.”

Carpenter, 53, is in favor of an ordinance that would require all city employees to live in Arcadia, although he admits it could be a financial hardship for some.

“I feel fire and police personnel definitely should,” he said. “I have heard too much about police brutality. It used to be they (the officers) lived in the city and we knew them.”

Carpenter also believes that the city gives favorable treatment to Santa Anita race track because of tax revenues derived from the track.

“All consideration is given to the track over and above the citizens, such as in the area of traffic,” he said. “Race track patrons are the ones who should be inconvenienced, perhaps by having shuttle services,” said the financial planner who has lived in Arcadia 30 years.

‘Get Rid of Cronyism’

Gahr, 65, said he decided to run for the council because he wants to see some new faces around City Hall. “There is a lot of cronyism and it’s time to get rid of a lot of these people and get new ones,” he said.

While he does not want explosive redevelopment, he said he wants a favorable business environment.

“Arcadia is a residential city and I want it to stay that way,” he said. “I would like to see us concentrate on building more apartment houses in older areas instead of businesses, because there is a shortage of housing here.”

Gahr was controller of the Ball Corp. glass plant in El Monte for 20 years before he retired. He has lived in Arcadia for 20 years.

Neumeister, who said he is opposed to big business, is not campaigning because, he said, “I don’t like to speak to a bunch of people who don’t care. If people don’t know me by now. I don’t need to publicize” myself, he said.

Neumeister, 64, has lived in Arcadia for 22 years. He taught music, English and social studies at Arcadia High School for 25 years.