Kurtz leaves the boat
Thus ends my resistance to making easy reference to my favorite film.
I passed on ACT's mock caucus at Mijares but thought of the real thing taking place just as Councilwoman Margaret McAustin spoke her comments about City Manager Cynthia Kurtz at last night's deliberately low-key send off for the latter.
"Cynthia Kurtz is, quite simply, the most powerful woman in the history of Pasadena," said Councilwoman Margaret McAustin.
Decisive wins for Huckabee and Obama in Iowa, with a considerable margins of loss by Clinton and Romney, and Giuliani hardly showing.
Democrats
Obama 38%
Edwards 30%
Clinton 29%
Richardson 2%
Republicans
Huckabee 34%
Romney 25%
Thompson 13%
Kurtz feted at Pasadena farewell
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 01/03/2008 10:43:38 PM PST
PASADENA -- After a decade of professional cool in public, the city's unflappable chief executive wasn't going to come unglued when it came time to say goodbye.
No sentimental presentations or long-winded speeches were permitted Thursday night at Brookside Golf Club, where politicos, city staff, community elders and other wielders of influence said farewell to City Manager Cynthia Kurtz.
"Cynthia Kurtz is, quite simply, the most powerful woman in the history of Pasadena," said Councilwoman Margaret McAustin before reading a proclamation by Mayor Bill Bogaard in her most "Bogaardesque" voice.
Kurtz, who leaves her 20-year career at City Hall for a position at a local transportation firm next week, will be remembered not only for big-ticket, legacy-making projects like the Gold Line and City Hall renovation, but working "for the betterment of all of us," McAustin said.
"Focused" was the quality coming to most people's minds about Kurtz, and always ready with answers to the most obscure questions.
Described by some as a micromanager, others said Kurtz had a knack to see everything from the top.
She did both, according to Assistant City Manager Julie Gutierrez, describing Kurtz's ability to both "soar" above it all and "swoop" in to fix minor details as needed.
But with one final Monday night meeting to present staff reports and make recommendations, Kurtz was not going to let her guard down.
An edge
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of emotion crept into her voice before she pulled prepared comments from her pocket and offered a moment of self-parody.
"This is pretty overwhelming," she said. "When Ann (Erdman) started talking about the reception, I didn't know if we'd make the numbers to pay for the room."
It's a little difficult to leave the "best job in the world" she said, where residents demand the best of their city and then step up to participate.
But it's a change she's ready for.
Kurtz's resignation and other upheaval in the top ranks of City Hall came in the wake of intense acrimony on the City Council over a controversial redevelopment project in Northwest Pasadena.
Pasadena NAACP President Joe Brown said Kurtz earned his respect for demonstrating she worked for all of Pasadena, even when the city made calls not everyone agreed with.
"She kept her eyes on what the overall good was," he said, and credited her for responding to complaints by improving diversity in the municipal ranks.
The City Council is conducting a search for a replacement while Police Chief Bernard Melekian assumes the post on an interim basis.
Kurtz said she's spent the past few weeks working closely with the chief to ease the transition.
Melekian said he's as prepared as possible to take over the frenetic juggling act of managing a city with many balls in the air.
"At least she knows what those 15 things are!" he said of the most pressing items of municipal business.
Kurtz's first assignment at City Hall was as capital projects administrator in 1987. In 1991 she was appointed director of public works. She was appointed city manager in 1998.
todd.ruiz@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4444
www.insidesocal.com/pasadenapolitics
Comments
Posted by: AP | January 4, 2008 10:28 AM
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Posted by: Bob Dobbs | January 10, 2008 5:41 PM