Public Eye

Veteran Pasadena City Council member Sid Tyler is telling colleagues and constituents today that he won't run for a fourth council term next March.

Tyler, revered by fellow council members for his expertise on financial issues and seen as a steadying voice during tumultuous times in City Hall during his first and second terms, represents District 7 in the city's southeast.

Constituents know him for his accessibility and strong stands on neighborhood issues including traffic-calming and perceived overdevelopment.

He's also known for riding his bicycle throughout the city while dressed in a necktie, tweedy sport coat and flannel slacks, and for his self-deprecating humor: On the city Web site, he describes his hobbies thusly: "average tennis player, terrible golfer, accomplished skier, amateurish photographer, beginning gardener."

Tyler, very active in Pasadena nonprofits and civic affairs outside of City Hall, says that he hopes to teach and to spend more time with his and Betsey's eight grandchildren.

He says that he wanted to announce his decision as early as possible in order to give possible contenders for his open seat plenty of time to ready their campaigns.