Westwood NC 2014 Elections

FINAL OFFICIAL CANVASS OF VOTES


Seats 1-4: Owner Residential Group Directors	SCOTT H WHITTLE CONSTANCE BOUKIDIS SANDY BROWN STEPHEN RESNICK
Seats 5-8: Rental Residential Group Directors	JACOB FINN EUGENE TSENG AUSTIN VELEZ ARMEN HADJIMANOUKIAN
Seats 9-12: Business Group Directors	ROOZBEH FARAHANIPOUR DEAN ABELL MARK ROGO MARCELLO ROBINSON
Seat 13: Student Director	AURELIA LYNN FRIEDMAN
Seat 14: Faculty or Staff Director	LISA CHAPMAN
Seat 15: Educational Community Director	LAURA WINIKOW
Seat 16: Non-Profit / Arts / Culture / Recreational Community Director	MARJAN JAMSHIDI
Seat 17: Faith Based Community Director	MITCHELL KEITER
Seat 18 and 19: At-Large Directors	JERRY BROWN ANGUS BEVERLY

Click here to download Final Canvass of Votes (pdf)

Open Board Seats 2014 – Westwood NC

BOARD POSITION	# OF SEATS	ELECTED OR APPOINTED?	QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN FOR THE SEAT	QUALIFICATIONS TO VOTE FOR THE SEAT
Seats 1-4: Owner Residential Group Directors Term: 2 years	4	Elected	Stakeholders who reside in single owner-occupied dwellings or own residential property within the WWNC boundaries and who are 17 years or older.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm community interest and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
Scott H Whittle – Scott H. Whittle is proud to have served on the inaugural Westwood Neighborhood Council. He is a native Angeleno and long time Westwoodian. For the past 28 years he and his wife have lived in Westwood Hills, where they have a home on Cashmere Street.A graduate of Pomona College and Christ’s College, Cambridge University, a third generation mortgage banker in Los Angeles, he now manages privately held real estate interests at his office in Westwood on Wilshire Blvd.Long active in local community affairs, he has served on the Board of a local private school and is co-founder of the Los Angeles Musical Salon, a nonprofit based in Westwood.His continued deep roots in Westwood and service on the Council give Scott a unique perspective on challenges facing Westwood. He remains committed to serving the Westwood Village and improving the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Constance Boukidis – I’m a mother, homeowner, attorney, and lifelong Westwood resident, having attended Fairburn, Emerson, and Uni. As a Fairburn parent, I served on the FYA Board and as Co-PTA President.As a charter and current WWNC Board Member, I have diligently advocated on behalf of my fellow homeowners and parents on issues including the Westside Subway Extension, Wilshire Bus Lanes, parking, traffic, digital billboards, our local schools and real estate development.I currently serve as the Chair of both the WWNC and Comstock Hills HOA Land Use Committees. As the WWNC Land Use Chair, I have managed its affairs since its inception including developing our guidelines, website page and handling our monthly meetings and all related correspondence and documentation.Fair-minded, I have south to build consensus on our Board to serve all Westwood stakeholders. Please help me to continue as a voice of reason on our Westwood Neighborhood Council.
Stephen Resnick – I am the secretary of the Westwood Neighborhood Council, having served in this position since the council was formed in 2010. I am also the president of the Westwood Homeowners Association and on the board of the Westwood Community Council. My wife and I are Westside natives. Both our parents lived in Westwood and we now live on the same block where my wife grew up. My other community service includes 24 years of volunteer service to the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO); Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN); and board member of the Los Angeles County Preschool Safety Task Force.I am glad to serve my community and proud of the work the Westwood Neighborhood Council has done, having supported many causes that are important to the community.
Sandy Brown – A Westwood resident since 1971, I am President of the Holmby Westwood Property Owners Association which represents 1,100 single family homes adjacent to UCLA. I have served on numerous Westwood boards: Pres., Warner Ave. School PTA, Westwood Park Expansion Advisory Board, West LA Little League, and as founding Board member of the Westwood-Holmby Historical Society. I am committed to preserving the wonderful quality of life that we have all come to enjoy. I look forward to working with other stakeholders on issues that will contribute to the betterment of Westwood.
~~Sarah Olney~~ Withdrawn – As a homeowner, UCLA graduate, local small business owner, and a parent of a Fairburn student and soon-to-be Fairburn student, I am keenly interested in the positive development of our Westwood community. I aspire to develop a small-town atmosphere through community fostering activities while seeking to attract businesses that will enhance not only property values but the quality of life for the residents of Westwood.I believe I have the experience and the heart to serve on the WNC. I am a practicing attorney and the founding Exec Dir of a legal aid organization in LA.My volunteer service includes: pro bono attorney for the Alliance for Children’s Rights, volunteer at Fairburn, and the Committee Chair for a local cub scout pack.I want to use my skills and experience to make a difference at a systemic level and ask that you will elect me to serve you.
Seats 5-8: Rental Residential Group Directors Term: 2 years	4	Elected	Stakeholders who rent their residence within the WWNC boundaries and who are 17 years or older.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm community interest for it and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
David Lorango – I’m a proud 3 year resident of Westwood, having moved to the city in January of 2011. I’ve been active in working to get residents and citizens engaged in local and state governments since my undergraduate years at UC Irvine. I’ve worked in digital communications for seven years, and currently hold a senior position in digital communications and strategy. In each of my positions, I’ve helped companies to reach the forefront of online advances, ensuring that state of the art means of communication are adopted and implemented. As a representative, I will bring my years of experience in the digital space to engage residents, upgrade current online infrastructures, and open new channels of communication to reach larger blocs of the community. Doing so will empower the rental community and ensure that Westwood remains a beautiful city that caters to long-time residents, new residents, and students.
Eugene Tseng – I am a second-year UCLA student majoring in Political Science and minoring in Urban Planning. I have worked on various sustainability initiatives with the City of Richmond, including student conferences on environmental issues and waste diversion during the 2010 Winter Olympic in Vancouver. I currently intern in the L.A. Mayor’s Office of City Services and previously interned for Councilmember Tom LaBonge, a strong advocate for the environment and many other issues in Los Angeles. Through this experience I discovered my passion for serving the community, as well as realizing that changes are possible. After relocating to Los Angeles, Westwood and UCLA have become my home. Living on campus for one year and now at Palazzo Westwood Village for nearly a year, I understand the needs of both students and renters. I look forward to being a part of the community’s strong effort to make Westwood become more vibrant!
Austin Velez – I’ve been able to call Westwood home for two amazing years. As a UCLA student living on The Hill last year and now in the North Village this current year, I’ve found myself surrounded by a community that cares about its residents and businesses, and which is dedicated to preserving a unique sense of identity in Los Angeles. Westwood has supported me as I’ve developed as a student, which is why I wish to support Westwood as a renter representative on the Neighborhood Council. As philanthropy chair of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, I have gained experience in civic engagement, student mobilization, and community service. I hope to bring a student perspective in improving Westwood. I want to see Westwood Village better serve its students, neighbors, and employees with quality shops, restaurants, and movie theaters that will make the Village a more convenient and exciting place for all of us.
Ryan Krebs – My name is Ryan Krebs and I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve Westwood on our Neighborhood Council. As a Renter’s Representative, I have examined some of the biggest issues facing our community, from the omnipresent traffic issues, to the bike lane proposal on Westwood Blvd, to upcoming developments. Since I was elected in 2012 as a recent UCLA graduate, I’ve spoken at the City Council to advocate for Westwood’s needs, and I currently serve as the Neighborhood Councilâ??s representative on the Westside Regional Alliance of Councils (WRAC). If re-elected, I will continue representing fellow Westwood renters, while voicing their opinions, as our community grows. I work right in the Village’s Oppenheimer Tower, at Crowds on Demand, a startup publicity firm. This will allow me to continue providing the perspective of being both a renter and an employee working within Westwood.
Armen Hadjimanoukian – I am a third year UCLA student majoring in Economics. Currently I serve as a Renters representative on the Westwood Neighborhood Council as well as USAC Facilities Commissioner. I understand the concerns of renters and students, as a renter in the North Village and former Dykstra Hall resident. I am running for reelection to the Neighborhood Council because I want to continue to work to enhance the Westwood experience for all. I will continue to advocate for increased street lighting in the North Village to make Westwood safer. I also have a strong desire to help restore the vigor of Westwood Village. New and recent businesses including the new iPic theaters, 800 Degrees, Barbacoa, Shophouse, Simplethings, Target, a greatly expanded Urban Outfitters, plus the Hammer’s successful Arts ReSTORE L.A. are examples of what Westwood can become once again. I want to help make Westwood thrive!
Jacob Finn – I am a second year undergraduate student at UCLA studying Psychology and pursuing minors in Global Studies and Public Policy. I have a special interest in U.S. foreign strategy in the Middle East and in the future, I aspire to work in the public sector and in foreign affairs. In 2013 I had the opportunity to serve as an intern for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and in that capacity, gained a strong sense of what it’s like to serve the needs of the local community. Indeed, recent safety and security concerns have become relevant matters troubling the Westwood Council. Thus, my work on the WWNC will specialize on collaborating with local law enforcement, homeowners, businesses and students to identify the grounds for concern about safety in Westwood. I will specifically campaign for better lighting infrastructure in the North Village to combat the recent crimes in the dark.
Seats 9-12: Business Group Directors Term: 2 years	4	Elected	Stakeholders who own, operate or work for businesses within the WWNC boundaries and who are 17 years or older.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
Marcello Robinson –14 years ago I relocated from Chicago to Westwood. Before completing my studies at UCLA I knew Westwood Village would be my home and place of business for many years to come. My business was started in Westwood and will stay here.I’m running to serve on the board because I want to help build a community where my sons and daughters will want to raise their children. We live in a very unique neighborhood and having board members with the experience of working with city hall and elected officials to get real work done is important.North Village has been neglected for far too long. Our infrastructure is crumbling, our sidewalks need repairing and we need a parking lot built. I have the neighborhood council experience, relationships, drive, vision and passion to bring real improvement to North Village. A vote for me is a vote that benefits our community.
Adam Swart – My goal is for Westwood to once again become a center of culture for Los Angeles. As a proud UCLA graduate and a local business owner, I am proud to call Westwood my home and I want to do what it takes to keep it as a great place to live and do business. Together, we can make Westwood accommodating to the interests of homeowners, renters, students and business owners while maintaining great relations with our UCLA neighbors.
Roozbeh Farahanipour – I have been living in Westwood, a haven for Iranian exiles, since 2000. At that time a few newly arriving fellow Iranian exiles together with myself started the US-based chapter of our nonprofit movement called Marze Por Gohar (Iranians for a secular republic) in Westwood. Shortly thereafter, I began working different jobs on Westwood Blvd, known for its many Iranian vendors and store owners. I had jobs in bookstores, distributing Iranian Yellow Pages, distributing weekly papers and even working at a flower shop. I then spent a number of years working my way up to general manager at the areaâ??s best known Iranian restaurant. In 2009, I finally became the owner of my own restaurant when I bought over the business of Delphi Greek on Westwood Blvd. I am glad to serve my community and currently, I serve as the business director of the Westwood Neighborhood Council
Dean Abell – I am currently the Vice President of the Westwood Neighborhood Council and have literally spent my entire life in and around Westwood Village. My family and I have owned and operated Sarah Leonard Fine Jewelers for the past 67 years and take tremendous pride in being a pillar of this community. For decades my family and I have believed it is the responsibility of the business owners and residents of this special Village to get involved and strive to continually improve the area for all who live in, work in, and visit Westwood. I would like to continue my efforts on the Neighborhood Council for another term, working to bring Westwood back to it’s former glory. I believe that with dedication and a community team effort this can be achieved in the near future…
Mark Rogo – I have worked in Westwood for a decade, together with my wife of 37 years, Lynn Mirisch Rogo, as one of the top residential real estate agents specializing in Westwood and the Wilshire Corridor. Westwood has been our home for 35 years since we bought our first house in 1978 on Lindbrook Drive, and where we raised our two daughters. I feel very connected to Westwood and am deeply committed to advancing its interests, supporting our Westwood business community, and continuing the resurgence of Westwood Village. I have extensive experience in finance, business management, and real estate investment. Additionally I am proud to serve the community as a founding member of the Westwood Neighborhood Council, current President of the Westwood Village Rotary Club, past President of the Friends of Westwood Library, President of the Blair House Condominium HOA, and past Secretary-Treasurer of Holmby-Westwood Property Owners Association.
Seat 13: Student Director Term: 2 years	1	Elected	Stakeholder who is currently enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or graduate student in a university or college and who is 17 years or older.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
Aurelia Lynn Friedman – I am a native Angeleno, a second-year UCLA student majoring in Political Science, and currently living on the Hill. After serving as the Youth Representative of the Pacific Palisades Community Council in high school and working for City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl’s office, I gained a true sense of what it means to serve your community. Now as the Local Affairs Director for the External Vice President’s Office of the Undergraduate Student Association Council at UCLA I have gained an understanding of the needs of UCLA students and the general Westwood community. I seek to connect the UCLA student body to WWNC as the Student Director. Students have a lot of power and energy, and together we can continue to make Westwood a more vibrant and successful community in Los Angeles.
Jin Ong – I’m a UCLA student pursuing a degree in psychology. Growing up under the care of a single mother who was a passionate community volunteer, I learned the essentials of community welfare by heart. Engraved with my mother’s teachings, I joined the Army Reserves in 2008 to serve my country and to partake role as a functional member of the society. Earlier during college I continued to serving the community by organizing clothing drives, organizing veteran’s rights group, participating in the student government, and aiding constituency services with elected officeholders for three years through internships. In 2012, I’ve fostered the opportunity to decorate the frontpage of the LA Times proliferating the awareness of the economic hardships of college students. As a community activist, I’m proud that my story reflected the Californian community-college students’ adversaries and I wish to continue my devotion to society here in Westwood Neighborhood Council.
Seat 14: Faculty or Staff Director Term: 2 years	1	Elected	Stakeholder who works full time as a faculty or staff member of a university or college and who is 17 years or older.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
Lisa Chapman – I have been proud to have served on the Westwood Neighborhood Council for two previous terms, and would appreciate your support for a third term. I have lived in Westwood for 30 years, and have raised my three children here. They have attended the local public elementary schools, and we have participated in most community activities that Westwood has to offer. I have worked at UCLA for almost 28 years, and I am very interested in creating a better relationship between UCLA and the Westwood community. I have spent over 20 years volunteering in Westwood at the local schools, AYSO, West LA Little League, and with non-profit groups. I look forward to continuing to serve on this board and to help make our Westwood community stronger and more viable. I am asking for your vote this May!
Seat 15: Educational Community Director Term: 2 years	1	Elected	Stakeholder who must currently be a parent, teacher or administrator in the K-12 school community, public or private, within the WWNC boundaries and who is 17 years or older.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
Laura Winikow – I grew up in Los Angeles and attended public schools, including Westwood’s own Emerson Middle School and University High, graduating from UCLA. after obtaining a JD from Hastings College of the Law, I practiced law for 12 years before retiring to become a full time mom. With free time on my hands, I quickly became active at my children’s school, Fairburn Elementary, serving as a member of the Executive Board of the Fairburn Youth Association for four years, in addition to serving on various and sundry committees. I am now the proud mother of a happy Emerson student.I am currently a board member on Comstock Hills HOA and I am past president and current board member on the Friends of Westwood Library.I enjoy yoga, hiking and walking, love National Public Radio and think obsessively about food. I am also quite skilled at schlepping my children hither and yon.
Seat 16: Non- Profit/Arts/Culture/Recreational Community Director Term: 2 years	1	Elected	Stakeholder who is a member of, or works with a non-profit, arts or cultural organization located within the WWNC boundaries and who is 17 years or older.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
Marjan Jamshidi – I am excited about the prospect of expanding my work for Westwood Neighborhood Council. I have been an active member of the Land Use Committee for the last two years. I enjoyed meeting with numerous residents and business owners to address their concerns regarding constructions, restaurant expansions and new regulations utilizing my engineering background. I have been a Westwood homeowner since 2003 and an active member of non-profit organizations such as UCLA Society of Women Engineering and Friends of Westwood Library. I am also an active contributor to multiple charitable organizations such as Multiple Sclerosis, Walk for Breast Cancer and United Way and have successfully supported them reach their fundraising goals. If elected, I would like to represent all the non-profit organizations in WWNC and help them to reach their goals. As an artist and a fan of Hammer museum, I would like to make Westwood neighborhood more Arts-friendly.
Seat 17: Faith based Community Director Term: 2 years	1	Elected	Stakeholder who is currently a leader such as clergy, laity, staff, or volunteer in a faith based institution located within the WWNC boundaries.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
Mitchell Keiter – I have lived in Westwood for 25 years, since attending UCLA Law School. I’m running for the Faith-based seat and would be proud to represent Westwood’s diverse faith communities on the Neighborhood Council. I’m a member of the Westwood Village Synagogue, where my wife, a UCLA Ph.D. candidate, is the incoming President. Westwood is a wonderful place to raise children (mine are 13 and 8). We spend weekends swimming in the Westwood pool, playing in Westwood Park, or attending events at UCLA. I coach West L.A. Little League and teach our synagogue’s Children’s Choir.A former law professor now in private practice, I serve on the Board of the California Supreme Court Historical Society, am President of my condominium homeowner’s association, and work with several groups committed to helping people on the autism spectrum.
Seats 18 and 19: At-Large Directors Term: 2 years	2	Elected	Stakeholder who lives, works, owns property or declares a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirms the factual basis for it and who is 17 years or older.	Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake within the WWNC boundaries and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 17 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:
Angus Beverly – As a recent alumnus of UCLA, I am seeking reelection within the Westwood Neighborhood Council because I want to continue engaging all communities within Westwood (from business owners, homeowners, renters and students) to work on improving the village. I want to see more lucrative businesses within the village, but I also want to see organized development that will enhance the community’s historic buildings and culture, not desimate them. I want to make Westwood a place were UCLA students consider it their escape from campus while also making it a destination for Angelinos throuhghout the city. We are on the right track, but I want to continue to be a part of this soaring transition that has dramatically improved the quality of life within Westwood.
Jerry Brown – My wife and I have lived in Los Angeles since 1963 when we came here for my Residency training in Internal Medicine at the UCLA/VA hospitals. We have been homeowners in Westwood since 1971, raised our 3 children here, and have been very actively involved in Westwood community issues for many years. I have been President of the Westwood Neighborhood Council since its inception, and hope to be able to continue to bring the experience, knowledge and expertise which I have acquired to the WWNC. I believe that the primary goal of the WWNC is to be an effective and powerful organization working to preserve and enhance Westwood as a highly desirable and important residential, business, educational, cultural, and entertainment center.