“I will do my best to maintain a better environment and quality of education, while helping small businesses thrive.”
La Cañada Flintridge Councilmember Jeanne Kim Hobson, the highest-voted candidate in the March 5 election, will be sworn into office at 5 p.m. on April 16 at City Hall. In an interview ahead of the inauguration, Hobson thanked the Korean-American community and encouraged them to get involved.
“Unlike other medium-sized and large cities, La Cañada does not have large land for development,” she said, “but it is also important to stabilize housing costs and keep residents from leaving the city.”
“Currently, the La Cañada School District is very well organized and performing well, which has a positive impact on housing prices in the area,” she said.
The city currently contracts with Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station for police security, and the fire department uses the county system. “It’s financially difficult to maintain an independent agency, but we’re going to make sure it’s a more effective service,” Hobson said.
Hobson will also continue to serve on the YMCA board.
“The YMCA needs access to the city’s grant programs, and if there is a vote on that, I will abstain from voting,” said Hobson, “but I think there is a positive synergy in working on both City Council and YMCA board.”
For the Korean-American community, she said, “I am grateful to the Korean-Americans in La Cañada who helped the campaign with various ideas.” “I am also grateful to the Korean-American media for their interest, and I will definitely return the favor by setting an exemplary performance in the city council,” she said. The City Council is composed of five members, including the mayor and vice mayor, who serve four-year terms. For this term, three Democrats and two Republicans will serve together. Michael Davitt will be the next Mayor Pro Tem, and Councilmember Hobson, a Democrat, will likely take over as vice mayor next year.
Meanwhile, Hobson, who retired 10 years ago from her job as vice president of retail strategy and solution at Walt Disney, has worked as a YMCA director and city commissioner in the district and ran for the three-member city council, winning first place with a total of 24.9 percent (4013 votes).
BY BRIAN CHOI, JUNHAN PARK [ichoi@koreadaily.com]
