This column is directed at those of you who may be undecided as to which candidate for City Council should get your second or third vote. All registered voters have three votes and can vote for one, two or three candidates. Most or all of us have a favorite candidate and there is no requirement that we vote for more than that one. However, many of us consider voting for more than one. In doing so, we try to determine which candidate or candidates other than our favorite has qualities that will enable them to serve us well in a leadership role. For me, those qualities include integrity, honesty, background, experience with the issues that the Council must deal with, demonstrated good judgment, have interests wholly aligned with the interests of the City and, perhaps most importantly, shown an ability to treat colleagues and the public with respect. . Most of the leading candidates have those qualities. Most have held and attended numerous events to meet voters and allow voters to get to know them and ask questions about their backgrounds and plans. So our choices for our second or third votes are plentiful. Sharona Nazarian has been a charismatic leader who has brought valuable positive attention to our City. Lester Friedman has great experience with City issues and guided us wisely through the pandemic. Rebecca Pynoos has substantial experience with City government and has shown unique willingness to dig deeply into policy issues. Andy Licht also has substantial experience with City issues and is well liked by his vast network of friends and acquaintances. When Will Rogers said: “I never met a man I

didn’t like”, he may have been thinking of Andy. If you are looking for conservative voices who are relatively new to the scene, Roger Tanenbaum and Ariel Rofeim merit a look. One candidate, Russell Stuart, does not appear to have any of these qualities. Perhaps even worse, he has not made any effort to meet voters or to answer their (or my) questions about his background or plans. His campaign has been limited to posting things on social media. Notably, many of his postings are not appropriate for publication in this family newspaper. When Mr. Stuart ran for the Board of Education, he assured voters and committed that, if elected to the Board, he would serve out his four year term. Less than 18 months into that term he is prepared to abandon that commitment. So much for integrity. His campaign has been limited to ubiquitous social media postings that seem in some instances intended to deceive the voters. For example, his postings imply that he has the support and endorsement of Council members Nazarian and Mirisch when both have confirmed to me and Mr. Stuart knows that neither one supports or endorses hm. With Mirisch, Mr. Stuart went so far as to post favorable comments made when he ran for school board nearly two years ago. And in the last few days, in a crude effort to pander to some of our Iranian-American voters, he posted a message that portrayed himself and Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah. The photos of Mr. Stuart and Mr. Pahlavi were clearly taken at different times but appeared to depict them together. So much for honesty. Early in Mr. Stuart’s term on the Board of Education, he spearheaded a contract

between BHUSD and SK Sports for the purchase of uniforms and equipment for school athletic teams. At the time, the Beverly Hills Athletic Alumni Association (BHAAA) had for nearly 20 years purchased all of the uniforms and equipment needed by the athletic teams at no cost to BHUSD. During the current fiscal year, BHUSD records reflect that the District has already spent several hundred thousand $ on purchases through SK Sports. The BHAAA has not been involved and has withheld its customary support. Thus, because of Mr. Stuart’s insistence that the District proceed with SK Sports, the District has spent large sums unnecessarily. Mr. Stuart’s social media postings provide further insight into his character. However, most of his postings are not suitable for publication. So much for good judgment. Mr. Stuart is a gun dealer who owns a business called Beverly Hills Guns. His customers include members of the Beverly Hills Police Department who buy personal firearms from him. As a public office holder, I consider such relationships to pose a conflict of interest. Further, as many of you know, Mr. Stuart has filed a lawsuit against the City seeking damages for injuries sustained when a driver crashed into Mr. Stuart who was standing on a City sidewalk. This, of course raises another conflict of interest. So much for having the interests of the City paramount. Perhaps worst of all, has been Mr. Stuart’s conduct toward his Board of Education colleagues and parents and members of the public who have appeared before the Board and expressed disagreement with him. He has regularly angrily criticized and insulted at least two of his Board of Education colleagues. He supported violating the District ByLaws by voting Trustee Sigalie Sabag as Vice President rather than Dr. Amanda Stern who should have had the position. This has put the District in expensive litigation that is not going well for the District. Mr. Stuart regularly insults and mocks

parents who have appeared before the Board of Education. When Will Rogers said “He never met a man he didn’t like” it is clear that he never met Mr. Stuart when he was angered. So much for playing well with others. In view of the fact that we know so little about the background of Mr. Stuart, a 50 year old man, before and after he arrived in California less than 20 years ago, I have tried to interview him about his background. He has ignored my requests so I am constrained to conduct an interview without him. In my view, anyone who may consider voting for him should demand answers to these questions. Question: We know from your LinkedIn profile that you have attended extension classes in three different community colleges on subjects relating to guns. Have you attended any other college or university? Do you have a high school diploma? Question: You identify as a movie maker. Have you produced or directed any film other than “Camp Virginovich” which you directed and is described as “Two helpless high school geeks travel to Russia the summer before their senior year in hopes of losing their virginity at a summer camp that guarantees they will get laid.” Question: Would you continue to sell guns to City employees such as police officers if you are elected to the City Council? Question: The only regular employment that you have described since you came to California ten or fifteen years ago is “Director of Security for Wally’s Wines and Liquors”. Was your relationship terminated because a member of your security team badly beat up a customer? Question: Given that you have engaged in angry outbursts aimed at your Board of Education colleagues and members of the public, if elected to the City Council, would you commit to participate in anger management training? Question: Have you received anything of value from anyone as a result of your causing BHUSD to enter into the SK Sports contract? I wish that I could have questioned Mr. Stuart directly about these and other issues. Maybe you will have better luck.