Freddy Puza was officially voted in last night as Culver City’s new mayor, and the first openly LGBTQ mayor for the city, and the crowd in the council chambers cheered with enthusiasm.
In his comments, Puza began by noting “Diversity isn’t our slogan, it’s our strength. When leadership looks like the people it serves, something changes. Not just at City Hall, but in classrooms and living rooms, and in the mind of every kid who thinks that they can’t…and now knows that they can. “
Freddy brings the things that no one else thought of… it’s a real benefit.” Departing Mayor Dan O’Brien shared that his experience of working on sub-committees with Puza was productive and positive…When Freddy succeeds, we all succeed.”
Culver City’s mayoral rotation takes place on the final council meeting of the year, where a member of the city council (typically but not always the vice mayor,) is elevated to the position of mayor for a year. O’Brien, noted in his comments, “The position of mayor is largely ceremonial, but …there’s a noticeable difference in the response between introducing yourself as a city council member, and introducing your self as the mayor.”
The pins that the new officers receive for their change in status are put on by family members. Matthew Greenstein, Puza’s nephew, was the one to do the pinning, while more than a half a dozen members of Puza’s ‘biological and chosen family’ looked on with smiles.
The elevation of Bryan “Bubba” Fish to Vice Mayor was a unanimous vote by the council. He was pinned by his husband Aaron, with his in-laws standing by in approval.
Presiding over his last meeting as mayor, O’Brien heard from a number of speakers at the podium who thanked him for his service and praised his leadership. Megan Oddsen pointed out his efforts in transitioning the gun store to city owned art space, and Rebecca Rona Tuttle thanked him for helping to create the community conversation on the Middle East.
With the meeting focused on transitioning from mayor to mayor, a number of certificates of commendation were presented by Jeffrey Prang of Los Angles County, the offices of Assembly member Isaac Byran, a representative from State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, and the city of Santa Monica.
Puza’s first address as mayor made his focus clear. “The past, the present and the future; they are all right here, right now. Every decision made before us created the city we love today… We are not responsible for the sins of the past, but we are absolutely responsible for the future we build.”
The city council also approved the contract of Odis Jones, stepping into the role of City Manager with the retirement of John Nachbar.
Judith Martin-Straw
Photo – Mayor Freddy Puza, Vice Mayor Bryan “Bubba” Fish.
