Council to choose Santa Monica’s new mayor
A man attempted to rob Washington Mutual Bank on Wilshire Boulevard Wednesday, but he ran away before he could get any cash.
The Santa Monica Police Department responded to the bank located at 2701 Wilshire Boulevard at 5:42 p.m., police said. AWashington Mutual employee said a man entered bank, approached a teller, displayed a handgun and demanded money.
But apparently the suspect got anxious and fled through the rear of the bank before the teller could give him the cash. He was last seen running north on Princeton Avenue. No vehicle was seen or heard leaving the area, police said.
The suspect, who is white, is described as 38 to 48 years old, 5’6” to 5’8” tall, wearing a brown flannel shirt, a white T-shirt, brown pants and a light colored hat. Witnesses said he also was wearing a cell phone piece in his ear.
Six SMPD units were called to the scene, who arrived in less than five minutes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also was called, as standard procedure in bank robberies.
“Our detectives will work with the FBI in regards to this bank robbery,” said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega.
Additional units from Santa Monica were called to interview several witnesses who were in the bank when the attempted armed robbery occurred. SMPD forensic investigators and detectives also were on scene Wednesday night.
Anyone with information regarding this crime, call the SMPD Robbery Homicide unit at (310) 458-8451.
“When I got back into the council office after the meeting was over, I let out several deep therapeutic yells, as I felt the extra responsibilities slide off my back like water off a duck’s back.” — — MIKE FEINSTEIN Santa Monica Mayor
The only other bank robbery that occurred in Santa Monica this year was in September when two men held up First Federal Bank on Montana Avenue, stealing an undisclosed amount of cash. will begin deliberations on which of them should serve as mayor for the next two years. Council members can nominate themselves or other members for the position, which is mostly ceremonial.
Besides attending formal functions, the mayor in Santa Monica is in charge of helping set the agenda and regulate and moderate the city council meetings.
The nominations will be narrowed down to two candidates, and the council will vote on who they want as mayor.
“The process of electing the mayor, there is no... it’s quite simple actually,” said city spokeswoman Judy Rambeau. “There’s nominations and then a vote.”
After the mayor is selected, the city council will then go through the same process selecting a mayor pro tem, a position that fills in when the mayor is absent.
Another choice available to council members is to divide the job of mayor and mayor pro tem into one-year terms. For example, council members Richard Bloom and Kevin McKeown split the current two-year term of mayor pro tem.
If council members are ready, they also have the option of switching which boards and commissions they are assigned as liaisons.
Feinstein asked council members Tuesday to start thinking about which boards and commissions they would like to serve on because even though the council make-up has not changed, boards and commission assignments could.
In past years after the council chooses its new leadership, the meeting is over. However, this year council members have a full agenda to conduct.
“They are trying not to have another meeting so close to Christmas and they are trying to get things done,” Stewart said. “And there is just a lot of things that need to get done.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 28, 2002. Read the original PDF.