Seven Vying for 3 Council Seats

Seven people--including two incumbents--have thrown their hats into the ring for three seats on the Calabasas City Council, while one council member has decided not seek reelection.

Councilwoman Karyn Foley, who has held office since the city incorporated in 1991, will not seek a third time.

“I’ve accomplished what I set out to accomplish,” Foley said. “I wanted to leave the city with more for the children than was given to me as a new mother with a young family, and I feel I’ve done that.”

Incumbents Marvin Lopata, a real estate appraiser, and Lesley Devine, an environmental consultant, will run for reelection. Planning Commissioner Michael Tingus, a senior marketing executive, and former commissioner Toby Keeler, a media consultant and president of the Las Virgenes Homeowners Federation, are challenging.

Other candidates are James Bozajian, a Los Angeles deputy district attorney, Craig Cignarelli, a businessman, and Robert Sibilia, a businessman and attorney.

Foley said because she advocates appointing new people to commissions and committees, she decided to apply that philosophy to her own position.

“I like to see new faces with new ideas,” she said.

Foley has been involved with local issues since she moved to the area in 1975, and said it was time to leave the job to others. The councilwoman said she was pleased to see the names on the list of candidates.

“In the last year or two, I’ve seen some very talented and intelligent people come to offer their help to the city,” she said. “And with people like this coming forward, they will be a great addition to the City Council.”

Calabasas voters will go to the polls March 4.