“When they all made their points and no one opposed it . . . I did concede to honor the wishes of the council and to take that title,” Andrus said.
The clause was established in 2003 by former Town Council President Andrew Adelman, who argued that the mayoral title, which he later assumed, would garner more respect for the all-volunteer council in the community, Councilwoman Danette Erickson said. Adelman’s successor, Clair Rawlins, later dropped the title, as did all following council presidents, she said.
Andrus, who was reappointed president by the council in December, echoed Adelman’s reported intentions, saying her new title will give the council more political currency to leverage the community’s interest with higher-ups.
“The council felt we needed a little more teeth when dealing with other state, federal and community officials,” she said.
But while unopposed by the council, news of the decision rattled some members of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce, who said the name recognition of its board-appointed “honorary mayor” could be jeopardized.
The chamber’s honorary mayor supports the local business community by leading ribbon-cutting ceremonies and advising new chamber members, said current honorary mayor Leslie Lesh, the owner of Leo’s All-Star Sports Bar & Grill.
“It can be confusing if the community doesn’t know the difference between what the Town Council does and what the Chamber of Commerce does,” Lesh said. “. . . I personally don’t have a problem with sharing that title as long as the community recognizes the Town Council as representing the individuals as I represent the businesses.”
