OFFICIAL CANVASS OF VOTES
Area 1 Residential Representative
ARTHUR HUTCHINSON
Area 1 Business Representative

MATTHEW PLOTKIN

Area 1 Community Interest Representative

CAROLYN CASAVAN

Area 3 Residential Representative

HOWARD KATCHEN

Area 3 Community Interest Representative

JEFF EBENSTEIN

Area 5 Business Representative

MICHAEL PRESTON

Area 5 Community Interest Representative

RICHARD MARCINIAK

Area 7 Residential Representative
ANTHONY ST. JOHN
Area 7 Business Representative
NEAL RODEN
Area 7 Community Interest Representative

JEFFREY KALBAN

Click here to download Final Canvass of Votes (pdf)

 

Open Board Seats 2012 – Sherman Oaks NC
BOARD POSITION
# OF SEATS
ELECTED OR APPOINTED?
QUALIFICATIONS TO
RUN FOR THE SEAT
QUALIFICATIONS TO
VOTE FOR THE SEAT
Area 1 Residential Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who lives within the boundaries of Geographic Area 1 and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work, own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 1 and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Arthur Hutchinson

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Arthur Hutchinson has a B.S.E. degree and M.S.E. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan. Upon completing graduate school, Arthur moved to Torrance, California in 2002. Arthur has resided in Sherman Oaks, CA with his wife since 2003 and the couple now has two children.

Arthur Hutchinson has worked for over ten years in the aerospace industry evaluating advanced technology concepts and systems against emerging customer requirements. Currently, he works for a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work in the public interest that operates a Federally Funded Research & Development Center (FFRDC). There, he provides the Los Angeles Air Force Base with space systems engineering, acquistion, and technical support.

Arthur has served on Sherman Oaks Neighboorhood Council (SONC) Board since October 2010. He also serves on the SONC Land Use, Finance, and Government Affairs Committees.

Area 3 Residential Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who lives within the boundaries of Geographic Area 3 and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 3 and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Howard Katchen

My guiding principle: Be a good person, help others and do the right thing!

I am a resident in Sherman Oaks for 26 years.

I earned Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Economics, International Relations and Semitic Languages from the University of Southern California and a M.Sc. in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics and an M.B.A. from London Business School in the United Kingdom. I have diverse professional experience in international banking and finance, treasury and investments and have served in senior management positions. I currently work as a Real Estate Broker helping community members in the sale and/or purchase of residential, vacant land and multi-residential properties.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve our Sherman Oaks Community for the past two years on the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council as Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair and Board Member.

I am grateful for your continued support and your vote.

Area 5 Residential Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who lives within the boundaries of Geographic Area 5 and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 5 and who are 18 years or older.
Area 7 Residential Representative
Term: 4 years
 1 Elected Any stakeholder who lives within the boundaries of Geographic Area 7 and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 7 and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Anthony St. John

During the past 5 years as the Area 7 Rep. and Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I have worked with DOT, LAPD and LAFD as well as the City Office of Emergency Management to help make our neighborhoods safer. We have doubled the number of Neighborhood Watch Groups, upgraded the Red Cross Shelter at VNSO Park, promoted CERT and HAM Radio training, distributed Earthquake Prep materials, placed stop lights and crosswalks where they were needed, funded secuity cameras and digital speed trailers and eliminated the red light cameras Citywide. But there is more to do.

Arthur Fields

I’ve lived in Sherman Oaks for 35 years with my wife Soni and our children.

I was a senior partner in a major Beverly Hills law firm, then Vice-President and General Counsel of a satellite television business here in the Valley, then resumed my law practice in Sherman Oaks and provide legal advice on business, real estate and litigation matters, and do volunteer legal work.

I’m a residential stakeholder in SONC District 7, a Member of the SONC Board, was voted 2nd Vice-President, and serve as Vice-Chair of our Land Use Committee. I’m running for a third term on SONC’s Board.

If re-elected, I‘ll continue to work with my fellow Sherman Oaks residents and SONC stakeholders to improve the living, safety and economic conditions in our community, offering solutions for our neighborhood and civic problems, and seek to reduce government waste. Thank you.

Area 1 Business Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who owns a business or works within the boundaries of Geographic Area 1 and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 1 and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Matthew Plotkin

Good people of Sherman Oaks, my name is Matthew Plotkin and I am running for a seat on our neighborhood council. As a committed stakeholder in our community, I am interested in taking a leadership role in how we develop. I have the necessary skills and experience to have a positive impact in our community. My college education focused on accountancy and finance. I am a manager at the Gelson’s in your neighborhood, I live in your community, and I am a partner in a San Fernando Valley based Art Collective headquartered in Sherman Oaks. I was born and raised in Los Angeles with the majority of my life spent in the San Fernando Valley. For the last two years I have come to call Sherman Oaks my home.

Elke Heitmeyer WITHDREW

Area 3 Business Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who owns a business or works within the boundaries of Geographic Area 3 and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 3 and who are 18 years or older.
Area 5 Business Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who owns a business or works within the boundaries of Geographic Area 5 and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 5 and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Michael Preston

I look forward to continuing my work for the residents and business of Sherman Oaks.

Area 7 Business Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who owns a business or works within the boundaries of Geographic Area 7 and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 7 and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Neal Roden

I have been proud to serve on SONC since its beginning in 2003. As someone who lives, works, shops, dines, and relaxes in Sherman Oaks, my stakeholdership in our community is very high. I want Sherman Oaks to be a great community, which it already is, while also looking toward an even brighter future for generations ahead. It is important that we keep growth and stability in balance as we deal with each new challenge. As an active community member, I try to keep all constituencies in mind as I approach each situation that comes before SONC. Thank you.

Area 1 Community Interest Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who lives, works, owns property or declares a stake in Geographic Area 1 and affirms the factual basis for it and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 1 and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Alec Myers

Scott Snider

Sevak Gorgyan

I grew up in southern California, and when it came time to finding my own home I knew there was no better place than Sherman Oaks. My wife and I have loved living in this city and we look forward to raising our kids here. I want to give back to a city that has given so much to me and help to make sure that Sherman Oaks stays this wonderful little gem that it is.

Carolyn Casavan

As your Neighborhood Council Representative, I will bring my 25 years of business and environmental experience to the table in assessing and making decisions on important matters in our community. I live and work in Sherman Oaks and I love the neighborhoods and friendly business atmosphere here. I want to help this area thrive economically while improving our quality of life. When items come in front of the Council, I promise to listen to what each side has to say, work with people to come up with good solutions and take into consideration the needs of residents and businesses when making a decision. I owned my own business for 22 years and I have worked as an environmental consultant and engineer for over 25 years. Thank you for your vote!

Area 3 Community Interest Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who lives, works, owns property or declares a stake in Geographic Area 3 and affirms the factual basis for it and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 3 and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Jeff Ebenstein

Area 5 Community Interest Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who lives, works, owns property or declares a stake in Geographic Area 5 and affirms the factual basis for it and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 5 and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Richard Marciniak

Have served on Board since the beginning of the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council in many positions.

Area 7 Community Interest Representative
Term: 4 years
1 Elected Any stakeholder who lives, works, owns property or declares a stake in Geographic Area 7 and affirms the factual basis for it and who is 18 years or older. Stakeholders who live, work,
own property or declare a stake in Geographic Area 7 and affirm the factual basis for it and who are 18 years or older.
CANDIDATES FILED:

Jeffrey Kalban

I am very committed to the community of Sherman Oaks and have a community interest from my years of involvement with the Buckley School.

ELECTIONS INFO

Sherman Oaks East Valley
Adult Center
Multi-Purpose Room

5056 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

Polling Hours:
4 pm to 8 pm

Candidate Filing closed

OR

Download the pdf form and
Mail to:
Department of Neighborhood Empowerment – Elections Division
14410 Sylvan Street, 4th FL
Van Nuys, CA 91401

OR

Email to:
elections@test.empowerla.org

OR

Fax to: (818) 582-2849

Acceptable Forms of Documentation