By Ruth SOWBY

Three candidates were featured at a recent “Meet the Burbank City Council Candidates” event at the Burbank home of Ron and Mirta Rothacher on Sept. 8. Having recently talked with a friend, host Ron countered his friend’s complaints with, “If you think city elections are a waste, come to my party and meet the candidates.” The friend did … and so did several dozen other Burbank residents.

After introductions in the Rothacher’s shady back yard, the three candidates were subject to some questioning. Current Burbank City Council Clerk Zizette Mullins was asked about her background. A 40-year resident of Burbank, Mullins has devoted 35 years to public service, 10 as city clerk. When she was 13 years old she and her family immigrated from Egypt to the Hollywood Hills. Mullins has two adult children and five grandchildren. She has been married for 14 years to Michael Mullins. A business owner by trade, one of her goals is to pave a more streamlined path for women to succeed in their own businesses.

Candidate Sharon Springer has been on the Burbank City Council since 2017 and is running for re-election. She believes she “can make a difference” and has worked with private developers on construction and permitting to create 2,000 housing units for Burbank families. As mayor of Burbank in 2020, Springer said she helped people pay their rent. She also put on food drives for seniors.    

Tamala Takahashi prides herself as being the youngest of the candidates. She said, if elected, she would be “the first Gen Xer on the Council.” Her focus is for “kids to have a city and world in which they can live as involved city members.” Takahashi has been married for 26 years and has three children.    

In total, there are five women running for three Council seats. Candidates Nikki Perez and Carmenita Helligar were not at the meet-and-greet.

If Mullins, Springer and Takahashi win spots on the Burbank City Council, it would be the first time three women sat on the Council.