Council votes founder off women's commission
Pauline Field, charter member of city's Commission on the Status of Women, loses post by a 3-2 vote
By Vince Lovato, News-Press and Leader

CITY HALL -- The City Council has voted 3-2 against reappointing a charter member of the city's Commission on the Status of Women to the board, saying she was ineffective and unable to advance the commission's agenda.

"I was the one who came up with the idea that Glendale even needed it," said Pauline Field, 57, who spearheaded the commission's formation in 2003 and was appointed to the first commission in 2004. "But I ran for City Council in April and happened to run against the three people who voted against me."

Bob Yousefian, Dave Weaver and Ara Najarian voted against Field on Tuesday. Mayor Rafi Manoukian and Frank Quintero voted to keep her on.

Field's term on the seven-member commission was over Dec. 2 and the council made appointments Tuesday.

The commission was established to assess and evaluate the needs and issues of women and to inform and advise the City Council, city departments and other community agencies and organizations, according to the city's website.

Yousefian said his vote was based on Field's ineffectiveness. .

Field was often confused during meetings and was an ineffective leader who could not mold the commission into an effective tool for the council, Yousefian said.

"She didn't do anything," he said. "If she had I would have voted to keep her there. She waffled on ideas, made votes against her own motions. Some people just can't cut it."

Najarian, who is serving his first term on the council, said his vote against Field was not personal.

"I was looking for a change, nothing more than that," Najarian said. "I wish her the best and I encourage her to run for council again. I think she has a message that resonates with many voters and a certain insight to the city based on years of involvement."

Weaver, the lone councilman who voted against formation of the commission, declined to comment. But in February, he reiterated his belief that the commission was unnecessary, partly because of the cost to run it, which neared $100,000. He was skeptical of the motives of commissioners, including Field, believing that some of them used their positions as political stepping stones.

But Field said her vision was derailed.

"I wanted to speak out but our hands have been tied, and though we accomplished a lot, it is nothing like we could have done," said Field, adding that her intentions were reined in. "There were a lot of people who wanted us not to get too powerful."

She said the council did not accept advice from the commission during the controversial sexual harassment lawsuit brought against the Police Department in 2003.

"They were very happy to get rid of me because I don't sit down and say, 'yes sir, no sir'," she said. "I was labeled a troublemaker."

Yousefian, who voted in favor of creating the commission, did not vote for Field the first time she was appointed.

"I didn't think she was qualified for what that commission needed and I don't think it's any different after watching her work on the commission," he said.The council appointed Paula Devine to a three-year term Tuesday, Yousefian said. Two seats remain unfilled.

Commissioner Nayiri Nahabedian was surprised and sad that Field was not reappointed.

"Based on her performance on the commission I would have expected her to be reappointed," Nahabedian said. "It is disappointing to lose her. She's done a really great job of bringing women's issues to the forefront in Glendale. She's a team player and very knowledgeable about women's issues. I will miss her on the commission."

The remaining commissioners will move on, she said.

"We will continue to do our work and we welcome the new commissioner," Nahabedian said.

QUESTION:
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