7-Time Agoura Hills Mayor Won't Run For Re-Election

AGOURA HILLS, CA — After 29 years on Agoura Hills City Council, Denis Weber will not run for reelection come November.

Agoura Hills residents will elect three new council members come Nov. 8, choosing from a pool of applicants, including incumbents Chris Anstead and Deborah Klein Lopez and newcomers David Bramante, Jeremy Wolf and Jan Gerstel.

Weber did not take out papers for the upcoming election, a decision he has considered for 20 years, he said.

Weber said he's ready to see other community members step up.

"It's time for somebody else to get involved," Weber said. "[People] say, 'I agree with everything you are trying to do,' but not everybody wants to get in the ring and do it. ... I get constant emails and text messages and phone calls [saying] 'please don't leave, run again.' I can't do it. I guess I'm worn out."

A lot has changed since Weber joined the council in 1993, he said.

"I never thought when I joined in 1993 that I'd be around this long," Weber said.

When he joined the council, there was no Internet nor TV campaigning. He knocked on doors and would end up having some of his favorite moments on people's doorsteps. He walked to hundreds and hundreds of homes, dropping off flyers and engaging with residents about what they want in an elected official.

The Agoura Hills community is more engaged than before, but the political climate has changed, he said. Even taking out papers to run has become more complicated — deciding not to run offered some relief, especially for his wife, who has been his campaign treasurer.

Weber never lost the desire to speak face-to-face with constituents — he thinks it's still as important as ever to give people respect and listen to their needs.

"The most fun is when you walk up to somebody's front door and tell them who you are and what you're there for and then they look at you like you got three heads. So many people, they didn't do that, but in a small town you have to. You have to connect with them. That's what I enjoyed the most. Over the past 7 terms I've had so much fun on people's doorsteps."

Looking back at his tenure on council, Weber is proud of his consistent commitment to public safety and the local business community and hopes to see both issues prioritized after he leaves.

"People have to feel safe when they come home to Agoura Hills," Weber said. "That was my priority as far as that goes."

A business-person himself, Weber made consistent efforts to connect with local businesses. He made a pledge to visit one business owner per week at their place of work. Those visits ended up being some of the most fulfilling moments of his time on council, Weber said.

“I want them to remember those things, that Denis didn't turn his back on the business community and didn’t have an agenda," Weber said. "They deserve my whole attention. I don't believe you should be in politics if you can't devote that time and at least listen to the person or to the business and see what really is affecting them."

A particular point of pride for Weber is the Agoura Hills City Council's ability to interact respectfully and cordially despite disagreement at times, he added.

"Naturally we haven't always agreed, that's evident by the votes," Weber said.
"I joke sometimes that I think in Agoura Hills, we breathe different air. ... Overall I'm happy the city has a good reputation, I think, for the most part, the people are happy, and they certainly let us know if they're not."

Weber said he learned something from every person he's worked with over the years and hopes he has given something back to them as well.

"When I think about all the people I've served with — it's probably 10 or 12 different individuals over the 30 years I've served with — I've learned something from every one of them, and I hope maybe they've gotten something from me too."

Weber leaves behind hopes for the Agoura Village Specific Plan update and more robust development in the city, he said.

Weber will only see so much free time open up given that he continues to work as the Senior Vice President of Pacific Western Bank in Thousand Oaks. Still, he's looking forward to spending more time with his horses and reading.

Weber is leaving the council thankful to the people who have supported him. His main hope is that people remember him as someone who made them feel good and left joy in every room he entered.

“I enjoy people, I enjoy talking to them and — as I've mentioned so many times — I want to be the guy that when I call you and you see my name pop up, you’re happy,” Weber said. Like he tells his son: "People need to be happier when you enter a room than when you leave it. ... Make them be happy that they knew you, that's your legacy."