Scott Malsin: ‘I Needed to Do This for My Family’

Less than a day after from the Culver City Council, the former vice mayor has been inundated with emails.

“I’ve had dozens of emails this morning from people saying they are with me all the way,” Malsin told Patch in a telephone conversation on Tuesday morning.

The “all the way” refers to both Malsin’s decision to resign in order to retain his medical benefits for his family, and the very real possibility that he will enter the April 2012 City Council race.

“I’m definitely giving it very serious consideration,” Malsin said. “I really appreciate that people understood [my decision to resign] and I feel good that I have this support. If I run again in 2012 it’s because I want to make a difference for the community,” he said.

Malsin gave a long, detailed explanation at last night’s council meeting, explaining the reasoning behind his decision to resign.

“Healthcare is such an important issue in so many people’s lives and it’s clear people understood what we were facing,” Malsin told Patch. “If you can’t take care of your own family I’m not sure you should be trying to take care of the city,” he added.

Malsin added he feels “great” about the statement he made Monday night at the meeting.

“I took the time to formulate my thoughts and found a way to express them as best I could and to explain my family’s situation. Everybody understands that you’ve got to take care of your family.”

Asked if he thought that his decision to possibly run again for a council seat in 2012 might adversely affect him, Malsin said, “People are entitled to view [my decision] as they wish. I needed to do this for my family.”

Nonetheless, Malsin still wants to balance his family’s needs with his love of the community.

“It really has been a tremendous privilege serving the community,” he said. It’s been a great experience for myself and for my family. I love working to make the community better. It’s what I’ve been doing for 20 years since I moved to Culver City. That’s who I am, and it’s what I’m going to be doing in the future.”

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