Tucker Takes Over as Mayor

Michael DiVirgilio passed the mayoral baton to Peter Tucker at the Hermosa Beach City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Tucker, who held the mayoral post in 2006, said that he's ready to serve the city again during these tough economic times.

"The financial reality has really come to Hermosa, and I think we've set a course where we're going to run this city like a business," he said.

Tucker added that the city plans to initiate a two-tier pension plan, which the council hopes will save the city "thousands of dollars later down the road." 

Tucker and Councilman Kit Bobko also plan to create an advisory committee that will analyze license fees for local businesses and recommend a tax plan for them that residents will be able to vote on next year.

Tucker also said that he hopes the newly renovated Pier Avenue will attract more business to Hermosa.

"Hopefully it will be the next Rodeo Drive of the South Bay," he said.

Tucker's colleagues, including new Mayor Pro Tempore Howard Fishman, said that they were pleased to see him serve in this leadership role at a time when the city is facing financial challenges.

"I think sometimes events unfold serendipitously… It's no coincidence that you are rotating into the mayorship now at this time," Bobko said to Tucker. "You have seen more than all of us on the council have."

DiVirgilio agreed that the city will benefit from Tucker's historic perspective. The newly appointed mayor has lived in town for nearly 40 years.

"It really hit me, the depth of value that one has having seen the rhythms of the community in that length of time and seeing individuals in the community for that length of time," DiVirgilio said.

He added that, along with Tucker's experience and deep knowledge of the city, his personality brings some other values to the mayoral chair —wit and a sense of humor.

Even though the challenges facing Hermosa are no joke, the other councilmen agreed that they look forward to Tucker's comedic timing spurring some laughter at upcoming City Council meetings.