The ceremonial rotating of the Hermosa mayoralty from one council member to the next saw some added heat Tuesday night, when Councilwoman Carolyn Petty criticized the new mayor pro tem, Councilwoman Nanette Barragan.
Petty did not oppose Barragan rotating into the role, where she backs up new Mayor Peter Tucker, but she complained that Barragan recently described herself as “embarrassed” by downtown Hermosa Beach.
“She said she would not take business associates here because the downtown embarrasses her,” Petty said.
Petty said she is “proud” to bring CEOs, COOs and others to Hermosa, impressing them with nights at restaurants such as Greg Newman’s Palmilla Cocina y Tequila on the Pier Plaza.
Petty said the downtown is “not perfect,” and added, “If we wanted perfect we’d move to Orange County.”
“I felt I had to say that,” Petty concluded, drawing a boisterous applause from supporters in the council chambers.
Petty and Barragan had been occupying opposite ends of the council dais, like opposing poles of a bar magnet. After her comments, the council members shifted seats to reflect their new positions, and Petty crossed the dais to take her new seat beside Barragan.
Later in the meeting, during the comments from the audience, resident Barbara Ellman told Petty, “ “What you did was not right.” But another resident disagreed, saying, “If I said something wrong, my mom would put me in my place. I love you Carolyn.”
