Five Minutes: Mayor Christopher Armenta

Mayor Christopher Armenta's love affair with the city has been a long one—he has lived here for 30 years, exercising his passion for community service by becoming city clerk in 2002. From there he bounced to vice mayor in 2008 and is now settling into his mayoral position, which he attained this year.

If you have a chance to grab the Culver City High School yearbook for the class of 1981, you can see the young mayor-to-be. 

Patch caught up with the busy Armenta to ask about his plans for the future of Culver City.

Culver City Patch: What is the biggest problem you believe needs to change in Culver City? 

Mayor Christopher Armenta: Like many cities, Culver City is struggling with the budgetary deficit--and so from a budgetary standpoint, that's the biggest issue facing our city right now. Many cities throughout the nation and the world have to learn how to cut expenses and that will be our challenge.

Patch: How do you plan to address it? 

Armenta: I'm all for a balanced approach. I'm looking for additional creative sources, ways to improve the efficiency of the government, and looking at our expenditures and reducing them. I think Culver City is positioned very well, particularly in comparison with other cities, in terms of managing the budget deficit. 

Patch: What is the biggest issue that the City Council will be addressing in coming months that citizens should know about? 

Armenta: The big project that we will be discussing is the Exposition Line, scheduled to arrive in 2012. We are trying to make sure that as the rail comes into Culver City, it is complemented with the type of development that residents will find is an asset to Culver City. And that's a big challenge.

We have also started to look at the westside of Culver City, i.e. the area west of the 405 Freeway on Washington Boulevard that extends all the way to Lincoln Boulevard. We are trying to enhance that area and create a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. In fact, there's something exciting going on in all the areas of Culver City. 

Patch: How do you believe Culver City officials need to improve in terms of keeping residents informed about issues that affect them? 

Armenta: We are always trying to improve communication with residents; it's something we look forward to. But I think so far we have been doing a fairly good job in terms of notifying the public on a timely basis. We know that at the end of the day, we will have a better project if we involve the community and get their feedback.

Patch: How do you balance your professional, political and personal life?

Armenta: It's a tremendous time commitment for anybody who chooses to serve on the City Council. I do my best to balance out my duties as mayor with my other job at the California State Board of Equalization. Balancing that with my personal life is a challenge--and I have to work around my schedule of events and duties.

It does get hectic, but I thoroughly enjoy helping people and I am very happy to be the mayor. I think that's what makes managing time easier.

Patch: What is the one thing you would want Culver City residents to know about you? 

Armenta: It has been a lifelong dream of mine to serve in the community, and it has been an enjoyable experience. I'm very accessible, and if there is anything I can do to help, I'm only a phone call away.