Whittier council to appoint new planning commissioner tonight

Look for the split nature of the Whittier City Council to come out at its 7 p.m. meeting tonight. The council will be making an appointment to the Planning Commission to fill a spot that will open because Commissioner R.D. McDonnell is termed out at the end of June.

The last time the council had an opening, it appointed Eduardo Hernandez on a 3-2 vote.
Mayor Bob Henderson and Council members Owen Newcomer and Cathy Warner supported Hernandez. Santa Fe Springs business owner Jeanette Fasone, who had run unsuccessfully in 2008 for the City Council, received the other two votes from Councilmen Greg Nordbak and Joe Vinatieri.

Fasone is one of four applicants scheduled to be interviewed tonight. However, only three are expected to show. Attorney John Olvera is expected to be a no-show. The other two candidates are banker Charles Claver, who also is vice president of the Whittier Conservancy.
A third is Robert Apon, manager of a South Whittier company.

While nothing is certain, look for Councilwoman Cathy Warner to be the swing vote. If you want to watch the proceedings, you will have to show up because this meeting will not be on television. The council will meet in their conference room. It is open to the public.