On Tuesday evening, the Beverly Hills City Council did not meet in council chambers. Rather, before a couple hundred gathered at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, the council met for its annual leadership transition.

The evening began with public comment largely by other local elected officials or their representatives praising outgoing Mayor Julian Gold and Councilmember Lili Bosse, as well as providing well wishes upon incoming Mayor Lester Friedman. These leaders included Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Culver City Councilmember Dan O’Brien, West Hollywood Mayor John Erickson and Vice Mayor Chelsea Byers, and Santa Monica Mayor Phil Brock.

City Clerk Huma Ahmed then provided the official results of the March 5 election for city council, which featured 10 candidates. The two winners to fill Gold and Bosse’s seats were Craig Corman with 3,564 votes and Mary Wells with 2,921. She then asked the city council to formally approve the results of the election and for Corman and Wells be sworn in.

It was then time for the council members to praise Gold and Bosse. Councilmember Sharona Nazarian said Beverly Hills was a better city because of Bosse’s 13-year tenure on the council (the city switched their elections to even-numbered years recently, adding a year to Bosse and Gold’s three four-year terms) and said she’s always shared a special, unspoken connection with Bosse on the dais.

Councilmember John Mirisch, who says he normally drafts remarks for moments like this, didn’t do so because he was “Still in a state of denial” over losing his colleagues, their entire tenure of which he shared. “It’s home. It’s community. It’s extended family, and that’s how I will always feel about you.” He also thanked Bosse for guiding him when he needed reigning in and showing a better way to meet his own council goals.

There was a light moment when Gold said he was Bosse’s “Work husband,” but then wanted to make clear they have a “Good working, platonic relationship” to audience giggles.

A video with highlights of Bosse being inaugurated and in various scenes around Beverly Hills followed. And with a standing ovation from the audience, Bosse rose to a separate podium to provide farewell remarks.

She started by saying growing up the daughter of Holocaust survivors and attending Beverly Hills schools shaped her. “I’m just so grateful that my mom got to see her daughter be the mayor,” she said. But she turned a little darker. “When we first started, it was like a different world. We got to celebrate our centennial. We could walk with the mayor.” But she said the pandemic changed all that, keeping the community apart and the city suffering business closures. “It was the antithesis of everything that I stood for.” But she also said she believes the best is yet to come, and “Even on the hardest days, I always have to find something to be grateful for.”

She then heaped praise on Ahmed, City Manager Nancy Hutt-Coffey, and City Attorney Larry Wiener, whom she shared classes with at Beverly Hills High; she did the same for her council colleagues. Of Gold, she said, “Julian, if you weren’t here at times I don’t know how I would have gotten through it.”

Gold was then given the highlight reel treatment to applause and made his own farewell remarks. Looking at his wife in the audience, he said, “We embarked on this journey 13 years ago. I don’t think either of us knew what we were getting into.” He complimented her on dealing with the campaigns and late nights his council life brought them, saying he was grateful for her “Unconditional love.”

He complimented city staff, saying “They’re the engine that makes it go. We help, but really they are the ones that make our daily lives what they are and the city as good as it is – as great as it is.”

He also complimented his colleagues from surrounding cities, admitting regional importance didn’t come to him initially, but in the last four years especially, he better recognized “The problems of the cities flow into each other,” and said the issues of crime, homelessness, and addiction “Know no borders.” Each issue is “Bigger than any one city and that no one city – even if they wanted to – could cure them.”

Thankful for his time with the city, he began to close with a quote from Mohammed Ali, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.”

Incoming Mayor Friedman and Vice Mayor Nazarian then switched chairs to place Friedman in the middle, and Corman and Wells were sworn in.

In his remarks, Corman thanked his wife Karen, complimenting her sound judgment. “Her advice saved me from myself more than once on the campaign,” he mused. He also praised his fellow newcomer Wells, who he said ran a strong campaign. “I fully understand why she earns the support of so many members of our community.” He took his turn also thanking Bosse and Gold for “Leaving the city in such good shape.”

Saying “It takes a village,” Corman says he picked up a lot of good ideas on the campaign trail, and emphasized it will take everyone who was energized by the campaign to stay involved.

Wells echoed his remarks to the audience about citizen engagement in city government. She thanked the audience for recognizing her efforts as a school board member, saying “Thank you for trusting that I will bring a vision and a collaborative spirit to get things done.”

She thanked her husband for “Sharing her with the City of Beverly Hills,” and her children for “Tolerating the campaign.” She commended Bosse and Gold, saying “It’s hard to imagine the city council without you here,” adding “I can only hope to replace a fraction of the strong leadership, enthusiasm, wisdom, and guidance you have given to this city.”

Nazarian was then formally sworn in as vice mayor by her father and surrounded by family. “Dad, I asked you to swear me in tonight because your love and support has been instrumental in my life.” Turning to the city, she said, “Beverly Hills sets the standard thanks to our three pillars – our police, fire, and schools. They’ve made great strides to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents.” She then complimented law enforcement on specific features like the police department’s live watch center, security cameras, and drones, and called artificial intelligence the future the city should embrace to “Stay ahead of the curve.”

Pointing out that 55 percent of Beverly Hills residents are renters, Nazarian called for establishing housing options “That are attainable and sustainable, especially for young professionals and families who represent the future of our city.” She also called for the city to support seniors’ abilities to remain in their homes and age in place.

She recalled feeling like she had no voice when she fled Iran, and given Beverly Hills’ worldwide reputation, she stated, “It’s our duty to serve as a voice for those who don’t have one.” She said that when Iranian activists say “Women. Justice. Freedom,” that means freedom for women who are oppressed everywhere, including from practicing reproductive freedom and the overall fight against anti-Semitism.

A large group of family members then swore in Friedman, and he quickly thanked Bosse and Gold for their years of service and collaboration. He credited Gold – who he’s known for decades – for getting him involved in city government. He then welcomed the new council members and thanked city staff.

He then thanked his wife Simone, saying “Without your guidance and support, we never would have moved to Beverly Hills, nor would we have the rewarding life we have.”

He said he has always followed a teamwork approach to achieve success, and stated, “Leadership is helping others achieve their greatness so that the organization can be successful.” Friedman then said he had the privilege to serve as a staff member to legendary UCLA coach John Wooden’s basketball teams from 1968 to 1973. The team would win the National Championship in each of those years. He recalls that Coach Wooden never said anything like “Now go out and win” to pump up the team at halftime. “Coach believed that if you were prepared, worked as a team, were unselfish, and tried your best, the team would be successful.” He added, “That is the thought process that guides my principles. It is not about winning, it is about making sure we work as a team so as a city we are successful.”

He maintains that the safety and security of the city remains job number one, and complimented Police Chief Mark Stainbrook and the department for “Leading the way in technology, crime reduction, and community relations.” He spoke of a new initiative to integrate public and private technology – specifically safety cameras – to ensure safety in neighborhoods and business districts.

Then he praised Gold for his efforts as mayor to coordinate a healthy financial picture as the city recovers from the pandemic. He also lauded the city’s partnership with the nonprofit Step Up on Second in fighting homelessness, calling their joint efforts “A first-in-the-nation coordination of health, safety, and social services under one umbrella.” He also mentioned that with the passage of the city’s Housing Element, he understands the state now finds it in compliance and more affordable housing options can be pursued.

Looking ahead to big events coming to our region including the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics, Friedman said he will form an Olympics Task Force to help the city prepare for its share of visitors and activities.

Turning to the awful events of October 7, 2023, Friedman said, “We will always stand with Israel and speak out against anti-Semitism when we see it.” He then announced that the City of Beverly Hills will host the North American Mayors Summit Against Anti-Semitism this coming December.

Finally, Friedman said he will begin a series of new videos featuring and introducing the public to various city staff members. The city will also launch a new, centralized customer service system for all non-emergency city services called “Ask B.H.,” and a series of public opportunities to meet with the mayor they’ll call “Les is More.” (as in Lester Friedman).

Photo is a screen capture.