Veteran Councilman Won’t Seek Reelection

His voice breaking with emotion, Councilman Don Griffin announced Monday that he will not seek reelection after more than 20 years on the City Council.

Griffin, 65, said his civic responsibilities are distracting him from his family life and his career as an architect.

“Serving your community on the City Council is an honor and a privilege, but is very time-consuming on many occasions,” he said. “The bottom line is that I have much to look ahead to, and I need to balance my personal goals and aspirations.”

The announcement leaves two council openings to be filled this fall. Donald L. Bone, who holds the other position up for election this year, has said he will not seek a third term.

Griffin, who has staunchly spoken out against term limits, said his decision not to run was made independently of a term-limit measure on the November ballot.

The councilman in recent years has taken a strong stand on keeping Buena Park’s fire department, an argument he lost in 1994 when the council voted to contract with the county for fire services.

Griffin also took a lead role as mayor last year in rejecting the county’s initial offer of a bankruptcy settlement and voted with his council members to join the “Killer Bees,” a group of cities and agencies that took the county’s “Option B” settlement.

They were guaranteed less money under that plan, but retained their right to sue the county and other investment firms to recover funds and damages.

Bone congratulated Griffin for a moving speech to announce his decision to step aside.

“It took a lot of courage, and I admire you for announcing this early,” he said.