Wunderlich Will Be Sworn As BH Mayor Tuesday Night

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — When Mayor Lester Friedman was sworn in virtually as the new mayor on March 31, 2020, few imagined that the next council reorganization - normally a grand, black-tie affair - would be virtual as well.

But even as Beverly Hills moves into the orange tier - meaning that bars can reopen outdoors and movie theaters and places of worship can increase indoor services to 50 percent capacity, among other changes - Robert Wunderlich will still become the city’s new mayor in a virtual ceremony.

On Tuesday night, Vice Mayor Wunderlich will become mayor, and Councilmember Lili Bosse will become vice mayor. Unlike Los Angeles and bigger cities around the state and country, Beverly Hills government is currently classified as a "Council-Manager" system, in which power is shared between the city council and a city manager. Elected councilmembers serve as mayor on a rotating basis, and the mayor serves as the public face of the city and presides over council meetings. The city manager has administrative and managerial authority over the city's governance, and reports to the council.

The reorganization will feature a video presentation looking back at an unprecedented year, and various city employees and residents will give tribute to outgoing Mayor Lester Friedman, city spokesperson Keith Sterling told The Beverly Hills Courier. Wunderlich will also highlight his priorities for the coming year, followed by remarks and a musical performance, Sterling said.

After Tuesday, Wunderlich, 67, will begin his first term as mayor. He was elected in 2017 after representing Beverly Hills on the board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for ten years. For 25 years, Wunderlich has served as an economic and business consultant for entertainment, technology, and healthcare companies. He also has a PhD in chemical physics and an MA in physics from Harvard University, and is a registered chemical engineer in California.

Incoming Vice Mayor Lili Bosse, 59, has served on the City Council since 2011 and served as mayor from 2014-15, during the city’s centennial year, and again in 2017-18. She has been involved in a number of city boards and committees, including the Planning Commission, Traffic and Parking Commission, Culture Commission, and Beverly Hills Education Foundation. As mayor, Bosse enacted a Healthy City Initiative to make Beverly Hills “the healthiest city in the world,” gave 90-minute tours of the city, and donated $100,000 to create the Beverly Hills Dog Park.

The ceremony will take place on Tuesday at 7 p.m. It will be streamed lived on broadcast on Channel 10. It will also be archived on the city website.

Question: Do you think Beverly Hills should have a strong mayor system in which mayors are separately elected and have more administrative authority? What would you like to see Wunderlich prioritize in the coming year? Comment below or email michael.wittner@patch.com.