This is an article about BCEA endorsed Bill Wiggins that appeared in the April 25, 2001 Burbank Leader. The following is the article in its entirety.

Eight is Enough for Councilman Wiggins
AFter eight years of serving Burbank - including three turns as mayor - Bill Wiggins is calling it quits
By Karen S. Kim, Photo by Scott Roby

Before May Bill Wiggins left the City Council dais for good Tuesday night, he was to finish one last item of business: the city survey.

The $25,000 city survey - a telephone poll by a consulting company asking residents about city services - was proposed by Wiggins last year after he led the city through a similar survey in 1994.

The results of the new survey were to be announced at Tuesday's meeting.

Increasing communication between the City Council and Burbank residents has characterized Wiggins' two four-year terms of service as a council member.

"I think in the eight years I've been on the council, the city has really come a long way," Wiggins said Thursday as he was packing up the belongings littering his office in City Hall.

During the 52-year-old businessman's first year as a councilman, the City Council approved allowing residents to comment on any city business, instead of just agenda items, during the first period of oral communications of council meetings.

"We've tried to make the meetings more constituent-friendly, and, quite frankly, we've gotten kicked in the teeth for it," he said. "The inflammatory and hateful and ethnic remarks have increased tenfold since then."

Wiggins was elected in 1993 and is the first council member to serve three separate terms as mayor since the city's 1911 incorporation.

Though Wiggins is proud to take with him memories of council successes - including rehabilitation of the Elmwood Avenue area in the South San Fernando District, the progress made on Earthwalk Park and the pending improvements on the Verdugo Hills' campsite - he will also take with him one large regret.

"We couldn't solve the airport issue while I was on the council," he said.

"The airport was the most complex and most difficult project that I've grappled with during my eight years."

But Wiggins said that it's time for him to leave the council and leave the city in capable hands.

"The first time I ran, I said I'd like to serve two terms. And I like to keep my promises," Wiggins said. "I very much enjoy all the interaction and enjoy seeing all the development, but I just think it's time to move on, and I've got a real good replacement in Marsha Ramos."

Wiggins said he will spend his time working at his metal-plating business in Glendale and traveling with his wife, Marilyn.