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Agoura Hills Mayor Ed Kurtz said Friday he will forgo a reelection bid for the City Council in order to spend more time with his family and business. Kurtz, who was first elected in 1989

after council infighting soured voters on incumbent Jack W. Koenig, said he plans to continue to spearhead talks between council members and local merchants on the controversial signs next

to the Ventura Freeway. Calling it his “No. 1 goal” for the next six months, Kurtz said he hopes to be able to resolve the dispute between business owners, who say they will lose money

without the prominent advertising space, and council members, who feel the towering signs are an eyesore. The merchants organized a successful petition drive to put a measure on the ballot

to encourage--but not require--them to mount their signs on lower poles and in groups. Kurtz said the battle over the signs was not a factor in his decision to forgo a second term. “This is

a personal decision,” said Kurtz, who is married with two children and has an advertising company in Reseda. MORE TO READ