Boyd starts up his reelection campaign

Councilman Kelly Boyd will begin his campaign for reelection from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Marine Room Tavern.

Boyd is running for his third, but not consecutive, term on the council.

He was first elected to the council in 1978 and waited 28 years to run again in 2006.

“I was trying to get my business where it would give me the time to devote to the city,” said Boyd, owner of the Marine Room, nicknamed the Mar Bar. “The council is a 24/7 job.”

Boyd, who arrives at the tavern about 7 a.m. to prepare for the daily business, said someone was knocking on the door at 7:15 a.m. Tuesday morning to talk about a problem.

“In the past 3 1/2 years, there must have been well over 300 people who walked into the tavern just to talk about city business,” Boyd said. “And I have no problem with that — it’s why I was elected.”

Besides his accessibility, the accomplishment Boyd is most proud of in his second term on the council is the city’s resolution of homeless issues that soothed irate residents while providing a compassionate solution for the destitute.

One of his proudest accomplishments came during his first term — he was on the council that hired Ken Frank to be the city manager.

Boyd said one of the major issues facing the council in the next few months will be the selection of Frank’s successor.

“Laguna is unique and the idea of a stranger coming in — someone who doesn’t know the city or the residents, scares me,” Boyd said. “Assistant City Manager John Pietig has been with the city for nine years, and he is involved in the community with his children in our schools. Having worked with him on the homeless problems and [retaining] the hospital, he is my leading contender.

“But the biggest problem facing the council will be the budget for the next two, tough years coming up. We will have to be frugal and watch pennies and nickels.”

Pet projects will have to be set aside until the economy picks up, Boyd said.

Another issue of interest to Boyd is view protection.

“We have weed abatement, we need to come up with tree abatement,” Boyd said. “One of my neighbor’s views has been obliterated and that’s just not right. We hear that all the time.

“People buy homes for a view and we are going to have to address that.”

Boyd also supports a review of the Downtown Specific Plan and the Planning Commission’s assignment to look at parking management, which might lead to a parking plan for the zone.

As for a recently revived support by Laguna Beach firefighters to merge with the Orange County Fire Authority, Boyd doubts residents would support it.

Boyd, 66, has been a resident of Laguna his whole life, the fourth generation of the Thurston-Boyd family to live and work in town, and the father of three.

His wife, Michelle, manages the human resources department of the Laguna Beach County Water District.

The public is invited to Boyd’s kick-off, with a no-host bar and K’ya restaurant providing hors d’oeuvres.

Taxpayers host Jarvis Assn. president

Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Assn. President Jon Coupal will be the guest speaker at a Laguna Beach Taxpayers Assn. meeting, set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club.

Topics will include dealing with government debt, the state’s deficit, ballot propositions and public employee pensions.

Mayor Elizabeth Pearson and Councilman Kelly Boyd will attend the meeting.

K’ya Bistro and House of Big Fish and Ice Cold Beer will cater the event.

The public is invited. Admission is $50. Payment can be arranged by calling (949) 497-7053 or e-mailing mlydick1@cox.net.