EDITORIAL

The suspense is over. After plenty of political wrangling in the past few

weeks, Newport Beach’s new mayor will be John Noyes. The councilman and

small-business owner from Balboa Island has served for the past three

years and, we think, is deserving of the post.

First, we want to wish him good luck. Being mayor of any city is a

challenge. With Newport Beach, it’s more of an art form. The seven-member

council is extremely political and at times seems rather unwieldy. Not

only that, you have a consistency and a local newspaper that is very

active and always very demanding. However, Noyes is lucky to have the

path toward civility and unity paved by former Mayor Dennis O’Neil.

When O’Neil took office last year, he faced a community still reeling

from the forced resignation of former City Manager Kevin Murphy and all

of the bizarre drama that followed, including the threat of a recall

election and many unhealed wounds among council members. Not only that,

O’Neil led a council that was faced with more than one large public

policy issue that year: hiring a new chief executive, dealing with the El

Toro airport battle and deciding whether to annex the Newport Coast and

Santa Ana Heights.

Despite being dealt that hand, O’Neil -- by most accounts -- negotiated

his job deftly. A new city manager is in place, the city has stepped out

of the limelight on the airport issue and annexation plans are underway.

It’s time for Noyes to take over where O’Neil left off.

Noyes should also look to O’Neil as an example of a councilman who went

from being in the background of City Hall to the forefront of nearly

every issue. Noyes, having never served as vice mayor, has always kept to

himself. While he appears bright and well-meaning, he strikes us as a

public official who would probably rather not talk to reporters every day

or have his picture in the newspaper on a weekly basis.

But, clearly, being mayor of a prominent city such as Newport Beach

requires that spokesman-like quality. The mayor cannot be afraid to speak

out on touchy issues or take the lead in taking the council where it

needs to go.

We expect that of Noyes. And we know he will rise to the occasion.