Opinions and action

Eron Ben-Yehuda

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- City Councilman Dave Garofalo will be sworn in as

mayor on Monday.

The Rhode Island native is considered by some to be the most

controversial politician in the city.

“It’s obvious why that’s true,” the 30-year Huntington Beach resident

said. “(It’s) Because I have [strong] opinions.”

Another reason may be the type of opinions he holds.

In a town full of slow growth advocates, Garofalo’s forceful defense of

business and private property rights often lands him in hot water.

He’s also suffered withering criticism, especially from his former

employer, the Independent, for alleged conflicts of interest arising from

his work as publisher of the Local News and the Huntington Beach

Conference and Visitors Guide.

His detractors claim that he acts inappropriately when he votes on issues

affecting companies from which he has received advertising revenue.

But Garofalo points out that, despite an investigation by the state’s

Fair Political Practices Commission, he has never been charged with any

wrongdoing.

“How you conduct yourself in government, each person has to live with,”

he said.

With his gregarious and energetic nature, Garofalo won’t be afraid to

make waves as the new leader of Surf City, says Peter Green, the outgoing

mayor.

“I’m more reflective,’ Green said. ‘He’s more action-oriented.”

Those actions include Garofalo’s plan to spend about an hour every week

doing everything from tending bar to bagging groceries to pumping gas at

local businesses.

“I’m going to take City Hall to the people,” he said. “I want to bring

government back to the grass roots.”

Under his leadership, the city will see major progress on ambitious

projects considered top priorities for the new millennium, he said.

Before June, Garofalo said, he expects the new owner of the outdated

Huntington Beach Mall to demolish the vacant Broadway building, making

way for a movie theater and restaurants, he said.

As the city continues to grow as a tourist destination, Garofalo also

said he looks forward to the ground-breaking on construction of the

Waterfront Hilton expansion.

At this point, work crews are busy moving around thousands of cubic yards

of dirt in preparation for a four-story, 500-room hotel and a

100,000-square-foot conference center. A pedestrian bridge will be built

over Pacific Coast Highway, allowing hotel guests to reach the beach more

easily, he said.

He also will have his eye on the continuing drive to redevelop Downtown,

where the city plans a multimillion dollar hotel, restaurant and retail

complex along the 400 and 500 blocks of Pacific Coast Highway.

Despite undergoing heart surgery in June, the 53-year-old Garofalo said

he’s ready to handle the added pressure of the mayor’s position.

And he won’t lose his sense of humor.

“Many people in the community were surprised I had a heart,” he said.

Question:

NEW WATCH

What priorities should the new mayor set for the city?

Leave us your thoughts on our Readers Hotline at 965-7175, fax us at

965-7174 or e-mail us at hbindy@latimes.com. Please include your name and

city where you live.