The council’s Boy Scout

Noaki Schwartz

Gary Adams learned his first leadership lessons from the Boy Scouts

when he was 8. After his father died, Scoutmaster “Pop” Clarke’s guidance

gave Adams the role model he missed.

Although it’s been years since he was in the Scouts, as Adams sits in

his sky-high office at Parsons Transportation Group, the impact it had on

his life is evident -- the sentimental Adams still has plaques on his

wall to remind him of that time.

“It’s probably one of the reasons I do what I do,” Adams, 45, said,

adding that it was the Scouts that gave him a sense of community

involvement.

It’s been more than 25 years since he became an Eagle Scout, and Adams

has since shared his time with countless other organizations. Most

recently, he was elected vice mayor to oversee the City Council along

with new mayor John Noyes. And though their approach and personalities

differ, Noyes said he feels that they will make a great team and looks

forward to a productive year ahead.

Adams’ road to vice mayor has been a long one. From 1989 to 1992, he served in various leadership capacities for the Boy Scouts. He’s also

participated in Leadership Tomorrow, a nonprofit community leadership

training program, and taught at Cal State Long Beach and Cal Poly Pomona.

But it wasn’t until 1992 that he formally became involved in local

politics as director and then president of the Cameo Community

Homeowner’s Assn. Following that, he moved on to the Newport Beach

Planning Commission, the Orange County Regional Airport Authority and,

finally, the City Council.

“I had no thought of running [for a council seat],” he said. “I

believe it was [Councilman Dennis} O’Neil who told me that Tom Edwards

wouldn’t run for a second term.”

And when Adams discovered that he was in the same district, he thought

that perhaps fate was dealing him a hand. Given that Adams cruised into

the position, winning nearly 85% of the vote against his opponent, actor

Ron Winship, his instincts appear founded. Both Adams and Tod Ridgeway

were elected as the council’s newest members last year.

“Even 10 years ago, this is the last thing I ever thought would

happen,” Adams said, adding that being on City Council makes his life

interesting and challenging.

As a council member, Adams has maintained an open and logical

approach to local politics. Based on his actions at council sessions, he

doesn’t appear to buy into emotional arguments and has little tolerance

for conspiracy theories. And while he does not always agree with his

fellow council members, Adams never hides the reasons behind his

opinions. He is, after all, an engineer -- straightforward and detailed.

“I take each issue on its own merit and just try to make good

decisions for each,” Adams said. “I don’t have any agenda. I don’t go

into these things with any preconceived notion of the way things should

be.”

Adams admitted that he is also easily bored and has been working on his

impatience.

“Every three years I’m looking for new ways to donate to the community,”

Adams said, explaining how his list of activities gets longer and longer.

Adams and his wife, Birgitt, are also kept busy caring for their

newborn son, Nick. When asked whether Nick will learn the same community

spirit as Adams has from the Boy Scouts, the new vice mayor said only if

his son is interested.

But even if Nick doesn’t join the Boy Scouts, it’s clear that he’ll

learn to be a leader from his father.

PROFILE: GARY ADAMS

AGE: 45

SCHOOL: UC Berkeley, Cal Poly Pomona and Diablo Valley Junior College at

Pleasant Hill.

OCCUPATION: Traffic Engineer

MARRIED: Yes

CHILDREN: A son