THE BIG KAHUNAS
1) JAMES TARWATER, 55, Irvine ... Superintendent of the Ocean View School
District ... Key figure in bringing the Wal-Mart project to the district,
an issue that kept the community in a whirl of controversy for five years
... His work with the retail giant will bring the district about $400,000
a year in lease income ... Designed state-of-the-art student promotion
and retention program ... District was at the brink of bankruptcy when he
took over in 1992. He helped to nurse it back to financial health ...
Grew up in Long Beach but was born in Patterson, N.J. ... Enjoys the
ocean, surfing, horse riding, tennis, golf, skiing, reading and biking
... Once worked on a ranch as a cowboy ... Married to Gina, with two
daughters and two sons ... Last year’s ranking: 14
1) TRACY PELLMAN, 44, Huntington Beach ... Ocean View School District
board member ... Co-leader of successful No on Measure I campaign that
made it possible for Wal-Mart to set up shop in town ... During the last
three weeks leading up to the election, she was getting three to four
hours of sleep per day, even weekends ... Her successful campaign will
bring the city and school district $400,000 each annually ... Born in
Bethesda, Md., Bethesda Naval Base ... Married to Harry ... Has five
children, all daughters -- one is a deputy district attorney under Gil
Garcetti, another works for an environmental architectural firm ...
President of local chapter of National Charity League ... Board member
for Huntington Beach Art Foundation ... Has worked with American Heart
Assn. ... Enjoys skiing, reading, and makes and designs jewelry ... Last
year’s ranking: Unranked
2) MARVIN JOSEPHSON, 44, Huntington Beach ... As chairman of Crest
View United, he fought a losing battle to keep Wal-Mart from being built
at the Crest View school site on Talbert Avenue ... Program manager at a
technology company based in Huntington Beach ... Says he has thought
about running for City Council, but he’s “too darned honest” ... Enjoys
3-D photography and the outdoors ... Saw the Vincent Van Gogh exhibit
last year at the Los Angeles Museum of Art ... “Starry Night” is among
favorite paintings ... Favorite movie is “Little Big Man” ... Has seen it
at least 10 times ... Married 12 years to Debbie ... Last year’s ranking:
65
3) JIM LANE, 59, Huntington Beach ... Rails against overdevelopment in
Downtown, which must be kept “people friendly” ... led the
resident-sponsored campaign that forced the Huntington Beach City Council
to repeal a law that gave the city the power to buy homes by force ...
Loves golf and traveling, with a favorite spot in Maui that he tries to
visit twice a year with his wife, Vicki .. Retired teacher of
communication ... Greatest achievement is his graduate degree in cinema
... Favorite movie is “Godfather: Part II” ... Last year’s ranking:
unranked
4) TOM HARMAN, 58, Huntington Beach ... City Councilman ... Became the
Republican nominee to replace Scott Baugh in the state Assembly ... Saw
his share of controversy during the campaign after finance statements
showed he accepted donations from labor unions ... Some say his moderate
stance on the environment, gun control and abortion gives him crossover
appeal ... Says he’ll be “stressing my experience” in his race against
Democrat Andy Hilbert in the November election ... Last year’s ranking:
75
5) SUSAN ROPER, 64, Huntington Beach ... Led unsuccessful battle to
pass a school bond this month as superintendent of Huntington Beach High
School District ... Is struggling to find the district $160 million in
facility repair funds ... Has been in education her whole career ...
Fountain Valley native ... Served as a student counselor at Marina High
School ... Two daughters and a son ... Lives in Downtown ... Active in
the Assn. for California School Administrators, Nationwide Assn. of
School Administrators and the National Assn. for Curriculum and
Supervision ... Likes to run, golf, fish and read ... Loves to cook,
especially Italian and German food ... Also loves to travel ... Last
year’s ranking: 4
6) RICK STEPHENS, 47, Villa Park ... Vice president and general
manager of reusable launch vehicles at The Boeing Co., the city’s largest
employer ... Responsible for the space shuttles that carry into orbit
parts of the future International Space Station, the first permanently
inhabitable space laboratory, which should be completed by 2005 ...
Already has a master’s degree in computer science, working on another in
business administration ... Former Marine ... Registered Native Indian
who served as chairman of the Pala Ban of Mission Indians ... Enjoys
cycling, scuba diving and woodworking ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
7) SCOTT BAUGH, 37, Huntington Beach ... Republican leader in state
Assembly ... After serving since 1995, he’s stepping down this year
because of term limits ... Fights to reduce taxes and reduce size of
government ... Leaving office on a high note after criminal charges of
violating campaign laws were dropped last year ... Outspoken critic of
last summer’s beach closures, which he blamed in part on health officials
who misinterpreted regulations ... Likes golf and deep sea fishing ...
Formerly an attorney for a railroad company ... Last year’s ranking: 2
7) ROBERT MCKNIGHT, 46, Laguna Beach ... Nickname “Buzz” ... Chairman
and chief executive for Quiksilver, a leading force in the beach clothing
industry ... Company moved its headquarters to Surf City from Costa Mesa
in late June ... Company started out selling swim shorts but has expanded
into snowboard and skateboard apparel and accessories ... Used to produce
surf films ... Still rides the waves whenever he can ... Recently took a
surf safari to Sumatra ... Married to Annette, three children ... Last
year’s ranking: Unranked
8) JOHN GIVEN, 49, Santa Monica ... The face of the CIM Group, a
development company that plans to build a multimillion-dollar hotel,
restaurant and retail complex in Downtown ... Says the oceanfront project
will make the community proud by encouraging tourists and even residents
to spend more time and money in the city ... Enjoys golf and skiing ...
Coaches his daughter’s soccer and basketball teams ... Grooves to Cuban
jazz ... Oscar prediction: “The Insider” ... Owns a dog, a bird, a fish
and two cats that fell through the roof ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
9) DOUGLAS GRAY, 42, Tustin ... President of Irvine-based Ezralow
Retail Properties,, which bought the long stagnant Huntington Beach Mall
in November ... Promises to breathe life into center ... Envisions an
open-air mall with an Italian village design featuring an 18-screen
theater, and high-end retail stores and restaurants ... Hopes to reduce
the abandoned Broadway building to rubble by the summer ... Enjoys
reading John Steinbeck novels, but Grapes of Wrath is his least favorite
... Plays tennis and basketball with a mean outside shot, although he has
trouble running with younger bucks ... “My legs left me 10 years ago” ...
Last year’s ranking: Unranked
10) RON HAGAN, 54, Newport Beach ... Huntington Beach’s community
services director ... Looks forward to beginning construction this summer
on Central Park’s sports complex, which will help draw adults away from
the school fields meant for children ... Still on the hunt for a new
senior center site and a gun range ... Proudest achievement is the
popular Pier Plaza ... Although super busy, always makes time for golf
and his grandson, with another on the way ... Says he doesn’t have as
much pull as people think: “Don’t mistake getting things done with
authority to approve them.” ... Last year’s ranking: 3
11) ROSE SAYLIN, 56, Huntington Beach ... Huntington Beach Library
literacy specialist ... Oversees Adult Literacy Program at the Central
Library and the Family Literacy Program at Oak View Library ... Works in
partnership with the Literacy Volunteers of America ... Program’s focus
is on helping adults improve their reading, writing and speaking skills
... Just earned her second master’s degree in library science -- her
first master’s is in education ... Enjoys reading -- a lot: “It’s a
hobby, it’s a habit, it’s like breathing ... Also likes quilting and
watching tennis ... Married to Brian with two grown children and three
grandchildren ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
12) ROBERT MANN, 53, Huntington Beach ... Member of the Huntington
Beach City School District board for 13 years ... Steadfast in his
opposition of selling any of the district’s closed school sites ... An
educator for 32 years, he ran for a seat on the board because he wanted
to be in the mix of decision-making ... Teaches physical education at
Warner Middle School ... Member of the California Teachers Assn. ...
Hails from National City, near San Diego ... Married to Mary ... Has two
sons, both in college ... Enjoys gardening, home improvement projects and
fishing ... Likes going to Main Street with Mary and eating at Sugar
Shack or Dukes ... Last year’s ranking: 22
12) SHIRLEY CAREY, 60, Huntington Beach ... Member of the Huntington
Beach City School District board since 1990 ... Staunchly opposed to
selling any of the district’s closed school sites, saying she’d rather
the district be prepared for the future: “The middle school population is
going to be a big problem. I’m not sure that 1,400 kids in a middle
school will allow a quality education” ... Member of the Huntington Beach
Children’s Task Force, Huntington Beach Collaborative and Republican
Women’s Federated ... A native of Cazenovia, N.Y. ... Likes to sew, read,
hike and go camping ... Married to Jack ... Raised three children -- two
sons and a daughter ... Just became a grandmother ... Loves jazz and
community involvement ... Last year’s ranking: 22
13) PAUL HORGAN, 55, Huntington Beach ... President of the Bolsa Chica
Land Trust, an environmental group opposed to development on the Bolsa
Chica mesa ... Feels proud to be one of the trust attorneys responsible
for the appellate court victory in April that saved the eucalyptus grove
on mesa ... His goal is the purchase and preservation of the entire mesa
... Practicing law since 1971 because he says he’s not qualified to do
anything else ... A gardener without a green thumb ... Married 33 years
to Flossie ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
14) CONNIE BROCKWAY, 58, Huntington Beach ... Huntington Beach city
clerk since 1988 but has worked for the city for three decades ... Keeper
of City Council records and attends all council meetings, no matter how
long they drag on ... Shows off new passport services ... Still waiting
for the day when the public can access city records via computer ...
Enjoys reading and taking walks, even though that sounds boring: “Try
being around here 10 hours a day and see how exciting you are” ... On the
advisory board of the Huntington Valley Literacy Volunteers of America
... Married 39 years to Alex ... Has one son and a granddaughter ... Last
year’s ranking: 11
15) TOM LIVENGOOD, 60, Huntington Beach ... As a planning commissioner
for 12 years, he tries to be sensitive to the environment without killing
projects ... Treasurer for the Amigos de Bolsa Chica ... Hopes mesa
controversy finally dies this year after more than a quarter of a century
of fighting development ... Wants to restore all of the wetlands, which
he believes should be turned over to the state ... Personal motto:
“Always be honest” ... Board member on Grace Lutheran Church foundation,
which provides family counseling and senior care ... Greatest
achievements are his 12 grandchildren, although he admits his daughter
deserves some of the credit ... Last year’s ranking: 17
16) ANDY VERDONE, 40, Huntington Beach ... Huntington Beach High
School’s head surf coach for the past 12 years ... Has guided the Oilers
to 10 national titles during that span ... A special education teacher at
the school ... Has arranged trips and taken his teams to such far away
places as South Africa and France to give the kids both a surfing and
cultural education ... A former football coach at Huntington, he went to
Hawaii in January for a little surfing and to see former Oiler Tony
Gonzalez participate in his first-ever Pro Bowl ... Enjoys the waves at
the pier, listing it as one of his favorite places to surf, especially
for its “socialization” aspect ... In a perpetual search for the perfect
wave, adding that it’s a “never-ending” search ... Last year’s ranking:
Unranked
17) MICAH BYRNE, 18, Huntington Beach ... A phenom since his freshman
year at Huntington Beach High School, he is considered to be one of the
best young talents among high school surfers in the nation ... A
much-decorated and heavily sponsored surfer, he is a four-time national
champion and always considered one to beat ... Has been surfing since he
was 5 and has competed for nine years, garnering 13 individual titles ...
Has surfed in such exotic locals as Indonesia, South Africa, Australia,
Tahiti and Spain ... A popular student at Huntington Beach High with a
3.24 grade point average ... Was in the running for a spot on the
school’s homecoming king court last fall ... A participating member at
Seaside Community Church ... Holds a strong antidrug stance ... Best bud
is fellow surfer Ben Knight ... Lists fishing and girls as his hobbies
... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
18) RAY SILVER, 51, Huntington Beach ... Surf City’s top man ... As
city administrator, he’s working to instill a “Nordstrom” philosophy at
City Hall, with programs to make departments more accessible to residents
and businesses ... In the process of implementing a new business
information system that will allow some City Hall matters to be handled
over the Internet ... Will attend a city managers conference in Australia
in August and plans to take the family ... Sons Jay and Matt are both in
college ... Wife of 26 years, Lynn, is a music instructor at Marine View
Middle School and a former teacher of the year ... Never eats dessert,
says he’d rather take a walk along the beach ... Last year’s ranking: 12
19) LUCY DUNN, 46, Coto de Caza ... As its executive vice president,
she’s Hearthside Homes’ biggest cheerleader ... Has witnessed the twists
and turns of the Bolsa Chica mesa development plan over the years ... Is
now waiting to hear the California Coastal Commission’s decision on how
much of the mesa can be developed ... When she’s not cheering for
Hearthside, she’s cheering for her two sons, both of whom play football
... Sings with the Cypress College group Camerata and will tour Europe
this summer, performing in England, Ireland, Scotland and Paris ... Last
year’s ranking: 15
20) JIM SILVA, 55, Huntington Beach ... County’s 2nd District
supervisor, representing Huntington Beach ... Former Huntington Beach
city councilman ... Has played a significant role in whittling down
county’s debt from the 1995 bankruptcy ... A huge senior advocate ...
Enjoys sailing, golf and bicycling ... Married to Connie for 30 years ...
They have a grown son and daughter ... Last year’s ranking: 16
21) YITZCHOK NEWMAN, 52, Long Beach ... Rabbi and dean of the Hebrew
Academy, a Blue Ribbon school, in Huntington Beach ... Students --
numbering 400 in preschool through 12th grade -- come from all over
Orange County and Long Beach ... He has been at the academy since 1973
and has held the dean’s post for 20 years ... “Working with children and
watching them grow and being able to form their future and values and
education, it’s very gratifying” ... Married to Amina for 30 years, and
they have 16 children -- oldest is 28, youngest is 2 ... Last year’s
ranking: Unranked
22) CATHERINE FOLLETT, Age: won’t tell, Corona del Mar ... Assistant
superintendent for instruction at Fountain Valley School District, which
won the second-highest score in the county on the Academic Performance
Index this year ... Began her tenure with the district in 1973 ... Member
of the Assn. of California School Administrators ... Started as a teacher
but soon moved into administration ... Born in Swathmore, Pa. ... Married
to Gordon ... Has two grown daughters ... Loves gourmet cooking ...
Enjoys tae-bo ... likes to read historical fiction and British detective
stories ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
23) ANN SULLIVAN, 47, Pasadena ... Principal of Huntington Beach
Seacliff Elementary School, the first new school to open in the city in
25 years ... Started teaching in 1975 at Walnut Valley Unified School
District ... Came to the Huntington Beach City School District in 1993
... Married to Pat ... Has two sons ... Likes reading biographies ...
Favorite was about Charles Lindburg ... Likes skiing, sailing, jet
skiing, para-sailing, scuba diving and snorkeling ... Worked as a swim
instructor and lifeguard ... Also enjoys traveling ... Favorite places
are Hong Kong and Australia ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
24) KENNETH YGLESIAS, 54, Huntington Beach ... President of Golden
West College, a post he has held for five years ... Under his
stewardship, the college has gone to a 16-week semester and raised $2
million ... Enrollment has risen to 12,300 students ... Worked as a
public affairs, educational officer in Israel for a time ... Earned his
doctorate in international education and educational administration from
USC ... Before arriving at Golden West, worked in the Coast Community
College District for 15 years ... Likes to garden, play basketball and
enjoys sporting events ... Also enjoys reading books on philosophy,
public policy and biographies ... Serves on the Huntington Beach Chamber
of Commerce board of directors ... Member of the Kiwanis Club ... Adopted
a fourth-grade class at Oak View Elementary School to help students set
their sights on college ... Married to Donna ... Hometown is Tampa, Fla.
... Last year’s ranking: 48
25) DAVE GAROFALO, 54, Huntington Beach ... Surf City’s mayor ...
Energetic, enthusiastic, and at times controversial ... As mayor, says he
wants to “take City Hall to the people” ... A fierce defender of business
and private property ... Created city’s Economic Committee, responsible
for nailing city’s Coca-Cola sponsorship ... Former Chamber of Commerce
president ... publisher of the Local News and the Huntington Beach
Visitor’s Guide ... Underwent elective heart surgery on Wednesday -- his
second heart surgery in two years ... Last year’s ranking: 35
26) SHERI MEDRANO, 37, Westminster ... Succeeded beloved Fran Andrade
as Oak View Elementary School’s community liaison in August ... Holds one
of the most important positions in the Oak View Center, which helps
low-income residents ... Works as a part-time psychologist, teacher and
social worker ... A native of Huntington Beach ... Married to Juan ...
Has a daughter and a son ... Enjoys good movies, especially romantic ones
... Argues with husband and son because they like action movies ... Likes
family time and reading about other cultures ... Currently reading
“Angela’s Ashes” ... Last year’s ranking: 63
27) TOM DAWES, 56, Huntington Beach ... Project manager for the
Groundwater Replenishment System, a groundbreaking project seeks to
provide a new source of water by reusing highly treated waste water ...
Has worked on several aspects of the water business -- from flood control
to retail water, and as director of the Orange County Sanitation
District’s engineering department for 18 years ... Likes his career in
water because it allows him to be an environmentalist and serve the
public ... Originally from Minnesota ... Hobbies include biking, skiing
and surfing ... Favorite music: rock ‘n’ roll ... Says he’s “not an
exciting person”... Married to Jeannine and has three children ...
Unranked
28) STEVE SEIM, 50, Huntington Beach ... In charge of all the
lifeguards -- not just the 130 grown-ups who patrol the beach but also
the 1,000 kids who have joined the junior volunteer program ... The best
part of job is saving lives ... His troops have an “awesome record,” with
no drownings last year ... Point man for volleyball, roller hockey and
surf tournaments on the beach ... Plays on a nationally ranked indoor
volleyball team that’s competing in Ohio in May ... Started as a
lifeguard in 1968, and worked up the ranks ... Helped design the new
Tower Zero ... Single but his girlfriend would say “taken” ... Last
year’s ranking: 21
29) JOHN SCOTT, 68, Huntington Beach ... Founded the Southeast
Huntington Beach Neighborhood Assn. after sensing his part of town was
ignored by the City Council, which now meets regularly with the group ...
Concerns include the expanding sewage treatment plant nearby and cleaning
up the NESI toxic dump site ... Says if you don’t get involved in
politics, then you shouldn’t complain ... Retired Los Angeles County
probation officer ... Takes a two-hour walk each morning with his
Dalmatian, Lola ... Thinks everyone should stop and smell the roses more
... Plans to attend his 50th high school anniversary this summer in Grand
Island, Neb. ... Last year’s ranking: 34
30) CHUCK CONLOSH, 35, Fountain Valley ... City councilman for three
years ... Senior officer for the Huntington Beach Police Department ...
Guided the city through the adoption of an ordinance limiting the sale of
medicine containing ephedrine, which was recently adopted as a state law
... Involved in the Huntington Beach Officers Assn. Teddy Bear Program
for children in local hospitals ... Vice-chairman of the Orange County
Hazardous Material Committee and member of the Fountain Valley
Legislative Committee ... No. 1 concern is keeping children away from
drugs, alcohol and violence ... Making sure senior citizens are cared for
is a priority ... Spends most of his free time in Lake Havasu ... Hero is
his dad who “was a great, hard-working coal miner from Pennsylvania” ...
Listens to country music ... Motto: Honesty is the best policy ... Last
year’s ranking: 44
31) LARRY DOLAN, timeless, Huntington Beach ... Pastor of Sts. Simon
and Jude Catholic Church ... Just completed the retrofit and remodeling
project at the church ... The congregation includes 6,400 families ...
The church has added another Just Faith Group, which studies and analyzes
public justice ... Serves on the board of directors of Adult Day Care
Services of Orange County ... Has held an ecumenical prayer service with
other local churches for the past few years ... His hero is Pope John
XXIII, who spearheaded the Second Vatican Council ... Was ordained in
Rome ... Traveled to Canada, Europe and Mexico ... Works out at the gym
... Listens to Irish and classical music ... Enjoys going to the opera
... Originally from San Diego ... Last year’s ranking: 38
32) STEPHEN EINSTEIN, 54, Fountain Valley ... Rabbi of Congregation
B’nai Tzedek ... Involved in several Jewish organizations, including the
Pacific Assn. of Reform Rabbis and the Orange County Board of Rabbis ...
Also co-chairs the National Commission of Reform Jewish Outreach ...
Serves on the boards of the American Cancer Society, the Religious
Advisory Committee of the Alzheimer’s Assn., Interfaith Council and
Clergy for Choice ... Member of the Fountain Valley Police Department’s
chaplain program, where he rides along with police officers on emergency
calls ... Chairs the Personnel Commission of the Fountain Valley School
District ... Author of two books on the Jewish religion ... His pets are
freshwater fish kept in an aquarium ... Loves to read and enjoys
classical music ... Favorite foods are Italian and Mediterranean ... Last
vacation was to the Colorado Rockies with his wife ... His favorite
thing: smiling ... Married to Robin for 32 years and has four children
... Last year’s ranking: 70
33) BRUCE PATTERSON, 42, Huntington Beach ... Pastor at St.
Bonaventure Catholic Church since July, leading 5,500 families in worship
... Runs the church’s religious school, which goes up to the eighth grade
and has a student body of more than 600 ... Went to Catholic school
himself ... Decided to enter priesthood after college ... Ordained in
1986 ... Most fulfilling part of his work is helping people in need and
helping them become aware of God’s role in their lives ... Enjoys hiking,
camping, fishing, running, racquetball and golf ... Inspirational figures
include St. Augustan because of his contemporary mind, and Caesar Chavez
because of his personal integrity and altruism ... Last years ranking:
Unranked
34) CHRISTIAN MONDOR, 75, Huntington Beach ... Parochial vicar at Sts.
Simon and Jude Catholic Church ... Co-chair of the Interfaith Council ...
Helped make the Procession of Light 2000, an interfaith celebration for
the millennium, a success as chair of the planning committee ... Around
2,000 people attended the Jan. 2 prayerful event at Pier Plaza ... Is
member of Franciscan order ... Also a member of U.S. Masters Swimmers ...
Competed last year in national Senior Olympics in Orlando, Fla. ... Born
in Hollywood, raised in Westwood ... Has master’s degree in education
from University of San Francisco ... Has doctorate from University of
Portland, Ore. ... Plays the banjo, both bluegrass and four-string ...
Chaplain for the Fretted Instrument Guild of America ... Plans to go to
the group’s annual meeting in Ft. Mitchell, Ky., this summer ... Last
year’s ranking: Unranked
35) LINDA MOON, 51, Huntington Beach ... President of Amigos de Bolsa
Chica ... Helped found Amigos and was an original board member ... “Our
environment can’t afford to lose the Bolsa Chica” ... Wants to bring
Amigos more in line with its original advocacy role ... Likes working
with people who care about the environment ... Dislikes the “emotional
hostility” that goes along with politics ... Also dislikes the
Independent’s use of the word “Kahuna.” Says it has a spiritual
connotation in Hawaii ... Was raised in Eagle Rock, an area between
Glendale and Pasadena ... Works as a family law attorney ... Plays tennis
... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
36) SHIRLEY DETTLOFF, 64, Huntington Beach ... City councilwoman for
six years ... Is proud of the Human Dignity Statement she helped to write
with Ralph Bauer ... As a coastal commissioner, expects a number of
Huntington Beach issues -- such as the Bolsa Chica mesa and the
Waterfront Hilton project -- to come before her ... Twenty-six years
since she came before the commission to protest the destruction of the
wetlands ... One of the original appointees to the city’s environmental
board ... Member of the Sierra Club ... Founding member of the Orange
County League of Women Voters ... Owns, but is not active in, an
educational materials publishing company ... Married to Bob for 44 years
... Three grown children ... Two grandchildren ... Loves living near the
ocean ... Likes bicycling, reading and gardening ... None of which she
has time for ... Is reading a book by Isabel Allende ... Last year’s
ranking: 42
37) CAROLE KANODE, 60, Huntington Beach ... Nurse at Ocean View High
School since 1977, when the school opened ... Trustee for Ocean View
School District since 1990 ... Began the high school’s after-school
program for 40 students ... Wants to create a clinic for kids who can’t
afford dental care ... On city’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee ...
Member of Huntington Beach Therapeutic Riding Center and the American
Assn. of University Women ... Married to Irwin for 40 years ... Three
daughters and one grandson ... Originally from Trenton, N.J. ... Reads
biographies ... Likes museums, music, walks and being with her grandson
... ... Travels around the country as a volunteer of Habitat for Humanity
... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
38) SYLVIA GARRETT, 48, Huntington Beach ... Member of Take the Plunge
Campaign, which has raised more than $600,000 to build a pool at
Huntington Beach High School ... Head of the Huntington Beach High School
Foundation ... Co-president of the Model United Nations ... Born in
Colombia ... Parents were refugees from Austria during World War II ...
Came to the United States at age 5 ... Supreme Court Justice Louis D.
Brandies was her great uncle ... Enjoys gardening and stitchery... Has
traveled to 14 countries ... Married with one son and one daughter ...
Last year’s ranking: Unranked
39)BILL WALLACE, 58, Huntington Beach ... Head of Huntington Beach
City School District’s Facilities Committee ... Said committee chose him
as chairman because he’s fair ... Hopes district can come up with money
for state matching funds for facility repairs ... A lawyer by trade, but
not a member of the California bar ... Now retired ... Moved to
Huntington Beach in 1997 from Washington ... On the Huntington Beach City
School District advisory council ... Formerly on school board in
Washington state ... Married since 1977 to Valerie Sherman ... Two
children, a daughter and a son ... Both go to school in the district ...
Interested in educational theory ... Also interested in politics as an
observer ... Used to write for a community newspaper ... Last year’s
ranking: Unranked
40) JOHN TU AND DAVID SUN: 41 and 48, Rolling Hills and Irvine ...
President and vice president, respectively, and owners of Kingston
Technology in Fountain Valley ... Founded the company together in 1987
... Priority is to give back to their community ... Kingston has been
voted into the top 20 of Fortune magazine’s Best 100 American Companies
to Work For list for last three years ... Don’t have offices, but sit in
cubicles with the rest of their employees because they feel their company
is a family with no hierarchy ... When they sold the company in 1996,
they split the $100 million among all the employees ... Bought back the
company last year ... Built their first start-up together in Tu’s garage
... Sun plays golf ... Married to his wife for 25 years and has two
children ... Was born in Taiwan ... Tu plays basketball ...He also plays
the drums in a band, J.T. and the Spice Boys ... The band, made up of
employees, plays for company Christmas parties ... Kingston’s corporate
lawyer is the saxophonist ... Tu’s musical idols are Elvis and the
Rolling Stones ... Grew up in China and Taiwan ... Went to college in
Germany ... Married with two kids ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
41) JANICE ARAGON, 44, Huntington Beach ... A driving force in the
amateur surfing world ... Executive director of the National Scholastic
Surfing Assn. for the past 11 years ... The association is one of the
major amateur surfing organizations in the world, providing surfing
competitions for more than 2,000 student surfers, with an emphasis on
academic excellence and a scholarship program that awards annual grants
to members ... The 1984 Women’s World Amateur Surfing champion, a title
she captured at the world championships held here in Surf City ... The
first woman ever to judge the OP Pro in Huntington Beach ... Has received
the Boy Scouts of America Service to Youth award for leadership in youth
programs ... Enjoys working with kids ... Hobbies are -- surprise --
surfing and snowboarding ... Has two children ... Last year’s ranking:
Unranked
42) PERRY CAIN, 39, Irvine ... Boeing’s manager of local government
and community relations ... Simply put: He’s the guy who’s responsible
for interacting with the community and working with city leaders ...
Chamber of Commerce board chairman ... Born in Kansas but went to high
school in Oklahoma, the inspiration for many of his jokes and anecdotes
... Has also lived in Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tenn. ... Single but
“taking applications” ... Teaches Sunday school for sixth-graders ...
Likes to write and listen to Christian music ... Enjoys Tom Clancy and
John Grisham novels ... Favorite food: In-N-Out hamburgers, but without
the sauce ... Last years ranking: Unranked
43) DAVID BIGGS, 40, Huntington Beach ... Surf City’s director of
economic development ... Knows everything there is to know about every
project in town ... Particularly excited about Ezralow’s plans for the
Huntington Center and new hotel projects Downtown ... Happy to welcome
Wal-Mart to town ... “Even though there was a lot of controversy over
Wal-Mart, the Measure I vote sends a message that we’re open for
reasonable development” ... Proud of the progress the city has made in
affordable housing, with three Habitat for Humanity homes set to be built
on Yorktown Avenue and Delaware Street ... Has two sons, 5 and 2 ... Just
finished first year of coaching his oldest son’s soccer team ... “It’s
easy to sometimes step on the little kids -- they’re so hard to see when
you’re walking backward” ... Last year’s ranking: 27
44) COLLEEN GELFER, 38, Aliso Viejo ... Oak View Community Center
director since 1989 ... Comes in contact with about 5,000 residents a
year ... Excited about grants the center recently received, including one
for the youth football program ... Hopes the center can be expanded or
refurbished in near future ... Incoming president of Women in Leisure --
a national women’s recreation group ... Wants to travel more ... Went on
a Disneyland cruise of the Bahamas last year ... Likes gardening ... Just
planted lime and lemon trees in pots ... Married to Keith for 12 years
... Has a son and a daughter ... Last year’s ranking: 52
45) GUY CARROZZO, 67, Fountain Valley ... Mayor ... Retired school
principal and teacher in the Westminster School District ... Dedicated
his year as mayor to veterans and bolstering patriotism ... Serves on the
boards of the Orange County Sanitation District and the Public Cable
Television Authority ... Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the
Knights of Columbus and the Italian Catholic Federation ... Got into
politics after he retired because he “was too young to start crocheting
doilies” ... Proud that he didn’t accept any campaign donations ...
Served in the Air Force and spent two years in Okinawa during the Korean
War ... First job was as a shoe shine boy when he was 11 ... Favorite
movie is “Raiders of the Lost Ark” ... Hobbies include wood carving,
reading and writing ... Has written children’s short stories ...
Originally from Pennsylvania ... Married to Dolores for 45 years and has
two children and four grandchildren ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
46) RON LOWENBERG, 53, Huntington Beach ... Surf City’s chief of
police for the past decade ... Recently appointed by attorney general to
serve on commission dealing with civil rights and hate crimes ... Has
seen crime rates in the city decrease consistently over recent years ...
Supervised a push to upgrade technology in the department over the last
year ... Installed mobile computers in squad cars, allowing officers to
correspond with dispatch more efficiently ... Working hard to secure
funding to equip department’s DNA crime lab ... Married to Kitty for 34
years ... Last year’s ranking: 45
47) RON SHENKMAN, 64, Huntington Beach ... Senior vice president of
Huntington Beach-based Rainbow Disposal, which helps clean up the
environment ... Chairman of the Huntington Beach Union High School
District Educational Enrichment Foundation ... Sits on the boards of so
many organizations, he says “you can’t put them all down anyway,” but
they include Huntington Beach Community Clinic and Huntington Beach
Library Patrons Foundation ... Former Huntington Beach mayor and Fountain
Valley councilman ... Is committed to improving his golf game, which is
at “embarrassing” 26 handicap ... Judy, his wife of 35 years, is trying
to convince him to read more ... Last year’s ranking: 86
48) BERNIE HEIMOS, 52, Laguna Niguel ... Fountain Valley fire chief
and building safety director ... This year, the Fire Department acquired
two thermal imaging cameras ... Will be looking at new fire engines and
new jaws of life for the department ... Serves on the boards of the
Fountain Valley Educational Foundation and the Business Advisory Council
... Helps with fund-raising for the leukemia and cancer foundations ...
Used to be a journeyman tool and die maker ... Played the drums in
several rock ‘n’ roll bands but now wants to learn the piano ... Likes
all music -- from classical and country to rock (he even likes the band
‘N Sync) ... From Chicago ... Used to ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle
... Hobbies include aviation, hiking and photography ... One of six
children ... Married Joy in October ... Motto: Argue for your
limitations, and sure enough they’re yours ... Last year’s ranking:
Unranked
49) PETER TOWNEND, 46, Huntington Beach ... President of Surf Industry
Manufacturers Assn., an industry organization comprised of more than 250
manufacturers of surf equipment, apparel and accessories ... Global brand
manager for Rusty hardgoods, apparel and accessories, and is responsible
for overseeing market strategy worldwide ... Color analyst on the “Sport
of Surfing” for Prime Network (Fox Sports) and ESPN ... Serves as the
voice of the World Championship Tour telecasts ... Was surfing’s first
professional world champion (1976) ... Instrumental in turning around
U.S. competitive surfing through his work with the National Scholastic
Surfing Assn. ... Has produced two amateur world champions ... Coached
Dwyer Middle School of Huntington Beach to three NSSA National
Championships in the past five years ... A 1998 inductee into the
Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame ... Three children ... Last year’s
ranking: Unranked
50) PHILLIP S. INGLEE, 63, Huntington Beach ... Retired president of
Liberty National Bank ... Worked there for 18 years ... Foreman of the
Orange County Grand Jury ... former planning commissioner ... Helped
start the city’s finance board ... Vice-chairman of the Huntington Beach
Community Clinic ... Says he’ll be the guy in the yellow feathers and the
big feet at the Duck-A-Thon ... Has lived in Huntington Beach for 20
years ... Married to Marilyn for 25 years ... Four children, two girls
and two boys ... Four grandchildren, also an even split ... Likes to bike
in long distance races ... Last race was 100 miles in Death Valley ... Is
planning a trip to Tahiti ... Ayn Rand is favorite author ... Favorite
book is “We the Living” ... Likes Italian food ... Last year’s ranking:
Unranked
51) DAVE REYNOLDS, 55, Huntington Beach ... Founder of Snail’s Pace, a
store for runners ... Store has two locations, Fountain Valley and Laguna
Hills ... Co-owns stores with Eddie Johnson, partner for six years ...
Original Fountain Valley store has been open for 21 years in June ... Is
proud of store’s marathon training program ... Runners start training six
months in advance for specific runs, like the LA and Pacific Shore
marathons ... Store’s running club has around 300 members ... He started
running 30 years ago and has competed in 30 marathons ... Says Big Sur
Marathon is his favorite ... Still adjusting to being a senior ... Runs
40 to 50 miles a week with his wife of two years, Shirley ... Met her at
his store ... Two daughters, one grown ... Plays golf when he can ...
Says “Hurricane” was his favorite movie last year ... Last year’s
ranking: Unranked
52) BOB BAFFERT, 46, Huntington Beach ... Thoroughbred horse trainer
... Under his supervision, two horses have won the Kentucky Derby back to
back -- 1997’s Silver Charm and 1998’s Real Quiet ... Has two horses
eligible to run for the roses in May -- Tribunal and Captain Steve ...
Has been riding since he was 6 ... Married with children ... Grew up on a
chicken and cattle ranch ... Attended the University of Arizona racetrack
industry program ... Became first trainer to win three stakes on a Santa
Anita card in 1991 ... Last year’s ranking: 6
53) DANA ROHRABACHER, 52, Huntington Beach ... Congressman for past 12
years ... Used to be the best (and only) surfer in halls of Congress ...
With the arrival of Rep. Brian P. Bilbray (R-San Diego), he is now
“chairman of the surfing caucus” ... Likes to surf the area between
Huntington Dog Beach and Bolsa Chica ... Helped win Patent Protection Act
after five-year battle ... Supports NASA and aerospace technology ...
Fought losing battle against giving China the Most Favored Nation status
... Got $350,000 allocated in federal budget for local technology
demonstration ... Won many awards from taxpayer groups ... Supports an
international airport at El Toro ... Married to Rhonda Carmony, former
campaign manager ... Calls Ronald Reagan the most important influence in
his life ... Was Reagan’s speech writer for seven years ... Likes reading
nonfiction ... Currently reading Paul Johnson’s “A History of the
American People” ... Last year’s ranking: 24
54) RALPH BAUER, 69, Huntington Harbour ... City councilman ... Helped
to start Huntington Beach’s Human Relations Task Force ... Also helped to
write city’s Human Dignity Statement ... Was an environmentalist even
before it was popular ... Helped to start the Interfaith Council ...
Retired from long business career ... Is working on Huntington Beach
Collaborative, a group that would bring together public and private
social service providers ... Group would help to “make sure no one falls
through the cracks” ... Married to Charlene for 48 years ... Children are
grown ... Helps to raise money for students at UCLA ... Skis in his free
time ... Started Friends of the Library more than 30 years ago ... A
history buff, his favorite book is “World History at a Glance” ... Last
year’s ranking: 25
55) BOB AND PAT DAVIS, 69 and 66, respectively, Huntington Beach ...
Longtime residents and Chamber of Commerce members ... Bob’s a past
president of the chamber and started its annual planning conference and
golf tournament ... He handles community and government relations for
their firm, Davis Consulting ... Pat handles public relations and handles
fund-raising for the Huntington Beach Community Clinic ... Main organizer
of annual Duck-A-Thon, the clinic’s major fund-raising event ... She is a
founding member of the American Heart Assn. Huntington Valley Branch ...
Member of the Soroptimists, Council on Aging, Art Assn. board, Project
Self-Sufficiency board ... A true senior advocate ... They love golf ...
Pat’s philosophy: “This is my city, and it’s no better than I make it”
... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
56) CHUCK SCHEID, 73, Huntington Beach ... A watchdog over wasteful
spending in City Hall ... Serves on the city’s Infrastructure Advisory
Committee and is chairman of the finance committee ... Suing the city for
collecting what he believes is an illegal property tax, which could save
residents about $7 million a year ... “On one hand, I’m trying to save
the city money, and on the other hand, I’m trying to take it away” ...
Became fascinated with city government about 10 years ago, when the
council was considering putting a golf course in Central Park ... Says
his involvement in the community has become “a retirement hobby” ... Also
likes camping and reading ... Last year’s ranking: Unranked
57) ERICK BURRES, 33, Long Beach ... The county’s ecological reserve
manager for the Bolsa Chica wetlands ... Protects not only the water and
vegetation but the wildlife, including birds, snakes, coyotes and
squirrels ... As he stood by the water’s edge recently, saw a falcon dive
down to kill another bird, which was “just spectacular” ... Looks forward
to fixing up the hiking trails ... Loves hearing from visitors blown away
by the area’s natural beauty ... Enjoys fishing and hunting ... The
wildlife biologist was formerly a state lands coordinator ... Last year’s
ranking: 54
58) NAIDA OSLINE, 43, Huntington Beach ... Founder of the Huntington
Beach Art Center, now the city’s director of major public events,
including upcoming concerts at Pier Plaza that she is “really psyched”
about ... Writing a book of short stories and working on a series of
portrait photos ... Bought her first house last year ... About to marry
... Enjoys running on the beach and dancing in the living room ...
Bachelor’s degree in art ... Last year’s ranking: 55
59) JOHN COLLINS, 56, Fountain Valley ... City councilman since 1990
... Serves on 12 boards of directors in the community ... Enjoys working
with people ... Recently appointed to the technical advisory committee of
the Orange County Children and Families Commission ... President of the
Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana, which provides shelter and aid
to the homeless ... Serves on several boards for the Boys & Girls Club of
Huntington Valley ... Owner and president of Pioneer Business Corp. ...
Has a background in real estate ... Won the Huntington Beach Union High
School’s Touch the Heart of Kids Award last year ... Received the
Outstanding Community Leadership Award from the Knights of Columbus, of
which he also is a member ... Lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars ... Proud grandfather to Kyle and always carries pictures of his
grandson in his pocket ... Married to Barbara for 32 years this month ...
Would like the Independent to change the name of the Big Kahuna list ...
Last year’s ranking: 7
60) LAURANN COOK, 51, Fountain Valley ... City councilwoman for 14
years ... Chair of the Orange County Transportation Authority ... Board
member for Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center and the
Orange County Republican Central Committee ... Hopes to continue the
city’s neighborhood improvement programs ... Loves working with children,
reaching 5,000 of them through the Child Abuse Resistance Education
program and Childhelp USA ... Hobbies include reading historical novels
and mysteries, and and working in her flower garden ... Favorite flower
is a star gazer lily ... Married to Richard for 28 years and has two
children ... She and her husband are the only couple in the city to both
have been awarded the title Citizen of the Year ... Has a new puppy,
Sophie ... Last year’s ranking: 23
61) TIM SMITH, 42, Newport Beach ... Chief executive of Fountain
Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center ... Plans to expand the
hospital this year with more beds and the addition of a pediatric
oncology service ... Expanded the pediatric intensive care unit last year
... Member of the Huntington Beach Union High School District Educational
Foundation and the Orange County Cancer Education and Research Foundation
... Chaired a fund-raising committee for the American Heart Assn. ...
Mentors for the master’s program at UCLA ... Loves working with
health-care professionals who are committed to giving ... Went cliff
diving in Big Sur ... Makes great waffles ... Spent six months in New
Zealand ... Loves to golf, camp and see movies with his family ...
Favorite movies are “Life is Beautiful” and the “Star Wars” trilogy ...
Married to Jenean for 11 years and has two sons, Brad and Brian ... Pets:
a dog, a cat and a hamster ... Last year’s ranking: 53
62) TANYA GRIMES, 43, Huntington Beach ... Chief executive officer of
the Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley ... Oversees programs that
serve 1,500 children daily ... Opened computer labs at all three club
sites ... Developed teen centers for two of the sites ... Planning to
expand the preschool and kindergarten and buy a new bus ... Serves on the
Council of Affiliated Agencies for the United Way and the National Task
Force on Diversity for the Boys & Girls Club of America ... Helped open
the Kingston branch of the club in Fountain Valley three years ago ...
Was the first employee of the Girls & Boys Club of Fountain Valley and
Huntington Beach ... Member of the Huntington Beach Sunrise Rotary Club
... Enjoys hiking, skiing and any time she can spend with her two teenage
children ... Has a Dalmatian, Spot, and a bichon, Fuzzy ... Last year’s
ranking: 56
63) KELLY PAINTER, 51, Fountain Valley ... A literature, language arts
and physical education teacher at Marine View Middle School in Huntington
Beach ... The district sports coordinator for the Ocean View School
District for seven years running ... A member of the Parent Leadership
Team for the Fountain Valley School District ... An organizing committee
member for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, an all-night
event to be held June 9 and June 10 at Golden West College ... Has guided
Marine View to the seven consecutive Ocean View School District
championships ... Has helped lead the Mariners to the past seven Olympus
trophies (both boys’ and girls’ divisions), awarded annually to the top
overall junior high sports program in the district ... A racquetball nut
... Married, three children ... Last year’s ranking: 57
64) DEBBIE COOK, 46, Huntington Beach ... Member of the Bolsa Chica
Land Trust ... As an attorney for the trust, won court case in 1999
protecting a 6.5-acre eucalyptus grove on the Bolsa Chica mesa from
development ... Says biggest new fight for the mesa is the Ducheny bill,
which would change wetland development laws ... Board member of
Huntington Beach Tomorrow ... Practices environmental law ... Is
remodeling her house ... Likes sewing, hiking and gardening ... Loves
taking care of her sweet peas ... Married to John Fisher and has one son
... is planning to travel to Europe this summer to celebrate her 25th
wedding anniversary ... Last year’s ranking: 9
65) DIANE BAKER, 50-something, Newport Coast ... President of the
Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau ... Though she doesn’t
live locally, she’s one of Surf City’s biggest cheerleaders ... Working
hard to make Huntington Beach into a tourist destination ... Excited
about new development projects Downtown ... Full of boundless energy and
enthusiasm ... A member of the Orange County Tourism Council ... Has
three grown daughters ... Last year’s ranking: 29
66) ED AND SANDI LAIRD, 57 and 52, respectively, Huntington Beach ...
He owns Coatings Resource Corp. ... Won statewide small-business award
... Serves as Bolsa Chica Conservancy’s chairman ... Orange County
Business Council vice chairman ... Recently resigned from the city’s
Planning Commission to spend more time with Sandi, who is battling cancer
... She is one of the city’s most dedicated fund-raisers ... Involved in
organizing annual Duck-A-Thon, benefiting the Huntington Beach Community
Clinic ... Also does fund-raising for Project Self-Sufficiency ... They
have three grown sons ... Ed’s last year’s ranking: 91
67) BETSY CRIMI, 60, Huntington Beach ... Human service coordinator
for Huntington Beach Senior Outreach Program for 16 years ... Coordinates
services for seniors, such as meals and transportation ... Oversees meals
for 150 seniors daily ... Working to improve the transportation system
for seniors ... Co-host of the Golden Wave, a cable show on senior issues
... Helps people with loss and bereavement, and with preparation for
death ... Used to be a religious education director at Sts. Simon and
Jude... Was an elementary school teacher ... Will be spending four days
in Cabo San Lucas next month ... Enjoys golf, walking and entertaining in
her new condo ... Has a daughter and a son... Has a Shih Tzu ... Last
year’s ranking: 64
68) GARY GORMAN and GREG HICKMAN, 54 and 51, Huntington Beach and
Costa Mesa... Facilities manager and wildlife care director,
respectively, of the Wetlands Wildlife Care Center... The center applied
for state funding to construct an educational center, an informational
center and a wildlife hospital ... They applied for a permit to care for
mammals ... Received a grant from the California State Conservancy to
purchase an 18.5-acre piece of land where the center sits ... Gorman was
active in the restoration of the 46 acres of the San Joaquin Marsh ...
Hickman serves on the boards of the Balboa Angling Club and the Los
Pescadores Fishing Club ... Last year’s ranking: 61
69) LARRY CRANDALL, 50, Fountain Valley ... Newest member of the
Fountain Valley City Council, having just finished his first year ...
Serves on the Orange County Republican Central Committee ... Works as a
senior investigator for the county ... Serves on the Business Advisory
Committee for the Fountain Valley School District... Supports the DARE
program and even went through a session, earning a B on his essay ...
Volunteers for the Southern California Special Olympics ... Member of the
Chamber of Commerce and Friends of the Library ... Served in the Air
Force for more than three years and spent a year in Thailand during the
Vietnam War ... Was a flight instructor and chief pilot for a plane
manufacturing company ... Crash landed a plane on a mountain after it
lost its engine and lived to tell the story ... Enjoys going on walks
with his wife ... Watches a lot of movies ... Married to Sandra for five
years ... Has three children ... Last year’s ranking: 60
70) BARBARA JOHNSON, 43, Newport Beach ... Former president of the
Huntington Beach Union High School District board ... Donated Broadcom
stock to Huntington Beach High School’s Take the Plunge campaign and
Fountain Valley Regional Center ... Leader in the effort to recall former
Fountain Valley Councilman Jim Petrikin ... Educational consultant ...
Enjoys jazz festivals, tennis and reading ... Married for eight years to
Tom ... Three sons ... In Egypt right now ... Last year’s ranking: 68
71) MARK McGWIRE, 36, Huntington Harbour ... Major League Baseball’s
single-season home run leader calls Surf City home during the off-season
... Followed his epic season of 70 home runs in 1998 (in which he
supplanted the legendary Roger Maris as the major league’s single-season
home run leader) with 65 dingers in 1999 ... The only player in major
league history to hit his 400th and 500th home runs in successive seasons
... Could challenge Hank Aaron’s career home run record this season ...
Wears No. 25 for the St. Louis Cardinals ... Created the Mark McGwire
Foundation for Children in 1999 ... Chose Huntington Beach as the site
for Inspiration Field, which was dedicated on March 4 at Huntington
Valley Little League ... The field was made possible by a generous grant
from the Major League Baseball Players Trust for Children ... Last year’s
ranking: 74
72) TONY GONZALEZ, 24, Seal Beach ... Two-sport (football, basketball)
All-CIF athlete out of Huntington Beach High School, who is now in his
third year of playing with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs ... Was the
Chiefs’ starting tight end for the second consecutive season ... Led the
team in receptions with 76 and touchdowns receptions with 11 ... Those
numbers made him the No. 1 tight end in the league in 1999 ... His 76
receptions are the second most in a single season in Chiefs’ history ...
The 11 touchdown catches tie him for second-best among all Chiefs, past
and present ... Caught a touchdown pass in January’s Pro Bowl at Aloha
Stadium, which he punctuated by slam dunking the ball over the goal post
... Auditioned last off-season for a part in the Oliver Stone film “Any
Given Sunday” ... Formed the Tony Gonzalez Foundation, which supports the
Shadow Buddies Program, as well as the Boys & Girls Clubs ... Last year’s
ranking: 82
73) JOYCE RIDDELL, 50-something, Huntington Beach ... President of the
Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce ... Honored with Woman of
Distinction Award from the Soroptomist Clube this year ...Hard-working
and dedicated ... Knows everything there is to know about business in
Huntington Beach ... A great liaison with city officials and the media
... Has great hopes for Surf City, with the Waterfront hotel expansion
and other development projects in the city’s future ... An elder at St.
Peter’s Presbyterian Church ... Last year’s ranking: 71
74) BOB WINCHELL, 79, Huntington Beach ... A driving force in
preservation efforts ... Longtime member of Huntington Beach Tomorrow ...
Member of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust ... Serves on the city’s Investment
Advisory Committee ... Likes Tom Clancy novels ... Last year’s ranking:
55
75) RICK FUGNETTI, 43, Huntington Beach ... Popularly known as
“Rockin’ Fig, Surfologist” ... owner of Main Street surf shop for the
past 10 years ... Announcer for biggest local surfing event, the Gotcha
Pro ... Gives the lowdown on surf and ski conditions weekdays at 7:30
a.m. on KROQ-FM (106.7) ... Voice-over for “Surf the Planet” on Fox
Sports channel ... Donates free surfing lessons to the Boys & Girls Club
of Huntington Valley, where his wife, Joanie, works ... Just bought a new
home that he plans to renovate with a Tiki hut in the backyard ... Last
year’s ranking: 13
76) MARK ECKER, 55, Fountain Valley ... Superintendent of the Fountain
Valley School District, which had the second-highest Orange County score
on the Academic Performance Index this year ... Organizational activities
include Orange County Jewish Federation Board of Directors, American
Cancer Society, counselor for Boy Scouts of America ... Started his
career in Los Alamitos ... served as a principal in the Fountain Valley
School District before moving into administration ... Says he enjoys the
marketing and public relations side of the education business ... Helped
the district reconfigure from junior highs to middle schools ... Has
established positive relations between the district, and business and
community interests ... Enjoys sports, plays racquetball, golf, spectator
of college basketball and baseball ... Loves to read historical fiction
and U.S., British and classic literature ... Enjoys jazz and classical
music ... Last year’s ranking: 41
77) BRIAN GARLAND, 59, Huntington Beach ... Huntington Beach High
School District trustee for 20 years ... Principal of Edison High School
for 12 years ... Is ranking principal in Huntington Beach Union High
School District ... Edison was first in the district to get a Digital
High School grant ... Won California High School Principal of the Year
award in 1995 from President Bill Clinton ... Born in Chicago, Ill. ...
Married to Elaine, a special education teacher ... One daughter, one son
and three grandchildren ... Likes to collect books on Native Americans
and natural history ... Also likes to collect antiques ... Rides a BMW
1000 motorcycle ... Has been riding motorcycles since he was 14 ... Last
year’s ranking: 73
78) JIM HARLAN, 54, Davis ... Works in Huntington Beach ... Head of
the West Orange County United Teachers Union since 1989 ... Handles employee relations on working conditions ... Acts as a buffer between the
teachers and the districts ... Now bargaining a contract with Huntington
Beach City School District ... Worked as a teacher for 18 years ... Wife,
Marie, works for Legislature in Sacramento ... Has one son ... Served 18
months in Vietnam with Army with 101st Airborne ... Avid white-water
rafter ... Enjoys fishing and traveling, especially cruises ... Just took
a trip through the Panama Canal ... Last year’s ranking: 83
79) DAVE BARR, 56, Placentia ... Director of Criminal Justice Training
Center at Golden West College ... Spent 32 years in law enforcement and
was La Palma’s police chief before retiring in 1997 ... Says character,
trust, respect, and an interest in fairness and justice are important
qualities for police officers ... Adjunct faculty member at Fullerton
College since 1975 ... Married to Edda ... Has two sons, two daughters,
two grandchildren and one on the way ... Member of the board of directors
for the Alliance for the Mentally Ill ... Enjoys traveling in his motor
home, playing golf and playing with his grandchildren ... Last year’s
ranking: 87
80) MARTIN SENAT, 71, Huntington Beach ... President of Save Dog
Beach, a campaign that saw success when the Community Services Commission
gave the mile-long stretch of coastline permanent status ... Retired from
working with the Defense Department ... Breeds Australian shepherds in
Oregon ... Also rehabilitates dogs from the animal shelter ... An English
native who saw the sunshine in California 38 years ago and decided to
stay ... Three daughters ... Enjoys horseback riding and golf ... Spends
a lot of time on the beach ... Last year’s ranking: 89
81) KAREN PEDERSEN, 56, Huntington Beach ... Heavily involved with
Fourth of July parade ... Puts in at least 800 hours every year helping
with the event ... Is parade fireworks chair ... Also is helping to plan
a concert for the holiday ... Has attended every Fourth of July parade
since she was a child ... Favorite part of parade: Pearl Harbor survivors
marching ... Plans to reopen family business,
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