Balboa community seeking candidates

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Mayor John Noyes’ surprise announcement that he will not

run for a second term has left the community scrambling to find a

suitable candidate for the City Council seat.

Noyes, who represents Balboa Island, did not offer any explanation for

his decision at Tuesday night’s council meeting, saying “it’s too

complicated.”

While the names of Balboa Island community leaders -- in particular,

Steve Bromberg and Jack Callahan -- have surfaced, no one has made a

formal bid for the council seat. Potential candidates can begin to pull

papers from the City Clerk’s office in July.

Noyes, who owns and operates John Noyes Jewelry and Island Home

Furnishings on Balboa Island, was elected to the council in 1996. He was

appointed by his council colleagues as mayor in 1999.

Bromberg, Noyes’ former campaign manager, said since Tuesday night,

residents have heavily encouraged him to run in November’s municipal

election.

Bromberg was a major force in establishing the Balboa Island Theater

Foundation and the island’s Business Improvement District. He is also a

member of Newport’s Civil Service Board.

“I’ve received calls from dozens of people encouraging me to run,” said

Bromberg, who since the 1996 campaign has parted ways with Noyes.

While flattered by his neighbors’ enthusiasm, Bromberg said he has yet to

make a decision.

One of his biggest supporters may become his rival in the race.

Callahan, another prominent community leader, is also considering the

idea of running for the seat. The two are friends and have been

encouraging each other to run for City Council.

Callahan moved back to the area five years ago and has since become very

active on the island. He is both president of the Balboa Island

Improvement Assn. and vice president of the Balboa Island Business Assn.

He will, however, have to move into the district from Costa Mesa in order

to put his hat in the ring. It’s a move he’s been wanting to make for

some time, he said.

“Can I make a difference?,” said Callahan, adding that he’s been weighing

the question against his reluctance to become involved in the politics of

running for City Council.