Potential politicos eye open seats on council, school board

Kenneth Ma and Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- The election season is starting to sizzle in Surf

City with residents preparing to file for candidacy for a number of

vacant seats.

Thirteen Surf City residents have taken out nomination papers for

three City Council seats up for grabs in November.

Councilwoman Pam Julien said she plans to run for reelection, Tom

Harman will run for the 67th Assembly District seat on the Republican

ticket, and Dave Sullivan will vacate his seat because of term limits.

Among the potential candidates who will vie for the open seats are

former Councilman John Thomas, Planning Commission Chairman Gerald

Chapman, former Planning Commissioner Debbie Cook and local

environmentalist Connie J. Boardman.

Thomas did not comment on whether the felony charges filed against him

by the Orange County district attorney’s office last month for dumping

dredge or compost into the Bolsa Chica wetlands would affect his decision

to run.

However, the former councilman, who served from 1978 to 1986, said his

experience on the council and as a businessman makes him a well-qualified

candidate.

Some of the potential candidates cited the need to reestablish

credibility in local government as a reason to consider running for

public office.

“I think it is really important to elect candidates that will listen

and take the interest of people at heart instead of outside special

interests,” said Boardman, a professor of biology at Cerritos College.

Cook agreed, saying that many members of the City Council are not

closely scrutinizing the issues -- especially that of Mayor Dave

Garofalo’s alleged conflicts of interest.

Cook, a local environmental attorney, has filed complaints against

Garofalo with the Fair Political Practices Commission, the Orange County

Grand Jury and the district attorney’s office.

“I am amazed they are not saying anything,” said Cook, who served on

the Planning Commission from 1993 to 1994. “There needs to be someone in

there that is concerned about that kind of issue. It has been my opinion

that you have to look beyond what you are told.”

Other potential candidates include Lou J. Baker, Bill Borden, Gil

Coerper, Chuck Downing, J. Devin Dwyer, Steve J. Garcia, Diane Lenning,

Norman Westwell and James A. Young.

Official declarations for candidacy must be filed with the Huntington

Beach city clerk’s office by Aug. 11. City Clerk Connie Brockway said she

will extend the deadline to Aug. 16 if incumbents Julien and Harman do

not file by the first deadline. The extension is part of the city’s

policy to give incumbents time to file, Brockway said

In addition to the three available council seats, voters will also

select a city clerk and city treasurer.

On the school side, seats are open in three districts in Surf City.

Catherine McGough and Brian Rechsteiner plan to run for reelection for

the Huntington Beach City School District board.

In the Huntington Beach Union High School District, seats occupied by

Bonnie Bruce and Michael Simons are up for grabs. Bruce has said she will

not run for another term. However, Simons and retired teacher Richard

Plum have both pulled papers for candidacy.

Ocean View School District incumbents Peg Edey and Linda Kovach will

seek reelection. Barbara Boskovich may also run.

“I love my job,” Edey said. “I will try very had to keep my seat.”

Candidates have from now until Aug. 11 to submit their declaration for

candidacy to the Orange County office of the registrar.