No big waves at first candidates forum

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Sitting in a sun-drenched courtyard on Little Balboa

Island, their speeches frequently interrupted by airplanes flying

overhead, six of the nine city council candidates in the November

election introduced themselves to about 50 residents Saturday and

discussed their positions on the city’s most pressing issues.

“This might be a very boring campaign race,” said Dennis Lahey, a

candidate for District 2. “We all seem to be agreeing on a lot of

things.”

But when the candidates addressed measures S and T, the two opposing

traffic and growth control measures on the November ballot, differing

opinions emerged.

Robert Schoonmaker, running for District 5, presented himself as the

only firm supporter of Measure S, also known as the Greenlight measure,

which proposes to bring major developments before a citywide vote.

Measure T would add the city’s existing traffic ordinance to the city

charter and nullify Measure S should voters approve both measures.

One of his opponents said he’d rather focus on improving traffic

control measures already in place.

Measure S “is not the way to go,” said Steve Bromberg. Measure T

“isn’t great, either. There’s a third way -- the Traffic Phasing

Ordinance. We have it. Let’s fix it and work with that.”

In the District 2 race, Lahey said he’d support Measure S if residents

passed it, but would still lobby for developments that made economic

sense to him.

Steven Rosansky said he’d rather focus on overhauling the city’s

general plan.

Councilman Tom Thomson, who is seeking a second term representing

District 7, said he’d like to renew residents’ trust in the City Council.

“I think we need to empower the council to do their job and do it

right,” he said.

Robert Wynn, a supporter of Measure T and Thomson’s opponent in the

race, said several special elections per year as a result of Measure S

would create divisiveness among citizens.

All candidates said they hope to build greater consensus on the

council and encourage better relationships between city officials and

residents.

Most said it was unclear whether Newport Beach would succeed in

bringing an international airport to the former El Toro Marine Corps

Station against protests from South County residents.

But all agreed the city needs to work with the Orange County Board of

Supervisors to extend flight limitations on John Wayne Airport. Those

limitations will expire in 2005.

Some in the audience said they expect clearer answers from candidates

in the coming weeks.

“To me, that was just a warming up,” said Jackie Pirkle, who lives on

Balboa Island. “There was not enough information. I need to go to more

meetings.”

Saturday’s event was hosted by the Little Balboa Island Property

Owners Assn., which traditional holds the first forum of each political

season. The group expects to hold several additional forums before the

election.

Rosansky and Lahey both seek to fill the council seat vacated by

Councilwoman Jan Debay. Gary Proctor, a third candidate running for the

same post, did not attend the meeting.

Bromberg and Schoonmaker hope to replace Mayor John E. Noyes on the

council. Patricia M. Beek, also campaigning for the position, did not

attend the event.

Thomson and Wynn will run against John Heffernan, also absent from the

forum.