EDITORIAL

For 33 years, Don Webb has been a fixture at Newport Beach’s City

Hall. Thursday, that decades-long tenure ended with a fitting tribute and

party for a man who, by unanimous accounts, was the very model of a

public employee: helpful, knowledgeable and resourceful.

He’s also known as quite the clothing model too -- yes, he’s the

flashy dresser you see if you’re at or watching council meetings.

And, of course, there’s Webb’s maypole dance to take note of. He’s

done it three times now for his wife’s 40th, 50th and 60th birthdays.

That merriment may sum up the public works director best of all.

As he worked his way up the ladder -- he started as an associate civil

engineer -- Webb has been instrumental in ensuring the city runs smoothly

and that the streets and sewers are problem-free. He also had a major

hand in 30 miles of bike trails throughout the city, the Back Bay Bridge

and the Pelican Wall along West Coast Highway. And on top of it all is

his work on the award-winning renovation of the Arches Bridge.

But before anyone worries that City Hall will be missing Webb’s lively

presence, remember: this retirement might not be the end of Webb’s time

in City Hall. He’s already said he’s interested in running for City

Council to replace Norma Glover, who will faces term limits next year.

Webb certainly knows how the city runs. But it will be up to the voters

to decide if they want him to put that knowledge to use.