EDITORIAL

A year ago, Newport Beach was a city in turmoil.

The seven members of the City Council were a divided bunch. Even

worse, residents of the city felt the council was doing little to benefit

them -- a sentiment dramatically demonstrated as one councilman lost his

reelection bid and the voters overwhelmingly approved the slow-growth

Greenlight initiative.

Into that mess walked Councilman Gary Adams, who took over as mayor

and provided a steady leadership to the city during the past 12 months.

Now, while there has not been a complete turnaround in that time, it is

safe to say the Newport Beach City Hall atmosphere is calmer, friendlier

and more open to residents.

Into this happier situation comes Councilman Tod Ridgeway, who was

promoted to mayor last week by his colleagues. And though the situation

may not be so critical, there remain a number of issues that will require

solid leadership.

There is the Newport Coast annexation, which has turned out to be

trickier than expected thanks to a small group of Coast residents unhappy

with how the process has gone. There is the annexation of both Santa Ana

Heights and Bay Knolls still to contend with. There is a project that

should be close to Balboa Peninsula resident’s heart: the nearly

$9-million renovation of Balboa Village.

Then let’s not forget the John Wayne settlement extension.

Ridgeway’s self-announced list includes affordable housing, managed

growth and water quality, all three extremely important issues for

Newport Beach and its future.

By managed growth, of course, Ridgeway can only mean the continuing

influence of the Greenlight initiative. And given last month’s expected

-- though no less dramatic -- repudiation of the Koll Center expansion by

Newport Beach voters, it is clear that growth and Greenlight will remain

the No. 1 issue in the city. That rejection is also a sign that the

council needs to continue to foster more intimate ties with residents.

It is now Mayor Ridgeway’s responsibility to handle these disparate

challenges. We expect him to more than rise to the occasion.