One latecomer increases Newport candidate list
June Casagrande
Every candidate who has made public his or her intention to run
for City Council -- plus a latecomer -- have all met the first
deadline for getting on the ballot.
Marianne Zippi is the last to get on the list of aspirants for the
November council race. Like Greenlight-endorsed Madelene Arakelian,
she will contest incumbent Tod Ridgeway to represent District 1.
Shaping up as potentially one of the most interesting contests,
Allan Beek and Don Webb will compete for the District 3 seat that
will be vacated by Norma Glover because of term limits. Webb is the
city’s former Public Works director who enjoys name recognition and
support based on his tenured service to the city. Beek is a member of
one of Newport Beach’s founding families and has a long list of
public service accomplishments to his credit. Beek is endorsed by
Greenlighters, whose leaders paint Webb as a candidate more
supportive of new development in the city.
In District 4, incumbent Gary Adams will defend his seat against
Rick Taylor and Ron Winship. Taylor is a longtime participant in the
Airport Working Group who has won endorsement of Greenlighters
despite his ties to Airport Working Group member Dave Ellis, who is
also a campaign consultant for Adams, Ridgeway and others who oppose
Greenlight’s controls on development.
Winship is running for the seat for the fourth time. In the last
election, Adams beat Winship with 85% of the vote. In 1994, Winship
was declared the winner but lost in the final vote count.
In District 6, Laura Berkhart Dietz, Dick Nichols, Bernie Svalstad
will vie for the seat that Dennis O’Neil will vacate because of term
limits.
Dietz is a former professional lobbyist who has been active in
community volunteer work. Nichols is a businessman who has won
Greenlight’s endorsement. Svalstad, a Fountain Valley city councilman
from 1969 to 1980, has been a Newport Beach resident for about 20
years.
Friday was the final deadline for candidates to file papers with
the city clerk’s office.
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