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.