Kranzley leaves commission, city for the East Coast

June Casagrande

City officials are searching for a planning commissioner to

complete Mike Kranzley’s term as colleagues note that the new person

will have some big shoes to fill.

“Mike did a terrific job, and we’ll really miss him,” Planning

Commissioner Larry Tucker said. “He had his ear to the ground and

knew what was going on in the community. He brought a lot of

experience and maturity to the deliberations.”

Kranzley stepped down last month after 7 1/2 years on the commission to take a job in Boston as a securities trader with

investment firm Baupost.

“It was just a great opportunity that I had to weigh against

staying in Newport Beach,” said Kranzley, a 22-year Newport Beach

resident. Kranzley said he has bought a home in the Wellesley suburb

of Boston, where he will live with his wife and son.

Among the Newport Beach events he said he’ll miss being a part of,

the general plan update and local coastal plan processes rank high on

the list.

“I really enjoyed the general plan process as I was going through

it,” he said. “Also the local coastal plan update. Both of those are

really, really important to the future of Newport and enjoyable

processes.”

Kranzley ran against Mayor Tod Ridgeway for City Council four

years ago. Kranzley’s four-year term on the Planning Commission was

set to end in January 2005. A council subcommittee is now

interviewing prospective replacements.

It is expected that they will name two nominees at Tuesday’s City

Council meeting and select from the nominees at the Sept. 10 council

meeting. If the nomination process goes smoothly, a new commissioner

will be on board for the Sept. 19 commission meeting.

Those who admired Kranzley hope the new person will be half as

good to work with.

“He was very dedicated and enthusiastic about working on a vision

for the city that would be comfortable for businesses and residents,”

said Planning Commissioner Anne Gifford, the only commissioner with

more tenure than Kranzley. “And he was wonderfully collegial.”