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.”
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