When Mayor Tod Ridgeway looks around...

When Mayor Tod Ridgeway looks around at Newport Beach, he’s proud

of what he sees. When he looks back on the last four years, he’s

proud of what he has done. And when he looks to the future, he’s

excited about the potential that Newport Beach can realize.

“We’ve gotten a lot done in the last four years,” Ridgeway said,

rattling off a long list of accomplishments he has helped bring

about.

Pier renovations are near the top of the list. In part under his

leadership, the city’s two piers have undergone the most extensive

cosmetic and structural improvements ever.

New street paving and sidewalks, the renovated Pacific Bell

building facade, moving utility lines underground and the just-begun

Phase II of Balboa Village renovations are also accomplishments that

bring Ridgeway pride.

But there’s more to be done, he said.

“Securing the John Wayne extension agreement is of the highest

importance,” said Ridgeway, a 29-year Newport Beach resident and

father of three. “If we do our job correctly now, it will not even be

an issue for any new council member.”

Also high on Ridgeway’s list of city priorities is ensuring the

highest possible level of citizen participation in the city’s General

Plan update process and ensuring that the revised plan protects the

interests of residents and the future of the city.

Water quality is crucial to the city, as well, he said, citing his

service on the Orange County Sanitation District Board of Directors,

as chair of the city’s water-quality committee, his role in requiring

secondary treatment of wastewater released offshore and other roles

he has played in protecting the ocean and harbor.

“And I’m very proud of our effort to clean the Back Bay,” he said,

noting the city’s work with multiple jurisdictions and researchers to

find the source of bacteria in the Back Bay.

Controlling the traffic, noise and regulation of charter boats is

an emerging priority, said Ridgeway, who has been endorsed by the

Newport Beach Police and Firefighters Union.

When he looks to the future, Ridgeway said that revitalization of

places such as the peninsula and Lido Village could make Newport

Beach an even better place.

“We always have to be careful about weighing property rights

against other issues,” Ridgeway said. “But there’s a lot that we can

do to continue to protect and improve the quality of life in Newport

Beach.”