Experience counts in Corona del Mar

The Daily Pilot endorsement of one of my opponents without so much

as a courteous mention of my name was disappointing (“Pilot picks for

Newport races,” Oct. 20).

On the one hand, people who are involved in the city through

official city committees, etc., know my name and have come to know

me, unlike my opponent, Bernie Svalstad. When his name first appeared

as a candidate, everyone active in city affairs said, “Who?” The

reason is quite simple. All of his “community” efforts, as listed in

his brochure, are commendable, but were primarily in Fountain Valley

in the 1970s. In fact, he was part of a recall effort of three

Fountain Valley councilmen in 1969 over the sale of a tract to a

developer. Svalstad was one of three candidates who replaced the

three councilmen automatically when the recall was successful. His

“three terms” on the Fountain Valley City Council in his campaign

literature were actually “seven months” and two terms.

Does the Daily Pilot mean that my experience in understanding the

issues in this community, knowing the people who make the decisions,

etc. count for nothing? Working in my own residents association, the

Corona del Mar Residents Assn., the Environmental Quality Committee

and the General Plan Advisory Committee in Newport Beach are

inconsequential? Does my experience as a lobbyist for manufacturers

in state agencies and legislatures count for nothing? Does my

experience in a congressional office count for nothing? Does my work

on behalf of Republican candidates over the years have no value?

I appreciate Svalstad’s previous public service in Fountain

Valley, but this is Newport Beach. Expectations are exceedingly high.

Moreover, in the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce interview of me,

Svalstad, and Dick Nichols, I was the only one who noticed that

Svalstad understated the city budget by $22 million, and that his

traffic plan was based on Fountain Valley, Tustin, etc., experience.

To compare traffic patterns in those communities with the unique

characteristics of Newport Beach is perplexing.

Svalstad has worked exceedingly hard for endorsements from the

Republican establishment as far away as Fullerton’s congressman.

While Svalstad’s mentioning of photos of himself with Pat Robertson,

Newt Gingrich and John Wayne are a testament to his being “in

government all my life,” neither he nor Nichols, my other opponent,

are, with all due respect, the future of this community’s leadership.

Similarly, both my opponents are on slates. I, on the other hand,

have chosen to run for City Council based on who I am and what I have

done, not on the coattails of others.

LAURA DIETZ

Corona del Mar

* Laura Dietz is one of three candidates for the Corona del Mar

seat on the Newport Beach City Council.