Council takes a step to the right

Barbara Diamond

The election Tuesday of incumbents Toni Iseman and Steven Dicterow

and former planning commissioner Elizabeth Pearson moved the City

Council to the right, putting it squarely in the middle of the road,

according to some political pundits, but a little over the edge,

according to other folks.

Iseman, the top vote-getter in the preliminary count, will soon to

be the only council member never to have been endorsed by the Laguna

Beach Taxpayers Assn. and the council’s only Democrat when Paul

Freeman retires from public office in December.

“The average voter looks for guidance and in this election, they

looked to the taxpayers,” political activist Frank Ricchiazzi said.

“When you look at who the taxpayers endorsed and who Village Laguna

endorsed, it is obvious who is more in touch with the mainstream

voters.

“I really and truly wanted Elizabeth on the council,” he said. “I

supported her two years ago and I have never wavered. She and Cheryl

and Steve will work well together.

“Clearly, this moves the council more to the middle. I think what

you will see is a council with more concern about our tax dollars and

where they spend it.”

Ricchiazzi opined that had O’Neal joined with Dicterow and Pearson

as a slate, she would have won.

“The election results don’t repudiate Toni Iseman’s philosophy or

ideas,” former Mayor Ann Christoph said. “To me, it means name

recognition counts for 95%. But I do think we can expect a shift to

the right.

“There are a couple of Elizabeth’s positions that I don’t agree

with, such as easier requirements for applicants at Design Review

Board meetings,” she said.

However, no candidate had a mandate in this election. It was one

of the closest in Laguna’s history. Only 329 votes separated Iseman

from O’Neal in the tally announced Wednesday.

Past experience shows that sitting on the council gives one a

different perspective than when running for office. Preconceived

notions about staff or procedures can undergo change. And practical

matters, such as a budget depleted by disaster or state depredations

can revise a council member’s wish list in a hurry.

“No matter who gets on the council, they are faced with

constraints and difficulties and their positions become more

moderate,” Christoph said.

Despite philosophical differences, there was consensus among the

candidates on numerous issues.

All of the winners, as well as fourth-place finisher Melissa

O’Neal, campaigned on a reduction of pollution on city shores and

traffic congestion.

They all supported improvements in infrastructure and preservation

of neighborhood character.

“I think that the implementation of the downtown parking and

traffic study will be a main focus of the new council,” said planning

commissioner Norm Grossman, who directed Dicterow’s bid for a third

consecutive term on the council. “It affects all the capital projects

in town.

“But I expect it will take the council awhile to find its voice.

The situation with [Mayor Wayne Baglin] will make it more difficult.”

Baglin was indicted Oct. 31 for an alleged violation of State

Government Code 1090, which prohibits an elected official from

financially benefiting from a contract with the city, a felony.

Baglin accepted a commission from property owners in a sale of two

parcels on Third Street to the city. He has denied any criminal

activity.

“The council will be able to handle the situation,” said Bette

Anderson, Village Laguna president.

She also commended the candidates for running clean campaigns.

“The election was very low key,” she said. “It was very civil, not

a lot of mudslinging. That’s good.”

Dicterow said the civility may have accounted for the closeness of

the vote.

“Everything was positive and upbeat, and that’s good,” Ricchiazzi

said.