Ready for a new role

Jose Paul Corona

It’s hard to believe that Cathy Green has time to breathe, let

alone serve on the Huntington Beach City Council.

The new councilwoman is on the board of five local organizations.

She was a founding member of Amigos de Bolsa Chica and has been

awarded the Huntington Beach Citizen of the Year Award by the

Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Green’s wide array of community activities is what will make her a

good councilwoman, said Adrianne Morrisson, director of the Bolsa

Chica Conservancy.

“That’s what I like about her, is that she’s so broad based, she’s

given so much to the community,” Morrisson said. “I think she’ll have

an understanding of the needs of the community.”

While she still plans on being involved with the various

organizations, Green said she may have to step down from some boards

to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest.

“It’s probably best for all of us,” she said.

She essentially steps into a role vacated by husband, former

Councilman Peter Green. It’s an office that she never expected to run

for, she said.

“That was Peter’s domain,” she said. “But I was always

interested.”

Still, she sees it as a “natural extension” of her past civic

work.

Like many of her counterparts, Green is most concerned with the

city’s fiscal state. The city’s budget crisis will take up much of

the council’s time during the next year.

All of the council members will be forced to make tough decisions,

she said.

“The cuts are going to be really tough,” Green said. “You can’t

cut anymore. We’re at bone now.”

If residents’ quality of life is going to remain the same, the

city must attract business to the area, Green said.

“If we get the quality businesses then that will bring people to

the city,” Green said.

By bringing more visitors to the city, Surf City can become a

tourist destination and the money generated by tourism will help the

city overall, she said.

“It certainly won’t be the old hometown, and that’s what people

are complaining about,” Green said. “[But] we’ve always shared the

city.”