Proctor to step down
June Casagrande
City Councilman Gary Proctor will step down from his 2nd District
seat at the end of this month.
Proctor used the occasion of his 20-year anniversary in public
service as an exit cue, noting that the airport issues that fueled
his public service career are no longer as relevant to the council.
“With my background in airport issues as an attorney, a pilot, a
member of the Airport Commission and the Citizens Advisory Commission
to oversee the reuse of El Toro, I ran and was elected to the Newport
Beach City Council in November 2000,” Proctor wrote in his
resignation.
“I sought to use that expertise on what were then front-burner
issues relating to air transportation and the potential negative
consequences to Newport Beach of meeting all air transportation and
the potential negative consequences to Newport Beach of meeting all
air transportation needs solely at JWA,” he wrote.
“The current status of El Toro and JWA are much less fluid now
than they were over the last five years, and thus my expertise in
those arenas is less relevant now to the city as a whole,” Proctor
wrote.
The City Council has until the end of October to appoint a
replacement, according to the city charter, or else a special
election must be held. The council could hold a special session or
begin a regular council meeting earlier than usual to make time to
interview applicants hoping to represent West Newport Beach through
the end of Proctor’s term, which expires in November 2004.
Proctor, who practices law in Newport Beach and San Jose, has been
accused of spending too much time out of town to effectively
represent his constituents. He was absent from council meetings on
July 22, Aug. 12 and Aug. 26 because he was on an extended vacation.
Proctor’s public service began 20 years ago when he was appointed
to the Orange County Airport Commission. He has also served on the
Citizens Advisory Commission to oversee the reuse of El Toro and in
other airport-related positions. His resignation from the council is
effective Sept. 30. Proctor could not be reached Wednesday for
comment.
“Gary was our built-in expert on airport issues,” Mayor Steve
Bromberg said. “He made a great contribution to the El Toro fight as
well as his efforts with the John Wayne Settlement Agreement.
“I recognize that’s he’s doing what’s best for him, and I have all
the respect for him for doing that, and I wish him the very best,”
Bromberg said. “I will miss him.”
* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She
may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at
june.casagrande@latimes.com.
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