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.