It’s been a rough ride for Silver

There was likely never a dull moment in Ray Silver’s six-year stint

as city administrator of Huntington Beach. The vertically challenged,

balding city official, who has announced his intent to retire in

July, often jokes that he was 6-foot and blond when he took the job.

He certainly has been thrown more than one curve ball in his tenure.

Leading a city is never an easy job and Huntington Beach seems to

pose more challenges than other municipalities.

Huntington Beach, for example, seems to be a magnet for lawsuits.

Silver has had to balance the city’s budget during a post-Sept.

11, 2001 recession and in the wake of severe budget cuts. The city,

along with all of California, also dealt with a major power crisis.

During his leadership the city has faced some big obstacles and

debacles.

During his reign a City Councilman was investigated, stepped down,

was indicted and eventually was convicted of one felony and 15

misdemeanor conflict of interest charges.

Councilwoman and former Mayor Pam Julien Houchen, on behalf of the

city, pleaded guilty to three criminal counts in connection with

widespread sewer leaks during the 1990s.

Most of Surf City’s beaches were closed down for an entire summer

due to high bacteria levels.

Plans to revitalize Downtown were made, challenged and made again.

A battle has continued to rage over the Bolsa Chica wetlands,

pitting developers against environmentalist -- a fight that has

shaped the City Council and local politics.

An anti-business sentiment has gripped the city.

The list goes on and on -- the stalled cleanup of the old gun

range, bickering over the dog park, a failed attempt at prohibiting

banner-towing planes.

That is why, although Silver did a fine job of keeping this city

afloat for the past six years Huntington Beach, his replacement needs

to be a person of vision.

The next city administrator needs to be someone who will lead the

City Council with a strong hand, a clear vision for the future and a

level head.

Surf City needs a leader who will see the renovation of Huntington

Center Mall through. Someone who will lead the charge in revitalizing

Downtown, creating a pedestrian walkway if that is what is needed and

convince the council that a city must change with the times while

retaining its charm to survive.

The city needs someone who can put the final stamp on the

long-running battle over the Bolsa Chica wetlands and mesa.

Ray Silver should be thanked for all he did for this town.

But the city also needs his help to find the best possible person

to replace him. That person may need to come from the outside, but

either way Huntington Beach needs a visionary, who can see the path

it will take to be a world-class city for residents and business

alike.