The names are in; now it’s decision time

We now know who wants to be the next Newport Beach City Councilman.

The list of seven men includes a few familiar names to voters and

some new ones: David Goff, Michael Kite, Dennis Lahey, Earl Miller,

Steven Rosansky, Gerald Scarboro and Merritt Van Sant. All want to

fill the vacancy created when Gary Proctor resigned his seat last

month.

Both Rosansky, who now serves as a parks commissioner, and Lahey

ran against Proctor in 2000, so we have an idea of what their

positions might be, though changes can happen over three years. Lahey

supported Greenlight in 2000, for instance, and named the cleanliness

and health of the harbor as a top priority. Rosansky did not support

the Greenlight measure in 2000, nor the competing Measure T (which

lost at the ballot box). He also urged protection of the harbor.

The other five are more unknown, though all have lived here at

least 14 years (Lahey’s 12-year residency is the shortest of the

hopefuls). The task of getting to know them well enough to choose one

to help run the city now falls to the city’s six remaining

councilmen. That job should be done in as open an environment as

possible so residents can monitor progress. A tentative idea to hold

a special council meeting to interview applicants is a good one.

Mayor Steve Bromberg has suggested that community service -- as an

indicator of their level of dedication to the city -- will be one

factor in the council’s decision. Others the councilmen should

consider are knowledge of harbor and water quality issues; fiscal

management; familiarity with citywide issues and concerns; and their

thoughts and opinions on one of West Newport’s most notable concerns:

the Fourth of July and excessive partying.

And then there are intangible qualities. Being a council member

requires a dedication of time and a heavy amount of patience. The

council should do its best to figure out who has the right

temperament for an often imposing position. The ability to work with

residents also must be a paramount consideration when the council

makes its decision.

The councilmen also need to remember that, while they are

appointing a man to serve out just more than a year of Proctor’s

term, they are giving that individual the benefits of incumbency

during the election next year. For that reason, above, all others, it

is important that city leaders carefully and fairly go through the

applications and decide which West Newport resident is the best for

the job.