Gov.-elect taps Newport mayor for task force

June Casagrande

A new task force created by Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to draft

a statewide water policy includes an appointee familiar to locals.

Newport Beach Mayor Steve Bromberg has been appointed to the new

Water Policy Advisory Task Force, a group of local and regional

water-quality advocates charged with drafting a comprehensive

statewide water plan for the new administration.

“I’m thrilled to be able to take part in something that could

shape policy for decades to come,” Bromberg said.

The task force held its first meeting in Sacramento on Friday,

with several members including Bromberg participating by conference

call. The 2 1/2-hour meeting laid the groundwork for the task force.

The group’s main focus is drinking water, Bromberg said, and most

of its initial discussion centered around Northern California issues

such as the CALFED Bay-Delta Project. But having a Newport Beach

voice on the task force has already made a difference. In the first

meeting, Bromberg was able to emphasize the importance of

recreational water quality.

Bob Caustin, founder of environmental group Defend the Bay, said

that Bromberg’s appointment will be a good thing for Newport and for

all Orange County.

“He will be influencing state policy to protect Newport Bay, for

its future,” Caustin said. “The problem has been in the past that we

haven’t had enough of that type of proactive involvement and we get

left out when new rules are created ... . You have to reach beyond

Orange County to protect our bay and the ocean.”

Bromberg said he’s not sure why he was asked to participate in the

task force, but said it may be because of his support for

Schwarzenegger in the campaign. After a sit-down meeting with the

then-candidate, Bromberg publicly endorsed Schwarzenegger for

governor.

* 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.