Former mayor eyeing return

June Casagrande

Tod Ridgeway is heir apparent to be mayor but the next vice mayor

isn’t as easy to guess.

At their final meeting of the year on Tuesday, council members

will select a new mayor and vice mayor, and also play their annual

game of musical chairs, in which council members can select new seats

if they want to.

As is usually the case, some behind-the-scenes activity offers a

glimpse into the question of who will fill these two posts. Ridgeway,

who is now vice mayor, said he has been approaching colleagues asking

them to support him for mayor. Present Mayor Steve Bromberg has not

been seeking colleagues’ support for either job.

“I haven’t been lobbying,” said Bromberg, whose term as mayor ends

Tuesday. “If they ask me to do it I’ll do it. That said, I could use

a vacation.”

Instead, Bromberg said he approached John Heffernan to offer his

support for his colleague as vice mayor. But Heffernan isn’t sure

whether he wants the job.

“I’m talking to people this week, asking if they think that out of

the logical candidates I’d be someone who would do a good job at it,”

Heffernan said. “For me it’s a question of who would be best for the

job. I didn’t get on this council to put a plaque on the wall.”

Council insiders also said that Gary Adams might seek the vice

mayor slot. Adams was out of the country on Tuesday and could not be

reached to comment.

Ridgeway became vice mayor last year immediately after serving as

mayor for a year. Among the reasons he wants to take back the helm is

because he believes his regional government experience could help the

city further pursue some long-term goals that are just now coming

into focus. Ridgeway serves on the Southern California Assn. of

Governments, as well as two of its transportation-related

subcommittees. He has also represented the city to the Orange County

Sanitation Board.

“What do I do with all this knowledge that’s bouncing around in my

head,” Ridgeway said, noting that the city’s recent push for more

involvement in county government might benefit from his experience

and regional influence.

Heffernan said he would likely support Ridgeway as mayor for this

same reason.

“Given Tod’s reach into the surrounding communities and [the

Southern California Assn. of Governments], I think he is well

suited,” Heffernan said.

Ridgeway also said he hopes to help guide Balboa Village

improvements through to completion and help keep other peninsula

issues in the forefront of city priorities.

* 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.