Kinsman named mayor

Mike Swanson

Now-former Mayor Toni Iseman fought off tears as she read a list of

words that defined her one-year term, and new Mayor Cheryl Kinsman

accepted congratulatory bouquets of flowers from her two sons minutes

later.

Iseman and Kinsman have butted heads on several city issues in the

past year, from campaign contributions to moving the corporate yard,

but there were no fighting words during Tuesday’s changing of the

guard. Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson, unanimously appointed the new

mayor pro-tem by the council, has also had her share of disagreements

with Iseman, but thanked her for serving an effective term as mayor.

“I’ve never seen anyone be more visible and more active as a mayor

than Toni,” Pearson said. “Whether we agree on issues or not, I

admire the fact that she has put so much time and energy into this

job.”

The most time and energy spent during the agenda item came when

Kinsman and Iseman switched seats.

“If I’d known you were bringing so much stuff, I might reconsider

that,” Councilman Wayne Baglin told Kinsman.

Baglin nominated Kinsman for mayor, and Pearson seconded the

nomination. The appointment was unanimous.

Councilman Steve Dicterow said the city is in good hands with

Kinsman and Pearson, both of whom he’s known and worked with for 15

years.

Kinsman, who was elected to City Council in 2000, has politics in

her blood. Her father served three terms as mayor of Riverside, and

Kinsman was involved in his political campaigns, her sister Susan

Batagi said.

“I guess if anyone in the family was going to get into politics,

it was Cheryl,” said Becky Westerdahl, another sister. “I’m glad she

inherited it and not me.”

Iseman said being mayor forced her to say goodbye to half of her

real job at Orange Coast College, but that as difficult and

time-consuming as it was, she loved her term as mayor. Among the

lengthy list of terms that she said defined her year were Cub Scouts,

Eagle Scouts, third-graders, Driftwood, visioning, Village Entrance,

ACT V and wastewater.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Iseman told the full

council chambers. “I loved being mayor, and I thank you.”

The audience responded with a lengthy round of applause.

Kinsman said public safety, getting a new computer system at City

Hall, finding more Downtown parking, getting a new rocket ship at

Bluebird Park, wording the lease in such a way that the Festival of

Arts stays in Laguna Beach and keeping South Coast Medical Center in

Laguna were her top priorities as mayor.

One resident who spoke toward the end of the agenda item had a

simpler goal.

“I hope that the city will work together and be nice,” Martha

Lydick said.