Taking a stand on one issue

Barbara Diamond

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce took a stand on partisan

politics, but it won’t let that stand in the way of participating in

political issues that affect business.

“It’s that time known as ‘silly season,’” chamber President Ken

Delino wrote in a recent chamber newsletter. “Municipal elections are

this year. Two City Council members are up for re-election (Mayor

Cheryl Kinsman and Councilman Wayne Baglin).”

Delino said that various groups will be supporting their chosen

candidates with forums, mailers and newspaper ads, but the chamber

won’t be among them. However, he said, the chamber will take stands

on political issues.

“Every member of the current City Council and nearly every

candidate in recent elections support business,” Delino said. “And

our chamber seeks to keep it that way.

“Oh sure,” he wrote, “there are some issues that may seem to be

political. For example, moving the city maintenance yard out to the

canyon.”

The chamber supports the move, on which the council is split 3-2,

with one incumbent up for election on each side.

Delino said the chamber has made every attempt to remain out of

purely political controversies.

“We like to convey the opinion that business is like apple pie and

motherhood,” Delino said.

The chamber’s primary message is that business pays the city’s

bills, through sales taxes and business licenses.

Sales taxes are about 12% of the city’s general fund revenue

sources, almost identical to the bed tax, which is province of the

Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau. The business license tax brings about

2%.

Property taxes do the heavy lifting, raking in some 42% of the

revenue. Charges for services come in second with about 17%.

“As we enter the election season, the chamber will be doing all it

can to promote the importance of business to our community,

regardless of who might be elected,” Delino said.

FIRST SERVED

Martha Anderson’s bid for the City Clerk’s job got a boost at an

elegant garden party Sunday, the first political fund-raiser of the

2004 election.

The host committee ranged from Wayne Peterson to Ann Christoph,

who sometimes seemed to come from different planets when they served

together on the City Council.

Anderson is running -- so far -- unopposed. She was the first

candidate to announce formally an intention to run.

Nominating papers can’t be pulled until July 12. Candidates will

have until Aug. 6 to file the papers and their statements. The period

is extended to Aug. 11 when an incumbent does not run -- as in the

case of City Clerk Verna Rollinger, who is retiring after 28 years in

office.

Rollinger supports Anderson’s candidacy.

“I am behind her 100%,” said Rollinger, a member of the

fund-raiser’s Host Committee. “She is the most qualified person for

this job, based on her years of experience doing the work.”

Anderson has served the city as Rollinger’s deputy since 1999.

“Verna is a legend in her own time,” Anderson said Sunday. “I have

been her apprentice for five years. I hope to make this a seamless

transition.”

Anderson began working for the city 13 years ago, chalking up five

years experience as an administrator in finance and personnel and

then three years in the Zoning Department and for the Design Review

Board. She has a bachelor’s degree in English.

“She takes great notes,” said Kinsman, who paid $60 to attend the

fund-raiser.

Kinsman’s term is up this year. She is expected to run for

re-election. Jean Egly, an announced candidate for City Council, also

attended the fund-raiser, held in the lower garden of Kathleen and

Gregory Abel’s home.

A chartered city trolley provided transportation to the Abel home

from the Laguna Beach Unified School District parking lot.

Host Committee members also included banker Anne Morris; Design

Review Board Chairman Steve Kawaratani and artist Catharine Cooper;

business woman and benefactor June Neptune; former Mayor Sally

Bellerue; Arts Commissioners Pat Kollenda and Nancy Beverage; Design

Review board members Ben Simon and Suzanne Morrison; Andrew and

Laguna Canyon Conservancy President Carolyn Wood; Theresa and

attorney Bill O’Hare; Marv and Planning Commission Anne Johnson; Bob

and Glenna Lovett; City Councilwoman Toni Iseman; and Laguna College

of Art & Design trustee Terry Smith.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Election ’04 Notebook is a periodic feature of

the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Information about city political

events and candidates are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O.

Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652, fax to 494-8979 or deliver to 384

Forest Ave., Suite. 22.