Hansen’s plan unfolds perfectly

Dave Brooks

Don Hansen did everything right.

He shored up the big name endorsements, raised plenty of money,

stayed out of trouble and, most importantly, was able to drum up

enough votes to secure himself a spot on the dais.

The election went perfectly according to plan he said, unlike his

2002 attempt where he came up short by just 274 votes.

“That was probably one of the worst feelings in the world,” he

said during the recent election night while he watched the votes come

in.

His biggest asset this year was that he was able to keep his

political base in tact and pick up another 5,000 votes to help usher

him onto the council. Hansen portrays himself as a pro-business

family man with conservative values.

“I’ve been a Republican since I was registered to vote,” the

32-year-old said.

Born in Arizona, Hansen is a USC graduate and a father of one with

another on the way. He works as an executive for Balboa Capitol in

Irvine and has served on a number of city boards including the Public

Works Commission and the Finance Board.

His tenure serving the city has helped him set the stage to usher

in what he refers to as “long-term economic development of the city.”

Hansen’s vision for Huntington Beachis to create retail spaces and

development to capture local sales tax revenue and expand the city’s

tourism industry.

He received support from a number of heavy hitters in the tourism

industry, including Steve Bone, president of the Robert Mayer Corp.,

which owns the Waterfront Hilton and Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach

Resort & Spa.

“I think Hansen has the background in business and government to

understand the community and to realize that quality development is

in the best interest of the city,” Bone said, adding that the council

needs to “bring revenue to the city through development that adds

quality the residents can also enjoy.”

To do that, Hansen said, the city government needs to change it’s

attitude toward development and openly collaborate to renew the

city’s retail corridors, especially Beach Boulevard and South

Brookhurst Avenue.

“Let’s do our best to articulate what the community standards are

and give people clear roadmaps on what will work for Huntington

Beach,” he said. “If you come in with a project and it fits in right

down the middle, the process should be fairly easy.”

Hansen said he won’t normally budge on his pro-property rights

stance, but said he also supports environmental measures to protect

the coastline and water quality.

“Everyone in Huntington Beach needs to be an environmentalist,” he

said. “We cannot put that aside. In any new development, the first

concern has to be how it will affect the environment.”

Hansen plans to go into the council with an open mind, form a bond

with all the council members and avoid becoming part of a voting

bloc.

Mayor Cathy Green said the daily workings of the council make it

hard for anyone to really come on and rock the boat.

“Everyone comes in and expects to make big changes, but in the end

it doesn’t matter because we all have to work together,” she said.

“Certainly Don has his own philosophy, but I wouldn’t expect any big

changes. Look at all the things there are 7-0 votes on.”

Hansen comes to the dais during a key transition time for

progressive Debbie Cook, who was reelected in a resounding victory

but returns without her closest ally, Connie Boardman, who opted not

to run for reelection.

Hansen said the two will probably disagree on some issues, but he

remains optimistic about their chances for getting along.

“I have complete respect for her,” he said. “She’s very

intelligent and she knows how to make her positions known.”

* DAVE BROOKS covers City Hall. He can be reached at (714)

966-4609 or by e-mail at dave.brooks@latimes.com.