Bohr’s investment pays off

Dave Brooks

Keith Bohr has been waiting for this moment his whole life.

On election day, more than 16,100 voters chose the real estate

broker to be one of three people to serve on the Huntington Beach

City Council. It was the affirmation he had been looking for after

losing a bid for the seat in 2002 and being asked to resign from the

Planning Commission following allegations that he misused his

position -- a charge he emphatically denies.

The election is the catalyst for what Bohr has been working toward

most of his adult life -- first as an employee with the city’s

Economic Development Department and then as very successful real

estate broker -- a chance to serve as a government and business

leader.

Like most life-changing events, Bohr said his recent victory

hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but he hopes to push ahead with plans to

form positive relationships with city staff members and fellow

council members.

“I want to have a council that is open to other people’s ideas,

Bohr said. “I don’t agree that people should be in camps. Maybe I’ll

create a Keith Bohr camp, but I hope it will be a roaming camp. Give

me an idea and I’ll listen.”

Very conscious of his public image, Bohr portrays himself as

philanthropic businessman, participating in a half-dozen charities

and community service groups. His motivation for serving on the

council and spending between $80,000 and $100,000 to get there, he

said, is to give back to the community that has given him so much.

Yet before Bohr can govern, he may have to convince a skeptical

public that he won’t fall into any conflict of interest traps that

have ruined the careers of past Surf City politicians.

Although the Fair Political Practices Commission cleared Bohr of

any wrongdoing when accused in May of using his position to speed

projects through the city, the incident has become an asterisk to his

name for many.

“I think he just has to behave as a council person as he did as a

candidate,” said Ed Kerins, president of Huntington Beach Tomorrow, a

local activist group. “Obviously he’s going to be watched because of

his past work experiences and the money he raised, but other council

people will be watched as well.”

Bohr came under the microscope in the final days of the election

for dumping between $80,000 and $100,000 -- $40,000 from his own

pocket -- into the 2004 campaign; more than double candidates Debbie

Cook and Don Hansen, who both finished ahead of him.

“It’s my money and I’m fortunate to be able to spend that much on

my campaign,” he said. “Basically, I bought four mailers at $15,000 a

piece. Could I have just sent out two? Sure, but I didn’t want to

take that chance.”

Police and fire unions, realtor groups and nonprofits that spent

$43,300 on soft money advertisements for Bohr, will get the same

access as the rest of the general public, he said.

“When I was being interviewed for some of these endorsements, I

made it very clear that an endorsement would not mean special

access,” he said. “I told them that I am open to their ideas whether

they endorse me or not.”

Bohr said he wants to work on increasing the city’s revenue base

through pursuing retailers that can keep Huntington Beach shoppers in

town. That means working with the owners of the city’s endless pool

of strip malls and encouraging them to upgrade and remodel in the

hopes of bringing in new business

“Better tenants mean better jobs, which means more sales tax

revenue,” he said.

A council person should work with landlords to encourage them take

care of their property and attract high-end business, helping them

through the complicated permitting process and even applying a little

pressure when necessary.

“I plan to be a hands on council member,” he said. “You won’t just

see me up there pushing buttons on Monday night.”

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

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