Revolving mayor job welcomes Bromberg

Alicia Robinson

The City Council is not just playing musical chairs; it has revolving

mayors.

After serving as mayor in 2003, Steve Bromberg has taken the gavel

from Tod Ridgeway, who was mayor in 2002 and this year. Bromberg was

chosen mayor by his City Council colleagues Tuesday night, an evening

in which the seven-member council also selected the first woman --

Robin Clauson -- as city attorney. Councilman Don Webb was chosen

mayor pro tem.

Though the vote for Bromberg was unanimous, Councilman John

Heffernan pointed out that the new mayor has applied for a position

as an Orange County Superior Court Judge. If he would be appointed to

a judgeship, it would leave a vacancy on the council.

Bromberg, who has been an attorney for 34 years, said he first

applied for a judgeship in 1996 and applied again after Gov. Arnold

Schwarzenegger was elected.

But on Tuesday, Bromberg was focused on being mayor.

Serving as mayor is a time-consuming job, Bromberg said before the

meeting. As one of the more experienced council members, he wants to

help guide the city through the big issues it will face next year.

Among those issues are the future use of the Marinapark site and

discussions with Orange County officials on the city’s role in

“sphere issues,” such as John Wayne Airport and the Coyote Canyon

landfill.

“There’s so much ahead that we need to do, and it doesn’t seem

like I’ve been on the council for four years, but I’ve got my hands

in a lot of those pies,” Bromberg said.

In terms of experience, the council is somewhat young, he said.

Councilman Steve Rosansky was elected in November, after being

appointed to the council in 2003, and Councilwoman Leslie Daigle was

appointed in September to replace Gary Adams.

“They’re both doing great, but at this point in time, I think

experience is the watchword,” Bromberg said.

Also on Tuesday night, the council voted to make Clauson, the

acting city attorney, the permanent one, with a contract through May

2006 and an annual salary of $165,000. Clauson has worked for the

city since 1989 and replaces Bob Burnham, who was city attorney for

more than two decades before retiring in August.

The council hired a search firm to find candidates this summer,

and Clauson was one of the top two.

“I love working here,” Clauson said Tuesday afternoon. “I just

have always enjoyed the staff, the city, everything about it.”

Clauson expects to focus on the Marinapark reuse and water quality

and code enforcements in 2005, but an immediate challenge will be

finding someone to replace her as assistant city attorney, she said.

“I couldn’t be more excited about this,” Bromberg said of the new

city attorney. “[Clauson] understands the issues, she knows the

people in the city, she knows the people in the community, and she

happens to be a very bright attorney also.”

The transition has been smooth because Burnham is still working

with the city on a consulting basis, Bromberg said.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or by e-mail at

alicia.robinson@latimes.com.