Council ready to pick seventh member of dais
Alicia Robinson
When the Newport Beach City Council begins its meeting tonight, it
will have six members. When it adjourns, seven council members will
leave the chambers.
The council will appoint a new member to fill the 5th District
seat left vacant by Steve Bromberg. In November, Bromberg was elected
to a second four-year term on the council, and in December he was
named mayor. But in May, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed him a
judge in the Orange County Superior Court.
The six applicants include: Donald Abrams, a real estate broker
and former attorney for the U.S Justice Department; Patricia Beek, a
former Parks, Beaches and Recreation commissioner who lost to
Bromberg in 2000; Lloyd Ikerd, a real estate broker who is on the
city’s Economic Development Committee; Robert Schoonmaker, a retired
engineer who lost council bids in 1996 and 2000; Ed Selich, a
developer and member of the city’s Planning Commission; and Bernie
Svalstad, who runs a finance business and lost a 2002 council run.
The council is facing a number of complex and technical issues --
for example, the general plan update and negotiations with the county
on “sphere issues” such as control of John Wayne Airport -- so the
new council member will need to understand those things or be brought
quickly up to speed, Councilman Tod Ridgeway said.
“We’re just looking for somebody who’s going to represent, one,
their district, and two, the city in a reasonable and balanced way
between environmental and business issues, taking into consideration
the residential nature of our community,” Ridgeway said.
Candidates’ names will be drawn randomly. When called, each
candidate will be allowed five minutes for an introduction and two
minutes for closing remarks, in between which council members can ask
questions.
After all interviews are over, public comment will be taken, the
council will discuss the applicants, and then a vote will be taken.
The new council member will be sworn in right away.
Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, who was appointed in 2004, agreed with
Ridgeway that the council needs someone with a balanced approach. The
biggest challenges for a new council member, she said, are the steep
learning curve on an array of issues and working with city staff and
council colleagues.
Some residents have complained that after tonight, the
seven-member council will include three appointees, though Councilman
Steve Rosansky has won election since his 2003 appointment. They have
urged the council to put the selection of a council member on the
ballot for voters to decide.
City officials have pointed out that the city charter requires the
council to fill vacancies by appointment. Ridgeway said it’s the best
way because the council asks probing questions and is on the alert
for the evasive answers that sometimes come out in campaigns.
“We probably get a better person appointed than we would elected,”
he said. “We know what we’re looking for.”
Also at tonight’s meeting, the council will either choose a new
mayor or agree to do so at the June 28 meeting.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall,
3300 Newport Blvd.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.