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.