NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR:Sullivan’s legacy runs deep

After 12 years of dominating city politics, Mayor Dave Sullivan leaves a legacy behind that can be matched only by a select few in the city. His decision to step away from the council dais in November surprised more than a few. Some were aghast.

“There’s no other reason other than I have been doing this for a long time and I take it very seriously,” he said then of his decision. “I want the freedom to do other things.” Mayor Gil Coerper succeeded him.

Sullivan got involved in city politics in 1990 with Measure C, the ballot measure that gave Huntington Beach voters authority over development on parks and beaches if the projects exceeded a specific size and budget.

He ran for a City Council seat in 1992, serving two terms and as mayor before he was termed out of office. Sullivan returned to politics in 2002 to serve his third and final terms as councilman and mayor this year.

More importantly, Sullivan, 69, was a whistle-blower and public watchdog sorely needed after former mayors Dave Garofalo and Pam Houchen left office in disgrace. His tenure as mayor helped heal some wounds.

More recently, Sullivan’s last few months in office were shaped by the acrimonious debate over Measure T, a ballot measure for a proposed senior center in Central Park that voters passed in November. Sullivan’s passionate defense of the proposal and ardent campaigning earned him several enemies but did not deter his zeal.

Sullivan visits his hometown of Boston every year to polish his East Coast accent, Ralph Bauer, the council on aging chairman and a long-time friend of Sullivan, joked at Sullivan’s farewell celebration.

Sullivan possesses some impeccable credentials: He studied to be an orthodontist at Boston College and Tufts University. The Irishman, at his wife Kay’s urging, eventually moved to Huntington Beach.

He stood up against extravagant pension plans and pay raises for city employees. He took on former Huntington Beach Police Chief Earle Robitaille, then a fellow council member, in the 1990s when it was found that Robitaille was one of several city employees inflating salaries in their last working years to collect fatter pension checks.

But not all of Sullivan’s proposals met with success. Downtown business merchants have played a role in blocking his dream of seeing Main Street transformed into a pedestrian mall.

This March, when the council approved a watered-down version of closing Main Street for five festival weekends and 12 Tuesday nights, Sullivan was the lone dissenting vote. He thought the proposal was too lean on details.

Although Sullivan said he has retired, he will continue to be involved with the senior center in Central Park and the city’s 3/1 committee.

Sullivan was recently appointed to the Council on Aging, which will work with city staff on the senior center.

Many admirers who attended the Dec. 4 council meeting to celebrate Sullivan’s political career lauded Kay Sullivan for finally convincing her husband to retire and spend time with his grandchildren.

Sullivan said he plans to spend time on “honey-do’s” — a.k.a. chores — for Kay around the house, read history and travel, especially to Ireland.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed it in the time that I have done it,” Sullivan said. “I know I’ll miss it, but I know it’s time to go on to other things.”