Alkire takes district, not seat

Although Councilman Steve Rosansky won his reelection bid for the District 2 seat by a roughly 11-point margin, he lost in his own district to challenger Gloria Alkire by 87 votes, according to the final tally.

Community activist Dolores Otting said Wednesday that she blamed her more than 9-point loss to incumbent Councilman Keith Curry for the District 7 seat in part on heavy support from the Republican Party of Orange County. The party spent tens of thousands of dollars in support of Curry’s campaign.

“I am very pleased that I won in District 2. I think it shows a need for better leadership in this area,” Alkire said. “I want to thank the citizens who voted for me. I think it’s important for me to thank the citizens that did vote for me. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to lead.”

Alkire rejected the notion Wednesday that her campaign struggled to raise money and garner endorsements, pointing out she rejected funding from special-interest groups. Alkire also did not ask for endorsements, she said.

Rosansky said Tuesday night that he would go back to work on city issues after the election.

“I’m going to focus on the same things I have for last four years — making life better in Newport Beach,” Rosansky said. “There’s a lot of work to be done.”

The county GOP spent more than $24,000 on campaign literature and mailers to support Curry and about $16,000 to oppose Otting, campaign disclosure statements show.

Otting, a registered Republican and president of the Newport Harbor Republican Women club, said she felt the party support in heavily Republican Newport Beach may have cost her the election.

“I think that running against the Orange County Republican Party was a hard thing to do, no matter how much money you have or how many backers,” Otting said.

Earlier polling indicated the race was closer than the final vote tally, Otting said.

“[Curry] should be very happy he won and he can continue on with his platform,” Otting said. “Do I think Newport Beach will be a better place? No.”

Curry, who has criticized former Behr paint manufacturing chairman Jack Croul for pouring more than $100,000 into an independent expenditure committee to support Otting, said he was pleased with his decisive victory at the polls.

Curry beat Otting by a wider margin in the Tuesday race than when he battled with her for the District 7 seat in the 2006 race.

“I feel great about getting an increased percentage of the vote, I’m very gratified with that in light of all the negative mail that went out,” Curry said. “Without Jack Croul, I would have beat her by a wider margin, but I think voters expressed their displeasure with her efforts to buy the election. I’m just very gratified the Republican Party stepped up.”

Both Newport Beach City Council incumbents Curry and Rosansky sailed to easy victories Tuesday night. Rosansky garnered 17,089 votes citywide in the final count, or 55.6% of the vote.

Alkire had 13,621 votes altogether, or 44.4%. Curry got 16,606 votes, or 54.8% of the vote to Otting’s 13,682 votes, or 45.2%, according to the final tally.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.