|
|
June Casagrande
September 18, 2003 Daily Pilot
NEWPORT BEACH — City Councilman Gary Proctor will step down from his 2nd
District seat at the end of this month.
Proctor used the occasion of his 20-year anniversary in public
service as an exit cue, noting that the airport issues that fueled his
public service career are no longer as relevant to the
council.
"With my background in airport issues as an attorney, a pilot, a
member of the Airport Commission and the Citizens Advisory Commission to oversee
the reuse of El Toro, I ran and was elected to the Newport Beach City Council in
November 2000," Proctor wrote in his resignation.
"I sought to use that expertise on what were then front-burner
issues relating to air transportation and the potential negative consequences to Newport Beach of
meeting all air transportation needs solely at JWA," he wrote.
"The current status of El Toro and JWA are much less fluid
now than they were over the last five years, and thus my expertise in
those arenas is less relevant now to the city as a whole," Proctor wrote.
The City Council has until the end of October to appoint a
replacement, according to the city charter, or else a special
election must be held. The council could hold a special session or
begin a regular council meeting earlier than usual to make time to interview
applicants hoping to represent West Newport Beach through the end of Proctor's
term, which expires in November 2004.
Proctor, who practices law in Newport Beach and San Jose,
has been accused of spending too much time out of
town to effectively represent his constituents. He was absent from council
meetings on July 22, Aug. 12 and Aug. 26 because he was on an extended vacation.
Proctor's public service began 20 years ago when he was appointed to the
Orange County Airport Commission. He has also served on the Citizens Advisory
Commission to oversee the reuse of El Toro and in other airport-related
positions. His resignation from the council is effective Sept. 30. Proctor could
not be reached Wednesday for comment.
"Gary was our built-in expert on airport issues," Mayor Steve
Bromberg said. "He made a great contribution to the El Toro fight
as well as his efforts with the John Wayne Settlement
Agreement.
"I recognize that's he's doing what's best for him, and I have
all the respect for him for doing that, and I wish him the very best," Bromberg
said. "I will miss him."
|
