Daily Pilot: 09.25.03

Groups Press For Special Election

Deirdre Newman, Daily Pilot

NEWPORT BEACH — Despite the City Council starting the appointment process to replace Councilman Gary Proctor, representatives from two groups say a fairer way to pick the next council member would be by holding a special election.

Proctor will step down at the end of the month. The council is accepting applications from residents of West Newport's District 2 until noon on Oct. 9. It has until Oct. 29 to make an appointment, which will be effective immediately.

According to the City Charter, the council has 30 days after a council member's departure to appoint a replacement. If no replacement is selected, the matter goes to a special election.

Mayor Steve Bromberg said an election can only be declared as a last resort and announcing one any sooner would signify that the six remaining councilmen were not able to do their jobs.

But representatives from Greenlight and Free Newport.com say letting the voters choose would be more democratic.

"We think there should be a public election where the voters can examine the credentials or capabilities of the candidates, rather than a council appointment," said Phil Arst, spokesman for the Greenlight managed-growth group.

Bromberg said the appointment process would be divided into two phases — collecting applications and interviewing candidates — and that the intricacies of the interviewing process would be worked out by the council on Oct. 14.

If the council gets a whopping number of applicants and interviewing them all is not feasible, then it will probably create an ad hoc committee of three council members to winnow the applicants down to a manageable number, Bromberg said.

The council then would interview the smaller number of candidates at a subsequent council meeting.

"I don't think we will get a truckload of applicants," Bromberg said. "I suspect, if it's manageable, what I would like to see happen is that the full City Council, all six of us, interview everybody. Whether that's feasible, we won't know until the close of business on Oct. 9."

Bryan Clarkson, spokesman for FreeNewport.com, which has agitated for fewer restrictions on residents of West Newport, said there are some people whom he would like to see apply, but that he won't disclose who they are.

"Will I encourage people to go though this process? Of course, I will," Clarkson said. "Will I publicly state who they are and back them publicly? No, it's not in their best interest. Not right now, when the [council members] are appointing someone . They'd be like, 'Next.' It'd be a joke."

Applicants must live in District 2 and have been a registered voter of that district for at least 30 days immediately preceding an appointment. Applications are available through the city clerk's office at 3300 Newport Blvd., by calling (949) 644-3005, or through the city's Web site at http://www.city.Newport-beach.ca.us under "News/Events/District 2 Council Vacancy."