IRVINE CITY COUNCIL : Winner Calls Victory an Endorsement for Council

IRVINE —  Greg Smith said his decisive victory in Tuesday’s City Council election represents an endorsement by voters of the council’s stands on economic policies and the redevelopment of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

Smith, 44, an Irvine school board member who defeated two challengers for the council seat, was endorsed by three of four council members.

“I think people are generally pleased with the direction the city is taking,” Smith said. The council “is trying to look hard at finding long-term solutions to local problems.”

Smith, 44, supports the council’s opposition to converting El Toro into a commercial airport. He also favors the council’s recent reduction in business license fees.

His closest rival, Planning Commissioner Marc Goldstone, also agreed with the council’s stance on El Toro. But he opposed the business license fee reductions and said he might favor a hotel tax as a way of paying for arts funding and other city services.

“I think the community is really concerned about the business base and rebuilding the business base,” Smith said. “Taxes and fees are not the way.”

Smith received 53% of the vote, compared to 41.4% for Goldstone and 4.8% for Alireza Jazayeri.

Smith will take office in December and serve the remaining year of former Councilman William A. (Art) Bloomer’s term. Bloomer resigned in July to accept a job in Virginia.

Goldstone, 38, attributed his defeat in part to his decision to tackle tough issues.

“I dealt with the issues,” Goldstone said. “I tell people what’s on my mind. I want to let people know what I am going to do and what my philosophy is.”

Campaign fund raising also played a role in the election outcome, said Goldstone, noting that Smith spent more money on the election than he or Jazayeri.

Smith “had enough money for everything, including direct mail,” Goldstone said. “I didn’t have that luxury. . . . I tried to run a creative campaign.”

Smith acknowledged that his fund-raising edge probably helped his campaign. But he said he entered the race with less name recognition than Goldstone, who ran for mayor last year.

Jazayeri’s poor showing came despite spending more than $6,900 on the campaign. The 47-year-old management consultant could not be reached for comment Wednesday.