Newport council candidates forced to choose sides

WEST NEWPORT — One hint that the West Newport Beach Assn.’s City Council candidates forum wouldn’t be a run-of-the-mill affair was what the organizers called it: “the showdown on the shore.”

Twelve candidates for five council seats discussed 24 issues in two hours. The candidate for the sixth seat on the ballot, Mayor Don Webb, is running unopposed and did not participate.

There were no boring questions about what candidates would do to improve Newport Beach, or to use the local mantra, maintain the quality of life.

Right out of the gate, candidates had to state their position on Measure X, which would require public votes on some development projects.

The verdict? Of the 12 candidates at the forum, seven oppose the measure — Marcia Dossey, Michael Henn and Jack Wu in District 1; Barbara Venezia in District 4; Councilman Ed Selich in District 5; Nancy Gardner in District 6; and Councilman Keith Curry in District 7.

Four support it — Brenda Martin in District 1, Robert Schoonmaker in District 5, Councilman Dick Nichols in District 6, and Dolores Otting in District 7. District 4 Councilwoman Leslie Daigle’s time ran out before she stated a position on Measure X.

Candidates gave at least two answers to make Costa Mesa cry: Henn said he would not support splitting the unincorporated Banning Ranch property with Costa Mesa, as that city has proposed, because he feared the land would be overdeveloped under any other jurisdiction.

Gardner said she would work to get a bridge built over the Santa Ana River at 19th Street, a plan Costa Mesa has bitterly opposed. She noted getting the bridge would likely take “some horse trading, because obviously the other cities [Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach] are not interested.”

A series of hard-hitting questions revealed candidates’ opinions on home height limits, privatization of city services, a proposed waterfront walkway in Mariner’s Mile, and a possible water rate hike.

The forum will be televised on Cox and Time Warner cable channels on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. All candidates may answer all the questions in writing, with answers to be posted after Oct. 8 at www.westnewport.org.