Noyes the loud choice for mayor

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- The council really did make Noyes for mayor Monday

night.

On a unanimous vote, an apparently united council chose John Noyes to

succeed Dennis O’Neil and made councilman Gary Adams vice mayor.

Both Noyes and Adams were the only members nominated for the two

positions.

The council’s union came after weeks of insider wrangling between Noyes

and Councilman Tom Thomson for the city’s top -- though largely

ceremonial -- seat.

During that time, the three other senior members -- Norma Glover, Jan

Debay and O’Neil -- all said they were not interested in being mayor. And

because Gary Adams and Tod Ridgeway lack the traditional amount of

seniority for the position, the race was narrowed to Noyes and Thomson.

And while Thomson openly indicated that he was interested in the

position, Noyes kept his thoughts on the matter to himself. However,

despite his silence, city insiders told the Daily Pilot that votes were

lining up behind Balboa Island’s Noyes.

But in Newport Beach, nothing is certain until the votes are counted, and

the possibility remained that council members might change their vote

and choose Thomson.

But with no last-minute surprises and the new officials in place, O’Neil

and former vice mayor Thomson stepped down.

“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity and privilege of serving as mayor,” said

O’Neil. “It’s always great to leave at the top of your game.”

He added that Newport Beach was a marvelous and dynamic city to have been

mayor. And with the last statement, Mayor Noyes awarded O’Neil with a

plaque for his service to the city.

“Good luck to you,” O’Neil told Noyes.