A CLOSER LOOK -- The quest for candidates has begun

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- The political winds could change dramatically this fall

with hopefuls scrambling for one of the three seats that will be up for

grabs on the City Council dais.

But though there have been plenty of rumors about who might run for the

spots occupied by Jan Debay, Tom Thomson and Mayor John Noyes, so far no

candidate has a stronghold on any post.

Candidates can officially pull papers and announce their bid for a seat

in July. However, long before the official announcement, the political

maneuvering has already started. Council members and residents start

approaching and lobbying community members who show a potential for

leadership.

There is even a certain amount of strategy involved when candidates pull

papers. Favorites can level the field for a certain district if they pull

early, intimidating other opponents. But there is also an advantage in

sneaking in late and pulling a surprise attack on candidates who have

already started battling it out.

Added to the mix this November is Greenlight -- a group of community

activists pushing an initiative that would shift some of the

decision-making power from the City Council to voters.

The group is proposing a measure that would give residents the final say

on certain “major” developments and has led to emotional cries from some

city officials who say it threatens representative government. Greenlight

is sure to sponsor at least one candidate in the race.

THE STAGE IS SET

When the Greenlight measure stepped onto the political stage last summer,

it didn’t appear terribly threatening. However, as the group began

gaining momentum and support by pointing to what they call a

development-happy council, emotions began to heat up.

Almost all the council members publicly announced that they would not

support Greenlight except Tom Thomson, who eventually came out as a

Greenlight backer and just recently announced his candidacy.

It was already well-known among political insiders that Thomson would run

again and that Debay was termed out, but Noyes shocked even his closest

colleagues when he said he was not going to run for a second term. The

announcement came just two days before the Los Angeles Times publicly

revealed that the mayor -- who had run on a law-and-order platform -- had

once been on the run from the law himself.

Noyes took his children from the legal custody of his ex-wife in 1976 and

hid them from her for nearly a decade, records show. Kidnapping charges

were outstanding from 1976 to 1985 but were dismissed by authorities in

1986 after Ann Heltsley, Noyes’ ex-wife, found her daughters with Noyes

in an island community off the coast of Washington.

Heltsley sued Noyes in federal court a year later, alleging that he had

destroyed her relationship with her children. He was found liable by a

federal court, and she was awarded $665,000 in settlements from Noyes and

his current wife, as well as his father and stepmother for their role.

At the time of his announcement, Noyes said the reasons behind his

decision were complicated. However, the surprise left nearly half the

City Council seats up for grabs and community members searching for

suitable candidates to run for the spots.

BALBOA ISLAND DISTRICT

When the news about Noyes’ decline to run for reelection broke, many

Balboa Island residents immediately turned to community leaders Steve

Bromberg and Jack Callahan. Good friends, the two have been alternately

encouraging each other to step up to the plate, but so far there have

only been hints of consideration.

Both men have at one time or another held nearly every leadership

position on Balboa Island. Bromberg was Noyes’ former campaign manager

but has since had a falling out with the mayor.

“People are really asking me,” Bromberg said. “I’m giving it a great deal

of consideration.”

Callahan’s experience has been similar, but he would have to move into

the district in order to run.

“I’m surprised at how many have approached me -- even Steve,” Callahan

said. “There’s a lot to think about.”

The most definitive and surprising announcement, however, was at last

Tuesday’s City Council meeting, when Big Canyon resident Robert

Schoonmaker stood up and said he was going to run. At the same time, he

also demanded that Noyes resign as mayor because of the revelations in

the Times.

“I think anyone that runs for council should have an open background,” he

said, adding that all candidates should have a background check.

HARBOR VIEW DISTRICT

With incumbent Thomson already printing fliers, materials and sitting in

the seat he’s campaigning for, no other candidate has yet to step in the

ring. However, there are whispers that several people could be waiting in

the wings.

At the top of that list is former City Manager Bob Wynn, who is

supporting a countermeasure against the Greenlight initiative. Called the

Traffic Phasing Ordinance Preservation measure, it proposes to strengthen

the city’s existing law, which is intended to provide some relief from

traffic created by development projects. The countermeasure, if it wins

enough votes, would kill the Greenlight initiative.

However, though Wynn has been heavily lobbied for the spot, he probably

won’t run.

“I’ve been there and done that,” he said. “There’s a huge commitment

required.”

The other potential candidate is Phil Arst, one of the leaders of

Greenlight. Four years ago, Arst ran against Thomson but lost.

WEST NEWPORT DISTRICT

With Debay termed out, her seat is wide open. Debay said that she’s been

meeting with a number of potential candidates, but so far no one wants to

run for her seat. The situation even prompted her to make an announcement

at the recent council meeting inviting political hopefuls to throw in a

bid.

“Most of them have kids that are all in sports, and their family demands

are still radical,” she said. “When people say they’re interested, I set

up a meeting.”

Debay is hoping that Mike Kranzley of the Planning Commission will run

for her seat, but in order to do so he would have to move.

“I wouldn’t disrupt my family to run for City Council, but on the other

hand I would love to live on the beach,” Kranzley said. “At this point in

time, it seems remote and unlikely -- I just really haven’t given much

thought to it.”

Another name that has been tossed around is Greenlight advocate Bob

Caustin. He lives in Councilwoman Norma Glover’s district but has some

property in West Newport, making him eligible for the seat.

However, Caustin said he won’t.

“I would not be comfortable,” Caustin said. “For me to be a carpetbagger

would be inappropriate. I do not condone those kinds of activities. I’ll

do a lot of things, but not that.”