City clerk in waiting

Martha Anderson had five years of on-the-job training for the office

of city clerk, for which she is running unopposed.

“I am behind her 100%,” said retiring City Clerk Verna Rollinger.

“She is the most qualified person, based on her years of experience.”

Anderson, who has a bachelor’s degree in English and history,

began working for the city 13 years ago. She spent the first five

years as an administrator in the finance and personnel departments,

and then transferred to the Zoning Department for three years where

she worked with the Design Review Board.

“I am committed to maintaining the professionalism and high

quality of work of the city clerk’s office,” Anderson said.

“We will continue to be independent and open to everyone. I want

to continue to improve access and communications between citizens and

City Hall and streamline the way we do business.”

The city clerk is independent from other city departments. The

clerk is elected and answers to the people, not the council or the

city manager.

As the city’s legislative administrator, keeper of records and

election official, the city clerk is often the public’s first contact

when it has business at City Hall.

Anderson has lived in Laguna Beach since 1981 with “Andy” Anderson, her husband of 38 years, a professor of economics at Cal

State Long Beach. The Andersons share their home with a basset hound,

Frederick the Great, and an English bulldog, Field Marshall Allenby.”

The always impeccably coiffed and dressed Anderson enjoys kayaking

and golf.

Anderson taught elementary school for three years before moving to

Laguna Beach. She gained administrative experience working here for

local firms and nonprofit organizations, including South Coast

Medical Center.

She has volunteered her services to Laguna Art Museum, Laguna

Canyon Foundation, Laguna Greenbelt Inc., Friendship Shelter and

Village Laguna.