Mailbag: Campaign donations weaken City Council’s position

As the City Council prepares to consider significant operational concessions to Woody’s Wharf, removing many of the neighborhood protections enacted by the prior council, it is instructive to review the role of Woody’s and its owners in the most recent City Council election.

Woody’s owners and their spouses contributed $4,900 to the Scott Peotter campaign for council and $3,300 to Marshall “Duffy” Duffield’s campaign. Peotter was cited by the city clerk for accepting contributions in excess of the city’s campaign contribution limit from Woody’s, and was compelled to return the excess contributions.

Woody’s also hosted a major fundraiser for Peotter. When I complained to the state Fair Political Practices Commission that the returned contribution and the cost of the fundraiser were not included on Peotter’s campaign reports, as required by law, the commission opened an investigation, and Peotter amended his reports to reflect the Woody’s transactions.

When the City Council reversed itself, and voted not to appeal its case against Woody’s to the state Supreme Court, the city lost its leverage with this campaign contributor, which proceeded to ask for even more concessions than were initially approved by the Planning Commission.

Right next door to Woody’s, a developer is spending millions to bring upscale housing and retail to revitalize the peninsula. The impact of late night noise, drunkenness and traffic is sure to devalue this investment.

More important, for residents of the 29th Street Marina, and other peninsula neighborhoods, approval of the proposed operational guidelines will result in a diminished quality of life. Residents of the peninsula and the city as a whole deserve more. We deserve a City Council that will put residents first, rather than their political donors.

Former Councilman Mike Henn and the prior council stood up for the residents. Will Peotter and his allies stand up to their major contributors? I am afraid special-interest politics now rules our city.

Jeff Herdman

Newport Beach

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