Guest Letter
Brad Avery
Keith D. Curry
Marshall “Duffy” Duffield
Thomas C. Edwards
Nancy Gardner
Rush Hill
John Heffernan
Clarence J. Turner
Don Webb
Nine former mayors call for a change on the City Council
Our city is on the wrong track. The current City Council majority has significantly abandoned the shared values and common consensus that have guided Newport Beach for decades. It’s time for a change.
Public Input
The use of “Ad Hoc” committees to decide important matters outside the regular public meeting process without public notice or participation has resulted in decisions that we believe are contrary to the views of many of our residents, such as placing the police station/jail in Civic Center Park. Further, while our City Charter has long recognized the right of residents to vote on important development projects and the General Plan, the council majority has worked to limit this right.
The council has also limited the important role of the Finance Committee as a check on fiscal issues, which we believe places the city at greater fiscal risk.
Development Guidelines
Since the 1970s, there has been a consensus that high-rise, high-density development is not suited for Newport Beach. Ignoring this, the council majority has not only supported high-rise development but has proposed making the city a partner in such development, using valuable city property.
Fiscal Responsibility
Our city is financially strong because city councils over the years have supported economic development while restraining excessive spending. The council majority has increased city spending by more than $139 million over the past four years, a 36% increase. Last year, general fund spending increased at twice the rate of inflation.
Treatment of Others
As former mayors, we have had our disagreements with each other. Over the years, we have confronted issues where there were substantial differences among our residents. Nonetheless, we were able to maintain a spirit of collegiality among the councilmembers and respect for residents with differing points of view. The current council majority has often shown disrespect for fellow councilmembers as well as residents with different viewpoints and has gone so far as to use social media to block or restrict community members who disagree with them.
Social Division
Rather than trying to build a common consensus and lead by listening, the council has resorted to blatant appeals to political partisanship and dependence on public employee union endorsements. That is not the way to lead a city like Newport Beach.
We believe it is time for a reset. That is why we enthusiastically endorse Walter Stahr and Dr. Andy Gerken for City Council.
Walter is a graduate of Stanford and Harvard Law School. He served at the Securities and Exchange Commission, was a successful corporate lawyer and is an accomplished author. His parents John and Elizabeth Stahr were responsible for raising funds for our central library and Walter is a member of the board of the Library Foundation of Newport Beach.
Dr. Andy Gerken is a graduate of Harvard University and UCI Medical School. He attended Corona del Mar High School, as did his daughters. Andy was the chair of Hoag Orthopedic Institute, taught at UCI Medical School and for 20 years was the volunteer team doctor for the Corona del Mar football team. His father, Walter Gerken, was the executive who moved Pacific Life to Newport Beach in 1972. Andy is also a board member of the Library Foundation of Newport Beach.
Walter and Andy will bring the kind of change we need to refocus the city government to be truly responsive to resident needs. We are proud to endorse them.
The former mayors of Newport Beach (listed above) have more than 68 years of collective experience on the City Council.
