Council does a good job at picking ranks
Tuesday night, for the third time in as many years, the Newport Beach City Council has the daunting, important task of appointing a new
member to its ranks.
The council's last two appointments, of Councilman Steve Rosansky and Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, proved good ones, we think. Both council members have been active, decisive and unafraid to lead on issues important to them and their constituents. Our opinion of Rosansky was echoed last fall by voters, who elected him to a full term in office. Daigle will face the voters in 2006.
Also facing voters that year will be whomever the council picks to replace Mayor Steve Bromberg, who is leaving his seat to become an Orange County Superior Court judge. This position will have the unenviable task of running for the seat earlier than it normally would -- Bromberg was reelected in the fall and had until 2008 before he was termed out -- and then having to run again in 2008, to set the district elections back in order. Of course, the person will be running from a position of obvious strength as an incumbent, which is part of what makes the appointment so important. It also is what has some in the community complaining, as they have in the past, that thecouncil should send the open position to a special election right away. Council members have shown no particular inclination to do so, so unless four of the six are unable to agree, don't count on it going to the ballot.
The encouraging factor is that most of the applicants have extensive experience in City Hall, serving on a number of the city's commissions, and several have deep roots in the community. Those factors, we think, should play the most significant part in the council members' decision as they answer this question: Which candidate has the best understanding of the city and the best sense and knowledge to make tough decisions? And if they choose poorly, then it will be up to voters to tell the council just that.
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