Council Candidates Stand Their Ground on Sharp Questions
Top of the World Neighborhood Association (TOWNA), Temple Hills Community Association (THCA), and South Laguna Civic Association (SLCA) on Monday sponsored what appears to be the last public candidate forum before the Nov. 4 election.
Moderator Piero Wemyss of TOWNA limited questions to one minute and responses to 90 seconds.
All three candidates for the two seats, including incumbents Mayor Jane Egly and Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman, along with challenger Verna Rollinger, had attended AAUW's women leadership awards before the live televised forum, which began at 7:30 p.m.
Rollinger was the only candidate to arrive on time, which made for an awkward half hour of air time and visibly affected the mood of the questioning panel. Questioners included Bill Rihn of the SLCA and Ron Chilcote of the THCA.
The pre-submitted questions did little to stump the candidates.
While Rollinger had the floor to herself, she was questioned about her position on mandating construction staging plans, city light pollution standards, burying power lines, eliminating plastic shopping bags in town, ocean pollution, reining in what was characterized as a McDonaldsstyle play equipment at Top of the World, working with neighborhood associations, and removing non native plants that are fire- and eco-hazards.
Rollinger promised full attention to those matters if elected, but her answers also reflected her personal style. On the staging plan, she said tonguein cheek that a "Mary Manners" handbook for neighbors would help the situation when construction occurs. On light pollution, she mused whether a light curfew would be effective. For utility poles, she wants every last one eliminated and power run underground. She also pledged to keep her personal feelings out of council decisions, but to respect the requests of Laguna Beach residents. On beach pollution, Rollinger expressed concern at the lack of progress working with "our inland neighbors" to curb their runoff to local beaches.
With all three candidates seated, the first question posed by a member of the audience came from Tom Osborne, a Ph.D and a co-author of Laguna Beach's climate protection plan, who recently lost his bid for reappointment to the city's environmental committee.
He asked why a majority of the City Council did not attend a local sustainability conference.
"I was there," said Rollinger.
"Mayor Jane Egly was there and introduced the speaker," Osborne noted.
The question really seemed to be pointed at Kinsman, who defended herself. "One, we got fairly late notice of that meeting," she said. "I had two other functions that evening."
Kinsman said she sent planning commissioner Norm Grossman to the function on her behalf and pointed out that organizers failed to offer hospitality to the speaker at the conclusion of her remarks. "In the future," Kinsman said, she would like to see "more notice and more courtesy to the speaker."
Egly defended necessary absences from meetings. "In fairness, we get lots of invitations for lots of things. I wish I could put myself through the Xerox machine."
Rihn asked about the closeddoor talks by elected officials over South Coast Medical Center and its planned sale, Aliso Creek re-development, mansionization, and development sprawl.
Kinsman bluntly said, "The hospital is not going anywhere." She said the Aliso Creek redevelopment is a fluid situation and is waiting for the next round of public hearings. On mansionization, she said projects are now coming through the city's Design Review Board.
"It is a unique, special community," said Egly, responding to a question about what folks in South Laguna want. "Cheryl is right about the hospital and Aliso Creek," Egly said. Mansionization is coming under control, Egly also remarked, because home sizes are getting pared down in DRB.
"South Laguna is very special and unique," said Rollinger, who agreed with her rivals over the necessity of retaining the hospital.
Rollinger expressed caution about developers attempting to circumvent established community standards, such as building heights, and whether the outcome improves the quality of Laguna life. If the improvements aren't evident, she said, then they are not right for Laguna Beach. Rollinger said rules to discourage mansionization ultimately boil down to decision-making by the council's five members.
Indy reporter William Hagle asked the incumbents about their vote against the reappointment of Osborne to the city's environmental committee. Graham Harris, a high school senior who will be departing for college halfway through a twoyear term, supplanted him.
Egly said, "I chose three that I thought would be very effective on the committee." She regretted not pursuing a suggestion to appoint the student to a liaison position. "But for that, I would have voted for Tom Osborne," she said.
Kinsman said, "We had that night a large number and I picked the three that I thought would work in the best interests in the city. As far as Graham Harris which seems to have the most controversy, I so much want young people to get involved. He is not just some shmuck," she said.
Rollinger reaffirmed a statement reported in the Indy's Oct. 17 edition that she believed Osborne's support of her candidacy cost him the post. "I'm sorry he's no longer on the committee," she said.
Each candidate was allotted two-minute closing statements.
Kinsman talked of her CPA career and family involvement in Laguna for over 30 years. She also expressed pride in civic improvements made during her tenure that have stymied past councils.
Egly expressed pride in serving as mayor, mentioning the refurbishment of Heisler Park as a particular asset. She ended with the hope that all attending the forum are registered and will vote.
Rollinger's 40 years in Laguna Beach have been transformational, she said. She expressed appreciation for Laguna's assets compared to her earlier surroundings in a Los Angeles neighborhood of strip malls without parks. She pointed out that raising children in Laguna prompted her involvement with the schools.
