San Clemente : Council Votes 4-0 to Elect Limberg as Mayor

After delaying the vote for more than two weeks, the San Clemente City Council on Wednesday selected a new mayor from among its ranks. Robert Limberg, a council member since 1980, was elected 4 to 0 with one abstention.

Limberg, 63, a retired U.S. Marine colonel, served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam before joining Rossmoor Corp. as administrative vice president. Before his election to the City Council in 1980, Limberg was a member of the San Clemente Planning Commission.

Limberg, who served as mayor from 1981 to 1982, said Thursday that during the coming year, he will be presiding over a City Council that will have to carefully monitor San Clemente’s growth to ensure that its expansion does not outstrip its ability to provide services to keep up with that growth.

The council also reappointed Mayor Pro Tem William Mecham for another year. Mecham, who was elected to the council in 1980, served as mayor from 1983 to 1984.

At the last council meeting, a vote for a new mayor was to have been taken, but because Limberg was absent on personal business, it was put off until this week. Councilwoman Karoline Koester abstained from the vote Wednesday after nominating Mayor Ken Carr for another term.