Elizabeth Pearson steps down as Laguna mayor in emotional tribute

Amid a bouquet of red roses and while shedding a few tears, outgoing Laguna Beach Mayor Elizabeth Pearson bid adieu Tuesday night to her City Council colleagues after 12 years.

Taking her place will be Bob Whalen, who was unanimously appointed mayor at the meeting. Steve Dicterow was named mayor pro tem. Newcomer Robert Zur Schmiede was sworn in along with incumbents Toni Iseman and Kelly Boyd.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but this should be a great group to work with on behalf of the city and get things done,” Whalen said.

The beginning of the meeting was dedicated to Pearson, who presided as mayor three times, including a rare 18-month span from December 2004 to June 2006 that allowed her to complete the work she was doing to help the city recover from the Bluebird Canyon landslide in June 2005.

“All I wanted to do was make a difference and get something done,” Pearson said with tears running down her cheeks. “I feel like I’ve done that, and thank you all for being a part of it.”

A handful of residents in a packed council chambers expressed appreciation for Pearson’s service.

“Elizabeth is one of the first people who opened her arms to me and helped me be a better leader,” said Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann Wareham, who moved to the city four years ago.

Pearson was the playhouse’s development director before becoming chief executive and president of Pacific Chorale, the resident choir of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

“Thank you for your incredible leadership and what a real tutor and mentor you’ve been to so many in town who have had to find their way in a new place,” Wareham said.

Pearson, who is on the board of Laguna Beach Live and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn., is also known to use her voice to light up a Christmas party, resident Jerry Bieser said.

“You’re an amazing woman with a great heart and amazing soul,” Bieser said. “You have given so much because you care. If you’ve never been to a Christmas party [with her], if you need entertainment, she can sing German Christmas songs like no one ever did.”