Busy ballot awaits Newport electorate

The resignation of Newport Beach City Councilman John Heffernan means voters will see an unprecedented six out of seven council seats on the November ballot.

Three of the candidates running will be appointees, and one of those will probably be named within 30 days.

Heffernan submitted a resignation to city officials Wednesday. The council has 30 days to appoint someone to fill his Seventh District seat, which represents the Port Streets and parts of Newport Coast.

He has recommended Dolores Otting, who lost to him by 3,125 votes in 2004.

Mayor Don Webb said council members will follow the city charter, which says they must interview applicants and choose someone. Applicants must live in the Seventh District.

Otting plans to apply for the post, and Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce President Richard Luehrs said the chamber will likely back a candidate, but it’s too early to say who it will be.

The council’s pick will join Councilwoman Leslie Daigle and Councilman Ed Selich on the ballot as appointees facing voters for the first time. Webb and Councilman Dick Nichols are up for reelection, and Councilman Tod Ridgeway is termed out and leaves an open seat.

Normally, voters choose candidates for either three or four of Newport’s council seats at one time. If three of the four-year terms are on the ballot one year, the other four will be up for election two years later.

So having six seats on the ballot is an oddity, and one that Webb finds worrisome.

“That’s not a good thing because one of the reasons why we have a staggered election process ... is because it gives you a broad base of experience,” he said. “If we were to, say, get six new council members on the council at once, you just don’t have a whole lot of maturity on the council and a lot of background to make your decisions.”

With all those seats on the ballot, Otting hopes to see a number of residents throw their hats in. Although she criticized the appointment process when it was last used in May and even suggested changing the city charter, she said in this case, “if that’s the process, then you have to use it.”