COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:

The Daily Pilot really missed big-time with its endorsement editorial in not endorsing Keith Curry (“Knowledge, courage, balance for Newport,” Oct. 19). Newport Beach Councilman Curry has served the city with distinction, integrity and skill. In only 2 1/2 years Keith has demonstrated leadership on the development of the Newport Coast Community Center, the 1/1 Marines Memorial, the renewed Measure M that increases funds for traffic reduction in Newport Beach and he sponsored protections against eminent domain abuse.

As one of the nation’s leading public finance consultants, Curry has chaired the City Council finance committee at a time when Newport Beach revenues and reserves are up, and the city is financially strong, even as cities nearby are having severe economic problems. Curry helped develop the 15-year Facilities Finance Plan, which just received a prestigious award from the California League of Cities for internal management, and he is leading on using Performance Benchmarking to improve city accountability.

Curry led the council in opposition to Proposition 5 and helped craft the toughest ordinance on group home concentration in California.

He and his fellow council members achieved an historic agreement to limit runway expansion at John Wayne Airport, important to all residents.

Curry stood up to honor his commitment to protect open space in the city hall debate. While we may not all have agreed with him on city hall, when the votes were counted, he immediately joined with all of the other council members to support the direction of voters.

The record is clear that Curry was the first to move with humility and grace to defuse the tensions that arose over this issue and restore decorum. That is exactly the example of diplomacy and leadership we need from the City Council.

Curry has a conservative financial plan that will result in a new Oasis Senior Center, Sunset Ridge Park and other needed civic improvements. His opponent does not.

We know what it takes to be a successful City Council member and Curry is the clear choice to be reelected to the Newport Beach City Council.

MARIAN BERGESON is a former state education secretary and state lawmaker. Jean Watt, Evelyn Hart, Clarence Turner, Dennis O’Neil and Jan Debay are former mayors and council members.