Dwyer takes third Council slot

Incumbents won the day in Huntington Beach’s City Council race, as current members Don Hansen and Keith Bohr claimed two of the three open seats.

Planning Commissioner Devin Dwyer captured the third slot to replace outgoing Mayor Debbie Cook’s open seat.

“We’re happy,� Bohr said. “It’s a little easier as an incumbent, so we’re not shocked, but this is certainly not something to take for granted. It’s been a good night.�

Bohr, a real estate broker and consultant, said he was looking forward to serving during the city’s centennial year, and planned to work on projects like the Pacific City development and Village at Bella Terra, which he hoped would help the city through the global economic crisis.

“We want to be in the best position to weather the storm in the immediate future,� he said. “Obviously, it’s a bad economy worldwide, but since several projects are under construction, there’s still good news. We want to help them be successful.�

Hansen, a finance executive who studied international relations, said he felt validated by reelection and hoped to continue the policies he and the council had begun. He called his top priority the discussions over the Beach-Edinger corridor revitalization plan, a blueprint for redevelopment on the two streets for decades to come.

“I’m extremely interested in setting the right decisions for the Beach-Edinger corridor,� he said. “I think that’s going to be the bulk of our work over the next couple of years.�

Dwyer said his top issues are rebuilding the city’s infrastructure — in particular its aging roads — as well as fiscal responsibility.

“I’m really happy,� he said. “I think this bodes well for what I had been stating in my stump speeches and in my literature, that infrastructure should be first, which I think is ringing with my voters.�

Some council votes going forward may shift with Dwyer replacing Cook. His support of projects like the senior center in Central Park and the Poseidon desalination plant are obvious differences with the mayor, who strongly opposed both.

At the same time, Dwyer said he looked forward to working with everyone on the council, including Hansen, who appointed him as planning commissioner in the first place.

Dwyer thanked the public for their votes and told them he hoped to do them proud.

“I appreciate the support,� he said. “I can’t do it without their backing, and I can’t imagine how to keep everybody happy, but hopefully I can keep as many happy as possible, and live up to what they want to see accomplished. And maybe I’ll bring some of those who didn’t like me into the fold. We’ve got to make things work.�

MICHAEL ALEXANDER may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or at michael.alexander @latimes.com. CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at [email protected].