OUR LAGUNA: A woman who can wear many hats

Plain Jane, she ain’t.

There is Councilwoman Jane Egly; attorney Jane Egly; law professor Jane; wife Jane; mother, stepmother and grandmother Jane; and Planned Parenthood advocate Jane.

Egly is a multifaceted woman, wearer of many hats, literally and figuratively, who juggles marriage and motherhood, advocacy for numerous causes, a demanding career and an even more demanding commitment to the voters who elected her to the City Council.

She was honored Feb. 6 for her deft handling of the mayor’s gavel in 2008 at the annual Laguna Beach Woman’s Club luncheon. Council members, past and present, and admirers extolled her virtues as a civic leader.

Parking, Traffic and Circulation Committee member Dennis Myers witnessed Egly in action at a public meeting that she was chairing.

“A guy was getting abusive to a woman and Jane said, ‘Be nice,’” Myers said. “I have never seen a guy with a full head of stem stopped so dead in his tracks.

“That’s leadership.”

Egly is a fearless fighter for causes in which she believes, admirers said.

“I know her through the Women’s Movement,” said 2006 state NOW President Kim Salter, who presented Egly with a 75th Anniversary poster commemorating women’s emancipation in the United States. “You always speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.”

Lagunan Vera Martinez commended Egly for her care for the “shadow folks,” the ones who tend our babies, clean our homes, weed our gardens, wait on us in restaurants and change the linens in our hotel rooms.

Egly is also admired for her civility — stemming, some say, from her “near-Southern” upbringing in Maryland.

“Let me tell you, Maryland is the South,” said Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson, a North Carolinian by birth. “We have a lot in common — peach cobbler, chicken and dumplings, and black-eyed peas [not to mention persistence and sometimes bawdy senses of humor].

“Everyone in Laguna thinks I am a conservative. Everyone outside of Laguna thinks I am a left-wing liberal. Jane is fair. She listens to everyone.”

Former Councilwoman Cheryl Kinsman met Jane on the campaign trail 4 ½ years ago, as competitors. Both were winners — and not just at the polls.

“We formed a strong bond even though she has a reputation for being a liberal — and she is — and I am conservative,” Kinsman said.

The two collaborated on the council sub-committee appointed to deal with the South Coast Medical Center fiasco, which took a step toward resolution when Adventist Health had accepted the bid by Mission Hospital, serendipitously make public Friday at the luncheon.

“Without Jane it wouldn’t have been possible,” Kinsman said.

Councilwoman Toni Iseman first met Egly at a Democratic Fundraiser.

“Occasionally, she makes me look conservative,” Iseman said. “I talk about limiting big cars. She would like to blow them up.”

Mayor Kelly Boyd said the labels don’t matter.

“She thinks for herself and has done a great job for the city,” Boyd said.

Councilwoman Verna Rollinger said Egly is smart, reasonable and conscientious.

She can also laugh at herself, not always found in a politician’s tool box.

Egly was tickled at the luncheon by the Bree Burgess Rosen/David Schaar duet of “The reign of Jane is plainly down the drain,” a Burgess Rosen parody of “The Rain in Spain” from “My Fair Lady” — she playing Jane, Schaar playing Boyd.

Kidding aside, Schaar described Egly as a “listener,” also a rare characteristic in politicians.

“You may not agree with her, but ask her why,” Schaar said. “Trust her instinct. You are very lucky to have her.”

Besides being a listener, Egly has another idiosyncrasy for a politician — she shuns the limelight.

City Clerk Martha Anderson, who organized the Mayor’s Appreciation Luncheon, called Egly a reluctant honoree.

“My real issue is I do not like this kind of thing at all,” Egly e-mailed when asked to set a date. “So many do so much, there is no reason to honor the mayor. I would like to make this event a ‘Thank you, Laguna council, staff, volunteers and citizens for all you do to make our city beautiful and work.’”

Becky Jones, a member of Egly’s campaign team, did seven drafts of a fundraising letter, and Egly still wasn’t comfortable.

“Each draft, Jane’s response was, ‘It’s too much about me,’” Jones said. “After the sixth draft, Shary Seltzer sat Jane down and was brutally honest. She said, you are the one who is running, some of this has to be about you.

“Jane wasn’t happy. I have been up to my ears in politics for years and this is the least political person I’ve ever known.”

Planning Commissioner Anne Johnson said she was getting nowhere trying pin Egly down for information to include in the luncheon program.

“She said just Google me,” Johnson said.

Johnson ended up with more information than she could possible fit into the program.

Egly grew up near Washington, D.C. While in high school, she ditched classes to go sit in the House and the Senate balconies to watch the proceedings. She met John Kennedy, John Kerry, Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.

She graduated from Chapel Hill College with a degree in history and attended law school in North Carolina. When her first husband made a career move to Michigan, Egly transferred to Wayne State.

“I was the only woman in the law school in North Carolina, but Wayne State’s law class was more diverse,” Egly said.

Egly’s son, Paul, and daughter, Annie, were born while she was earning her juris doctor.

The family moved to California in 1973. Egly was a crossing guard at her children’s school, a room mother and passed the California bar exam — no easy task even when devoting full time to one’s studies — and began a practice in family law.

Egly was instrumental in the establishing the first law that gave the children of divorcing parents the right to legal counsel. She also chaired the Claremont Water Task Force — no wonder Laguna Beach County Water District General Manager Renae Hinchey finds Egly such a valuable ally on the council, which serves as the board of directors for the district. And Hinchey just loves the obvious affection the Eglys share.

The family moved again to San Juan Capistrano in 1978. Egly, who was practicing family and estate law, was a soccer, Little League and surfer mom, and the first president of the Capistrano Unified School District Foundation, modeled on Laguna’s SchoolPower.

“She is such a friend of schools,” school board member Betsy Jenkins said.

Subsequently Egly divorced her first husband, married Judge Paul Egly in 1984 and moved to Laguna Beach.

“I have loved Laguna Beach since the first time I saw it in 1962,” Egly said. “It isn’t any one thing — it is everything together. When I stand at Main Beach and look up at the hills, I just glow.

“During my campaigns, I enjoyed walking in town, chatting with folks, and listening to their concerns at coffees and other events.

“Anne Johnson started the mayor’s luncheons to thank the mayors, but it is me who wants to thank you.

“It’s the best job in the world.”

The city clerk presented Egly with a plaque honoring her term as mayor.

“As a city employee, I have had the great pleasure of working with Jane for the past four years and I truly look forward to the next four,” Anderson said.

Egly got a standing ovation. So did Chef and Sapphire restaurant owner Azmin Ghahreman, who catered the luncheon with a highly praised menu selected by Martha Lydick and Sandy Hovanesian. Ghahreman also donated gift certificates to the opportunity prizes

Guitarist John Heussenstamm, who owns the Guitar Shoppe in North Laguna and sponsors a blues and jazz concert to raise funds for the Laguna Beach High School music department, entertained.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; or e-mail [email protected].