Boardman announces candidacy

Connie Boardman, a former Huntington Beach mayor, announced last week that she is running for City Council, citing dissatisfaction with the city’s current leadership and what she perceives as its indifference to residents’ needs.

Boardman, who did not seek reelection after her term ended in 2004, has joined together with fellow candidates Joe Shaw and Blair Farley to run as Team Huntington Beach. Shaw, a former planning and public works commissioner, and Farley, a planning commissioner, introduced Boardman as a member of their slate at a fundraiser Aug. 5 at the home of former Mayor Debbie Cook.

Boardman pulled her nomination papers Aug. 5, the day before deadline, and turned them in to the city clerk’s office Friday.

“We have, between us, many years of civic involvement and experience,� she said. “I think one of our main goals is to be responsive to the residents of Huntington Beach and listen to their concerns.�

She said she felt the current council had often ignored residents’ opinions, particularly in July, when it approved a housing development on the Bolsa Chica Mesa, despite numerous protests.

“The council has really changed from when I was on it,� Boardman said. “We worked hard to treat the public with respect regardless of their viewpoint, and I don’t see it with this council. I didn’t see it that night.�

Shaw, who leads all candidates in fundraising in the council race so far, said he would be proud to have Boardman’s name next to his on campaign literature.

“Ever since I’ve been in Huntington Beach, I’ve seen Connie as one of the leaders,� he said. “I’ve always supported the things she does and the things she believes in. I’m honored to be on the ticket with her.�

Boardman, who was elected alongside Cook in 2000, served a single term on the council and was mayor from 2002 to 2003. An outspoken environmentalist, she is the chairwoman of the biology department at Cerritos College and is a longtime member of the Bolsa Chica Land Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Huntington Beach’s wetlands.

In April, Boardman won Southern California Edison’s Environmental Hero Award for her longtime activism.

Farley, a pastor and technology director at Mariners Church in Irvine, said he expected Boardman’s reputation among voters to complement his and Shaw’s.

“I think that having the three of us working together in this campaign makes all of us better candidates,� he said, “because we are able to all bring some different bit of experience and interaction with the public to the team, and I think everyone on our team will benefit from that.�