Political Landscape: Parks commissioner and fight promoter announces his run for Newport Beach City Council

Newport Beach parks commissioner and fight promoter Roy Englebrecht is taking another shot at a seat on the City Council.

In his campaign for the November election, Englebrecht will seek to represent District 4, he announced Monday. That district, which includes the Eastbluff and Big Canyon areas, is currently represented by Councilman Kevin Muldoon.

Englebrecht said his top priority will be pension reform.

“Without a doubt this is really ‘the elephant in the room,’ and don’t let the current council or city staff tell you anything different,” he said in his announcement. “Someone must finally say enough is enough. Someone must try to put a majority of four council members together to address pension reform in a meaningful way, and with the support of residents of Newport Beach, I hope to be that person.”

He said he also plans to address development, traffic, airport issues and election reform.

Englebrecht, a boxing and mixed martial arts promoter who has lived in Newport Beach for more than 30 years, ran for the same council seat in 2014 with no fundraising, mailers, campaign signs or other advertising. He placed third in the voting behind Muldoon and Tim Brown.

“As I said in 2014, I don’t complain, I compete, so I will aggressively compete in 2018, and unlike my 2014 campaign, I am now asking the Newport Beach community to back my campaign with their contributions, prayers and support so that we can return our City Council to the people of our community,” he said in his announcement.

Englebrecht’s fight promotions include the Fight Club OC series, the Coliseum Gladiator MMA Championship Series at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Marconi Kids Foundation Fight Night.

He has served on the Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission since 2011.

His campaign website is joinroy.com.