Extended Filings Close for 10 Cities : 5 More Candidates Surface in Costa Mesa

In the wake of Costa Mesa Mayor Norma Hertzog’s decision not to seek reelection, five more people have filed to run in Costa Mesa’s crowded City Council race.

Filing deadlines for the Nov. 4 election ended for Costa Mesa and nine other Orange County cities at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The period during which candidates may file had been extended for those cities because one or more incumbents did not seek reelection.

Three new candidates entered the field in Yorba Linda, where Mayor Michael Beverage announced last week that he would not attempt to regain his council seat. Beverage said his decision was based not on his recent acquittal on child molestation charges but on a desire to spend more time on “family, friends and business.”

Here are the final filings:

- In Costa Mesa, the final ballot will list 13 names vying for the two council seats to be vacated by Hertzog and Councilwoman Arlene Schaefer, who had announced months earlier that she would not seek reelection.

Herzog said Wednesday that she will devote her time to heading a nonprofit foundation, but would not give further details.

Those filing this week were Sandra L. Hamilton, a teacher and administrator at Coastline Community College; Marie N. Maples, a retiree; Nicholas Bartlett, a legal investigator; Michael W. Szkaradek, an accountant, and Chris Steel, a businessman.

Candidates filing by last Friday were Orville Amburgey and Peter Buffa, businessmen; Joseph Erickson, planning commissioner and slow-growth advocate, Robert Hanson, retired; Charlene Johnson, businesswoman; Brian Theriot, businessman; Michael Nutter, attorney, and Douglas Yates, businessman.

- There were no new filings in Fountain Valley, where nine candidates will compete for three seats. Two-term Councilman Ben Nielsen will not seek reelection, saying he wants to devote more time to family and business.

The ballot listing will pit incumbent Mayor Fred Voss and Mayor Pro Tem James Neal against John McKnight, planning commissioner; Joyce Marie Char, homemaker; Laurann Cook, community volunteer; Robert Hoxsie, general contractor; Frank Negri Jr., president of Martin Aircraft Tool, and John F. Thompson Jr., and Mary Ellis, both attorneys.

- Former Police Chief Orbrey Duke was the only person to file during the extended period in La Palma, where five people will vie for two council seats. Duke, who served as La Palma police chief, then later retired from the same post in Cypress, will run against Larry Herman, incumbent; Maxine Dillard, businesswoman; Pat Fossen, postal service consultant, and Eva Miner, dental consultant.

- In Laguna Beach, Clayton Vernon, management consultant, was the only person to file this week. He, along with Dan Kenney and Robert Gentry, incumbents; Lida Lenney, teacher and writer; Rick Slater, maintenance worker, and Maggie Meggs, veteran council candidate; will run for three open seats.

- In Newport Beach, where council members are elected by districts, Districts 4 and 6 remained open because incumbents were not running. In District 4, the final ballot will feature businessman Ronald Winship, businessman; David Shores, publisher, and Clarence Turner, planning commissioner. In District 6, Betty Tesman, a university arts administrator, added her name to a list that includes Michael Lapin, attorney; Pat Michaels, broadcast executive, and Philip Sansone, retired marketing executive.

- Villa Park will have eight residents competing for three seats, and City Manager Carolyn Veregge, commented: “It’s been a while since we’ve seen that many.”

Wayne Silzel and James T. Fasbender, incumbents; will face Herbert Moss, attorney; William Oliva, business executive; Ron Novello Jr., student; Sherry Zakowicz, real estate agent; Robert MaWhinney, hospital administrator, and Robert N. Helton, doctor and former council member.

- Four new candidates appeared among those seeking seats in Orange, where Mayor James H. Beam is a candidate for the Board of Supervisors. Joining Councilman Jess F. Perez and Robert D. Hoyt, banker, in the mayor’s race is Carrie Bedord, a redevelopment officer in Riverside.

New listings for the City Council ballot, where two seats are being contested, are Scott Bales, student; Robert Peterson, truck driver, and Bill Leming, real estate agent. They’ll face Don E. Smith, incumbent; Lois Wells, retired businesswoman; Joanne Coontz, businesswoman; Michael Carona, Orange County marshal; Shirley Ralston, community college trustee; Juan B. Nieblas, environmentalist; Timothy Smith, security analyst, and James H. Silva, businessman.

There were no new candidates in either Anaheim or Placentia.