Anaheim : Overholt Tells Successor to Resolve Angel Dispute

The political fallout of last week’s election had barely settled when outgoing City Council member E. Llewellyn Overholt Jr. on Wednesday challenged his successor to resolve what he called “the most destructive” dispute in the city: the expensive legal battle with the California Angels.

After more than eight years on the council, Overholt lost his reelection bid last week to newcomer Fred Hunter, who is scheduled to be sworn in Nov. 18. On Wednesday, Overholt bid his colleagues and supporters goodby.

The Nov. 4 election, in which each of the five council members was running for a city or county post, was marked by sharp words from all sides.

The day after the election, Overholt called the election “hardball big-time politics in Anaheim” and blamed new Mayor Ben Bay for his ouster. Overholt said Bay had branded him in the campaign as “a liberal” when “I’ve been a Republican all my life.”

On Wednesday, Overholt put aside hard feelings and congratulated the winners, including Bay, and wished them well “from the bottom of my heart.”

In reference to the Angels’ lawsuit against the city over the rights to the Anaheim Stadium parking lot, Overholt said: “Fred Hunter, if you are the catalyst to settle this, then I will be the first to congratulate you publicly.”