Newport Beach : John Cox Elected Mayor Over Ruthelyn Plummer
John C. Cox Jr., a member of the Newport Beach City Council for the past six years, has been elected by his colleagues to serve as mayor.
Cox was elected by secret ballot on Wednesday, defeating Ruthelyn Plummer, the outgoing mayor pro tem. Cox and Plummer were tied during the first ballot. Evelyn R. Hart was then chosen to succeed Plummer as mayor pro tem.
“It’s about time,” Cox mused Thursday.
The new mayor said alleviating the city’s traffic congestion and development concerns should be the top issues during his two-year tenure. Newport Beach residents next week vote on a new traffic control proposal and on whether to allow the Irvine Co. to expand Newport Center with new office towers, homes, stores and cultural facilities.
He also said finding alternatives to the expected expansion of John Wayne Airport would be a key question for Newport Beach in the coming two years. Newport Beach residents have long complained about the noise and air congestion at the airport.
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