Steiner Gets Council Seat in Orange

William G. Steiner, executive director of the Orangewood Children’s Foundation and a member of the Orange Unified School District Board of Trustees, was appointed Friday night to the Orange City Council.

Steiner will take office Dec. 20. He said he plans to resign from the school board on Dec. 16.

Steiner, 51, was a last-minute compromise choice to fill the seat vacated by Don Smith after Smith successfully won the mayor’s seat from incumbent Mayor Jesse Perez last month.

The City Council met twice earlier this week in an attempt to fill the seat, but the four members remained deadlocked on their choices. Smith and Councilman Gene Beyer supported former Mayor Robert Hoyt for the seat. Council members Fred Barrera and Joanne Koontz supported David Hart, a member of the city Planning Commission.

“I could see that we were at a stalemate,” Smith said.

He said he learned that Steiner was interested in the seat and on Thursday called Steiner to see whether he would submit his resume. Council members had accepted 19 resumes for the seat when they decided to accept no more. But after the deadlock they voted Thursday to accept new candidates for the seat.

Steiner was elected by a 3-0 vote, Barrera abstaining. Steiner said he realized that Barrera’s abstention was to show support for Hart, who had been his campaign manager. Steiner had been chairman of Koontz’ last election campaign.

Steiner was director of the county-run Albert Sitton Home, and became director the Orangewood Children’s Home, which replaced Sitton. He led the $8-million fund-raising drive for the new Orangewood home, then left the home in 1986 to run its private foundation.

He was elected to the Orange Unified School District board in 1983 and was reelected in 1987. He also served a year as the board’s president and was named Orange Citizen of the Year in 1987.

“I’m delighted to join the council. I’ve known all of the members for a long time, and I know I can work well with all of them,” Steiner said.

Smith said it was important to break the deadlock quickly because in his view the city has major, pressing problems which need the attention of a full council. He cited the need to hire a city manager, the proposed expansion of Chapman College and more than 7,500 acres to be developed in East Orange.

Steiner’s vacated school board seat must be filled by appointment within 60 days of his resignation or a special election must be called.