DANA POINT : Commissioner Who Criticized Loses Post

A planning commissioner who sharply criticized the City Council during his recent unsuccessful campaign for a council seat lost his seat on the commission last week.

Harold Kaufman, who spent a two-year term on the city’s first Planning Commission, was not reappointed by the council for another term. Kaufman, an insurance claims settler, was the only city commissioner seeking reappointment to be rejected for a new term.

“I guess that’s politics,” Kaufman said. “But I plan to continue being active in this city as much as I am able to.”

While campaigning for a council seat in the June 5 election, Kaufman had openly criticized the City Council members for overturning Planning Commission decisions. He also accused them of being too influenced by developers.

Seven candidates sought three council seats in that election. Kaufman came in fourth.

Last week, when making appointments to three commission seats, the council chose incumbent Lynn Dawson and newcomers Robert Montgomery and James Hyde.

City Councilman Mike Eggers, who had borne the brunt of Kaufman’s criticism during the campaign, entered the motion naming the three appointees. The vote was unanimous.

Eggers denied it had anything to do with the council race.

This is not a campaign issue,” Eggers said. “I can withstand personal attacks; I’ve been attacked before.”

But, Eggers said, “we wanted people with respect for each other and respect for the staff and, based on (Kaufman’s) comments, he doesn’t have much respect for the council. With all the work we have to do, putting together a general plan, a redevelopment agency and a $3-million capital improvement budget, I wanted everybody moving in the same direction.”