CYPRESS : Arnold Won’t Seek Return to Council

Councilwoman Margaret M. Arnold, who completes her first term this November, announced this week that she will not seek reelection to the council.

Arnold, 51, says the demands of her consulting business make it impossible to continue her political career in Cypress. She has tentative plans to move out of the city, she said.

“It is scary (to leave), but I am also looking forward to my new plans,” Arnold said.

As mayor, Arnold helped oversee controversial plans to turn a former hazardous waste storage facility into a residential project. The first homes in the Sorrento Development are expected to open this fall.

Since winning a seat on the council four years ago, Arnold has taken unpopular stances on several volatile issues. She voted in favor of Cypress Downs, a plan to develop a 167-acre business park around the Los Alamitos Race Course; the proposal was overwhelmingly defeated by voters in February, 1989.

She was also one of two council members supporting the seating of current Councilman Walter Bowman to fill a council vacancy. Bowman gained his post via a court order after the two remaining council members abstained from supporting Bowman’s application to fill the council post.

And most recently, she took the side of residents who complained about rabbits living in Nature Park. Despite being chastised by pro-animal forces, she was the only council member who voted to have the 30 or so rabbits removed.

Arnold’s departure leaves two seats on the council to be filled in the Nov. 6 election. Councilman John Kanel, who has served on and off for more than 20 years, is ineligible to run because of a two-term limitation. Bowman’s seat is also open to contention.

Candidates have until Aug. 10 to file.