GARDEN GROVE : Residents to Vote on 2 Ballot Measures

Along with electing a mayor and two City Council members on Nov. 6, Garden Grove residents will vote on two ballot measures.

Measure A would prohibit oil drilling or pumping within 600 feet of churches, schools and homes.

Oil drilling would be restricted to two areas:

* The city yard on Newhope Street, south of Trask Avenue.

* The Central Industrial District in west Garden Grove.

The measure was placed on the ballot by the City Council after a citizens’ group failed to collect enough signatures to do so.

In addition, the measure would require a four-fifths majority of the Council, rather than a simple majority, to approve a drilling permit.

With the second ballot measure, Measure B, voters will advise the council whether it should choose the first runner-up in the last council race to fill a vacancy caused when a member is elected or appointed to higher political office.

That measure is in response to past political deadlocks when the council could not agree on a replacement. Although it is advisory rather than binding, Measure B could have bearing on filling a vacancy soon if Councilman J. Tilman Williams is elected mayor.

GARDEN GROVE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION

These are the candidates running for mayor and for two seats on the City Council. Councilman Raymond T. Littrell is not seeking reelection.

Bart Blakesly

Age: 49

Occupation: Engineer

Background: Member of the Garden Grove Planning Commission for two years; member of the Scottish Rite, York Rite, El Bekal Shrine and twice Master of the Blue Lodge.

Issues: Favors securing long-term revenue sources for the city, revitalization of neighborhoods blighted by pornography, affordable housing for senior citizens; opposes declaring any part of Garden Grove a crash zone for the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center airfield.

Bruce Allan Broadwater

Age: 51

Occupation: Insurance broker

Background: Nineteen-year resident of Garden Grove; president of Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce; bachelor’s degree from University of San Francisco; spent three years in the Army.

Issues: Opposes tax increases and oil drilling near schools, homes or businesses; supports war on crime, mass transportation and participation in the arts.

Robert F. Dinsen

Age: 73

Occupation: Incumbent

Background: Forty-one year resident of Garden Grove; has served 10 years on the City Council; is a World War II veteran.

Issues: Favors keeping government costs down and reducing taxes; opposes the use of eminent domain for private benefit; supports making police and fire protection, street maintenance, senior citizen welfare and youth programs the spending priorities for the city.

Vivian E. Kirkpatrick

Age: 36

Occupation: Department administrator

Background: Has helped her mother with campaigns for Midway City Sanitary District board; spearheaded citizens group to get more police action in Pioneer Park area.

Issues: Supports stronger commitment to balanced budget; would like city to be wiser in the use of redevelopment funds; would like to cut down on city spending.

Mark Leyes

Age: 32

Occupation: Environmental impact analyst

Background: Master’s degree in economics; member of Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce, county Citizens Advisory Committee on Earthquake Preparedness and county Water Conservation Task Force; former board member of the Municipal Water District of Orange County.

Issues: Supports cutting down on bureaucracy at Police Department and putting more officers on the streets; wants to improve transportation system but opposes new countywide Measure M; supports synchronizing traffic signals.

Janet E. Sill

Age: 43

Occupation: Recycler, lobbyist

Background: Graduate of Minneapolis Business College and M.T.I. Business College in Hollywood; part-time student at Rancho Santiago College.

Issues: Opposes unnecessary government spending; proposes the removal of fruit trees in Garden Grove to avoid future spraying of malathion; supports universal comprehensive health and dental care for all residents and a ban on smoking in Garden Grove restaurants.

Walter C. Wood Jr.

Age: 44

Occupation: Hospital employee, priest

Background: Attended Santa Ana College and Duarte Costa School of Religion-Servants of the Good Shepherd and the Catholic Apostolic Church of Brazil; Army veteran.

Issues: Supports rent control and low- and medium-income housing; wants to encourage police patrol of residential areas to cut down on drug problems and burglaries; supports balancing the city budget; opposes commercial building.

Mayoral Candidates J. Tilman Williams

Age: 65

Occupation: Councilman/ businessman

Background: Twenty-nine year resident of Garden Grove; elected as councilman and mayor four times; World War II veteran; graduate of Michigan State University.

Issues: Opposes oil wells near homes and churches; opposes tax increases and the investment of public funds in private businesses; supports a stronger Police Department; supports redevelopment to eliminate blight.

W. E. (Walt) Donovan

Age: 64

Occupation: Incumbent/ retired

Background: Elected three times as councilman, once as mayor; attended Santa Ana College and the University of Oregon; former area manager for Southern California Edison; active in many community organizations.

Issues: Favors increasing property values and revitalizing aging commercial properties while keeping the city safe.