LOCAL ELECTIONS: SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL : Candidates Focus on Generating Sales Taxes in Seaside Bedroom City

To live in this city is to live in comparative isolation.

Off Interstate 5, miles from the nearest major commercial areas both north and south of the city, San Clemente has long been starved for sales tax revenue.

Many residents jealously guard the city’s status as a peaceful bedroom community and have vigorously opposed commercial projects that would have increased the flow of sales tax dollars into city coffers.

As a result, several of the 11 candidates running for three seats in the Nov. 6 municipal election say the city’s rapidly deteriorating infrastructure can no longer afford to be dependent on property tax revenues, which were frozen by Proposition 13.

“If San Clemente is going to be a bedroom community, our tax base is going to be weak,” said George Key, a candidate and member of the city Planning Commission. “We need to balance that need (to retain a small-town identity) with our infrastructure needs.”

Key, 66, is not alone in his desire to broaden the city’s tax base. At least seven other candidates have identified the issue as being one of the top three facing the city.

The city has suffered through financial woes in the past, with the city budget often running in the red. City staff positions have been chronically underfunded, and consultants are often hired to help on time-consuming projects.

City streets are crumbling, with no money to repair them, city officials say. A plan was recently proposed at City Hall to share the cost of street repair with neighborhoods willing to invest in the upgrades.

“The city’s broke,” said Councilman Thomas Lorch, 50, one of two incumbents seeking reelection. “I think this is our last chance to save San Clemente.”

How to handle growth in the city’s vast, undeveloped northeastern borders continues to be an issue in a community that voted to limit new housing construction to 500 units per year.

Newly emerging issues include a route for the proposed Foothill Transportation Corridor that would run through San Clemente, which all candidates either oppose or say must be scrutinized carefully.

Responding to increased gang activity, most of the candidates support suppression measures and want police to keep a close eye on gang crime.

The other candidates are Joe Anderson, 48, an insurance agency manager; Charles Seward, 49, a corporate trainer; Brian J. Rice, 43, a dentist and the other incumbent; Simon Zervos, 64, a retired businessman; Truman Benedict, 67, a retired school superintendent; Scott Walker, 40, a liquor store manager; Tom Padberg, 56, an insurance licenser; Lew Elia, 66, a retired marketing director, and Carol Hamilton, a lawyer who would not state her age.

SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL

These are the candidates running for three seats on the San Clemente City Council in the Nov. 6 election. Incumbent Holly Veale is not seeking reelection.

Joe Anderson

Age: 48

Occupation: Insurance agency manager.

Background: President of South Coast Boys and Girls Club; member of the city’s Economic Development Commission; former president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Issues: Favors developing a strong economic base to fund city services; wants to improve how commercial and housing development projects are handled by the city; would provide solutions to solve capital improvement problems, such as upgrading city streets and water facilities.

Truman Benedict

Age: 67

Occupation: Retired superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District.

Background: Member of the Optimists Club, Elks Lodge and Fire Squad Assn.

Issues: Wants to manage growth in northeastern portion of the city; would press for completion of the city general plan; would broaden city tax base.

Lew Elia

Age: 66

Occupation: Retired marketing director.

Background: Chairman of City Growth Management Committee; member of the Chamber of Commerce; member of the San Clemente Homeowners Assn.

Issues: Would work to establish consistent interpretation of city bylaws and policies by the City Council; backs implementation of long-range economic plan for city; favors attracting businesses to city to bolster sales tax base.

Carol Hamilton

Age: Preferred not to state.

Occupation: Attorney.

Background: President of Forster Ranch Homeowners Assn.

Issues: Opposes proposed Foothill Transportation Corridor; favors managing growth in the city; says she wants to be part of a City Council that would work with residents to resolve community and city problems.

George Key

Age: 66

Occupation: Retired municipal administrator.

Background: Serving second term on the city Planning Commission and is current chairman; member of the Rotary Club and Committee to Update General Plan; chairman of the California Municipal Utility Assn.

Issues: Wants to improve ability of the city to be in solid fiscal position; advocates low-cost rental housing for senior citizens; would work to prevent gangs from developing a foothold in the city.

Thomas Lorch

Age: 50

Occupation: Incumbent; retired engineering specialist.

Background: Seeking second term on the City Council.

Issues: Would like to see more accountability to the taxpayers; wants better planning for growth; wants more police on the streets; opposes Foothill Transportation Corridor and airport.

Tom Padberg

Age: 56

Occupation: Insurance licenser.

Background: Resident for nine years; member of the city Golf Course Committee.

Issues: Encourages citizens to make their voices heard regarding alternate Foothill Transportation Corridor plans; favors firmer stance on growth issues; would revitalize older sections of town and implement higher standards for maintenance of rental units.

Brian J. Rice

Age: 43

Occupation: Incumbent; dentist.

Background: Seeking second term on the City Council.

Issues: Wants to continue a tradition of what he calls stable and cooperative leadership; advocates balanced growth to encourage a healthy tax base and create jobs; wants the city to become more efficient with current resources to better serve residents by implementing programs such as recently approved anti-gang efforts.

Charles Seward

Age: 49

Occupation: Corporate trainer.

Background: Reserve volunteer city firefighter; advisory board member of the First Baptist Church in San Clemente.

Issues: Favors controlled moderate growth in the city; would work to develop fiscal plan aimed at producing a sound economic base for the city; wants a more specific general plan.

Scott Walker

Age: 40

Occupation: Liquor store manager.

Background: Twenty-two years as merchant in city; member of Surfriders Assn.

Issues: Favors establishment of off-track satellite wagering facility in city; would back economic revitalization of city’s commercial district.

Simon Zervos

Age: 64

Occupation: Retired businessman.

Background: Member of the Los Angeles County Health Facilities Authority Commission and Los Angeles County Board of Retirement.

Issues: Opposes any alignment of the proposed Foothill Transportation Corridor to the city; opposes construction of a proposed Orange County International Airport near San Clemente; wants to eradicate corruption on all levels of city government.