ORANGE : Beyer New Mayor; 2 Incumbents Roll

Orange voters on Tuesday reelected City Council incumbents by wide margins.

Councilman Gene Beyer overwhelmed his four opponents in the mayoral race, while incumbents Joanne Coontz and William Steiner defeated former Planning Commissioner Don Greek to retain their seats.

Beyer outpolled his closest challenger, businessman Robert A. Boice, by a 2-to-1 margin. Beyer noted that his victory was due partly to the name recognition he built during his 22 years as a principal in the Orange Unified School District.

“You don’t educate two or three generations of kids without having an impact--even the ones you’ve had to discipline say they’re going to vote for you,” Beyer said.

Boice said the split vote between perennial mayoral candidate Juan Pablo Serrano Nieblas, E. William Berke and retired county official Marshall F. Norris weakened his chances.

The council must decide by Dec. 5 whether Beyer’s council term, which has two years remaining, will be filled by a special election or by a council appointment. Traditionally, the council has opted for making an appointment.

Coontz was the top vote-getter in the council race. Steiner, who was appointed to fill an unfinished term in 1988, won his first election to the council.

Greek, who is under investigation by the district attorney’s office for allegedly violating state conflict-of-interest laws while he was a public official, blamed that controversy for his loss.

“I’m sorry I didn’t win,” Greek said. “But we’re still going to take an active interest in the community and try to solve the problems I recognize through citizen action.”

The mayor serves a two-year term; council members are elected for four years.

Voters also decided three city measures Tuesday. The controversial plan to ban fireworks, Measure L, won approval by just 323 votes.

Voters soundly defeated Measure J, which would make the city treasurer an appointed position, and Measure K, which would raise the hotel “bed tax” from 8% to 10%.