MISSION VIEJO : Council Chooses Curtis as Mayor

Councilman Robert A. Curtis was elected the fourth mayor of Mission Viejo Monday night, and he pledged to lead the city into a new era of unity.

In his inaugural speech, Curtis said the last three years were marred by a “fierce and continuous conflict that shook the very foundation of our fledgling city.”

Three new council members--Sharon Cody, Robert Breton and Susan Withrow--were sworn in by U.S. Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) during a ceremony at the Oso Viejo Community Center.

Curtis was elected unanimously to serve a one-year term in office. Curtis in February defeated a recall effort backed by nearly $500,000 in contributions by the Mission Viejo Co. and other real estate interests. Cody, who supported the anti-recall campaign and was the top vote-getter in the Nov. 6 election, was elected vice mayor.

Three outgoing council members--Christian W. Keena, Victoria C. Jaffe and Norman P. Murray--had supported the Curtis recall campaign, arguing that Curtis’ presence was disruptive to the council.

Curtis said Monday that he appreciates what it is to be a political minority, and he pledged to respect “differing views” and to protect “dissenting voices.”

Outlining his agenda for the 3-year-old city, Curtis said the city should reconsider spending $1 million to renovate a building it recently bought for a city hall. Curtis has favored an offer by the Mission Viejo Co. to donate 7.2 acres for a civic center in return for permission to build a 700-housing unit development near the eastern boundary of the city.

“If Mission Viejo is to accept its leadership role in South Orange County, then surely our seat of government should be a source of pride in keeping with that pre-eminent status,” Curtis said.

“I do not call for a Taj Mahal, but I do share voters’ expectations that we exercise foresight and prudent business practices to ensure that our civic facilities meet future needs and engender pride among our residents.”

The new council, he said, will also ask the city attorney whether it can overturn a $15-million refuse hauling franchise awarded to Dewey’s Rubbish without a competitive bid.