ORANGE : City Insider Named to Fill Council Seat

Mike Spurgeon, an Orange native and active community member, was appointed Wednesday night to complete the two years remaining in Mayor Gene Beyer’s City Council term by a 3-0 vote of council.

Councilwoman Joanne Coontz abstained, saying she agreed with some residents that the position should be filled by a special election.

“I think the citizens’ right to representative government is defeated by the appointment process,” Coontz said.

Beyer vacated his council seat when he was elected mayor in the Nov. 6 election.

Spurgeon, who has been on many city committees, was campaign manager for Councilman William G. Steiner this fall and has been a campaign adviser to Beyer. Spurgeon said his familiarity with city leaders and local issues should make his transition to the council a smooth one.

“Since I already have a good working relationship with every member of the council, it won’t be any problem hitting the ground running,” Spurgeon said earlier Wednesday.

He was out of town when the council made its announcement.

Born in Orange, Spurgeon graduated from San Diego State University in 1964 with a degree in business and economics. He joined the Army Military Police and intelligence forces and was promoted to captain during service in Vietnam in 1964-68.

He returned in 1970 to the city’s west side, where he and his wife, Susan, live with their daughter, Anne, 10.