Foe of Pierside Village Project Appointed to State Coastal Panel

Huntington Beach City Councilwoman Linda Moulton-Patterson, a foe of Pierside Village and other proposed projects on public beaches, on Wednesday was appointed to the state Coastal Commission. She is scheduled to be sworn in today.

Moulton-Patterson, 48, was notified of her selection about two hours after the Coastal Commission voted to sustain approval of Pierside Village in Huntington Beach.

“If I had been on the commission today, I would have voted against Pierside,” Moulton-Patterson said.

On the Coastal Commission, which has zoning authority over beaches and lands near the coast, Moulton-Patterson replaces former Burbank City Councilwoman Mary Lou Howard, who had to step down after she lost her reelection bid.

There is no specific term of service for the post Moulton-Patterson is filling.

“My appointment was confirmed by the (state) Senate Rules Committee, and I serve at the pleasure of Sen. (David A.) Roberti (D-Los Angeles), the chairman of the Rules Committee,” she said. “I’m very pleased to be appointed because I’m excited and very eager to work on coastal issues.”

The appointment was made just two days before the Coastal Commission is scheduled to discuss whether to fire its executive director, Peter Douglas.

Roberti said that all the finalists for Howard’s slot had indicated they would back environmentalist Douglas.

Patterson is the wife of former U.S. Rep. Jerry Patterson (D-Santa Ana).