Mayor Names Two for Harbor Panel in Opting Not to Reappoint Talin : Port: Kell responds to controversy over allegations of conflict of interest in not reappointing comissioner. One of his nominees would be panel’s first Latino member.

Preempting an expected anouncement by George Talin Sr. that he would not seek reappointment to the Harbor Commission because of investigations into his business relationships, Long Beach Mayor Ernie Kell this week nominated two other civic leaders for membership on the powerful body.

They are Carmen Ornelas-Perez, a Democratic Party officer who would be the first Latino to sit on the commission, and Roy Hearrean, head of an Orange County investment firm.

“I think there’s a certain cloud that’s been hanging over Mr. Talin,” Kell said in explaining why he had not reappointed the six-year commissioner. “While (the allegations) have not been proven, it will take a year or two (to investigate them) and that’s too long a time to keep that cloud hanging over Mr. Talin, the port and the city.”

Talin, who has denied any wrongdoing, was not available for comment on the nominations. However, he issued a prepared statement through a spokesman congratulating Ornelas-Perez and Hearrean and expressing gratitude to Kell and the City Council for his time on the commission.

“Their support and encouragement have meant a lot to me and my family,” Talin’s statement said.

If confirmed by the City Council, Ornelas-Perez, 51, will replace outgoing Commissioner Robert Langslet and Hearrean, 56, will replace Talin, whose six-year term ended July 1.

Kell said he expects no opposition to the appointments and hopes that the two will be confirmed and in place on the commission within three weeks.

“They are outstanding appointments, both of them,” said commission President Joel Friedland. “They are both participating people and known quantities in the community.”

Sources had said Talin planned to announce that he would not seek reappointment, but Kell acted before the announcement was made.

Speculation about Talin’s commission post began last month after questions arose on two fronts regarding the operations of a tire company he owns. First, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office revealed that it was investigating allegations by two former Talin employees that the company--Talin Tire Inc.--had billed customers, including the county, for work that was never performed. Kell later asked the district attorney’s office and the state Fair Political Practices Commission to look into whether the commissioner’s business dealings with the city’s Harbor Department and port tenants constituted a conflict of interest.

Talin has said he did nothing wrong and expects to be vindicated by the investigations.

However, a spokesman for Talin said Tuesday that the commissioner agreed with the mayor’s assessment that the allegations had placed the commission under a cloud of suspicion, and Talin had planned on publicly removing himself from the running for a second term.

“I think it was his intent to give Ernie Kell the flexibility to make another appointment that wouldn’t be as controversial,” said Jay Beeler, a public relations consultant representing Talin. “He doesn’t feel that the allegations will stand up, but he didn’t want to encumber Mayor Kell.”

In choosing the new nominees, Kell said he had sought “qualified, outstanding” individuals who are active, well-connected and inclined to look for innovative ways in which the harbor can help foot the bill for some city expenses, such as beach maintenance. In nominating Ornelas-Perez, he said, he also managed to further his longtime goal of “bringing all segments of our community into play on our boards and commissions” to increase their ethnic diversity.

Ornelas-Perez, who is assistant chief deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and one of four vice-chairmen of the Democratic National Committee, has long been discussed as a potential appointee to the Harbor Commission. Reached by telephone at her office in Los Angeles on Tuesday, she said she was delighted by the nomination.

“I am absolutely gratified and very, very happy,” she said. “The significant part of it is that the mayor has the vision to realize that the city is changing and that it’s important to have the representation of all the people of Long Beach. The message to minorities and women is to put themselves out there for consideration. I encourage them to submit their names for any posts that have been out of reach and to become involved in all aspects of the community.”

Hearrean, chief executive officer of a real estate investment firm called Statewide Investors, said he was surprised by the nomination because he had not considered himself a front-runner. “I consider it an honor and a challenge,” he said.

Hearrean, who said he was a business partner of Harbor Commissioner Alex Bellehumer from 1964 to 1966, added that, if confirmed, he intends to apply his experience in leasing, developing and land aquisition to such port priorities as ensuring growth, improving facilities and negotiating with the Walt Disney Co. to make sure that a proposed Disney project in the area is completed in a manner consistent with the port’s best interests.

While expressing no specific opinion regarding the allegations against his predecessor, the new nominee said he is very attuned to some of the issues that have been raised.

“I believe it’s very important that no commissioner provide (even the) perception of a conflict of interest,” he said.