ORANGE : Mayor Is Welcomed Back to City Council
Mayor Gene Beyer returned to the City Council last week after an absence of more than two months while recuperating from heart surgery.
Beyer, who lost 30 pounds during his recuperation, looked thin and pale at last week’s council meeting but stayed for the duration of the unusually long 5 1/2-hour session.
“Anybody who says I’m not healthy after this is nuts,” he joked to the audience.
Beyer thanked well-wishers and colleagues for their concern and support while he was recovering.
Beyer, 64, was admitted to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage on Dec. 27 complaining of chest pains. Tests showed that his heart had temporarily stopped. He underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery and was released Jan. 18.
In an interview last week, Beyer said he intends to run for reelection in November despite his recent health problems.
“I feel like I am in better shape now than I was before, so I see no reason why I shouldn’t,” he said.
Beyer added that he is “gaining weight all the time” and rides a stationary bicycle and walks about three-quarters of a mile each day.
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