LAGUNA NIGUEL : Candidates Ponder ‘Year of the Woman’

With major controversies such as a ridgeline protection ordinance now part of the city’s brief history, City Council candidates are pondering less divisive issues, such as why more women aren’t running this year.

Paul Christiansen, one of three incumbents seeking reelection, said residents expected more women on the ballot in what some have called the political Year of the Woman. Christiansen said there was “no finer opportunity for women candidates.”

Ten men and one woman filed papers to run for the three council seats. One of the men, Eric Paradise, has dropped out of the race because he is moving.

“I can’t explain it. I thought the field would have three or four women,” Christiansen said. “People frequently ask me, ‘Are there any women running?’ I (tell) them there is only one woman who has had the courage to step forward in Laguna Niguel.”

The problem could have more to do with money than courage, said candidate Janet Godfrey, a schoolteacher who believes women are at an economic disadvantage in such campaigns.

“It’s been very difficult raising money for me,” Godfrey said. “I think men have better financial connections.”

Other issues dominating the council race include campaign contribution limits, the San Joaquin Hills tollway, the wisdom of rezoning various city locales to boost the city’s economy and the challenge of guiding the city through some shaky financial times ahead.

All candidates say they favor some form of contribution limits and most would at least consider rezoning to increase tax revenues. Opinions are split on the wisdom of building the San Joaquin Hills tollway.

Councilman James Krembas, who is not up for reelection this year, predicted that the city budget will be the main problem facing the city’s future leaders. Many California cities are reeling from the state’s seizure of local tax dollars to help balance the state budget.

Mayor Thomas W. Wilson, who is running for reelection, agreed. “It’s going to take some real prudent planning and budgeting to make sure we can accomplish our current and future city objectives,” he said.

Other candidates are incumbent Larry A. Porter, Michael R. Weinell, Eddie Rose, Louis A. Rondinelli, Steele Morris, Ronald D. Halpern and Mark Goodman.