LOCAL ELECTIONS / SAN CLEMENTE CITY COUNCIL : Race Is Calm by Local Standards

In a city known for its former recall drives and intense campaigns involving up to 36 candidates, probably the most notable thing so far about the current campaign for two open City Council seats is an unusual sense of calm.

A group of seven candidates, one of the smallest groups in city history, has stepped forward to try for the two four-year council seats, including incumbents Candace Haggard, 41, an intergovernmental relations analyst in the Orange County administrative office, and Scott Diehl, 42, a veterinarian. The rest of the field includes Mark Blencowe, 36, a business attorney; David Leland, 39, a preschool owner and accountant; Jay Durkin, 56, a business owner; Daniel Huard, 39, a computer consultant, and Glenn Edward Roy, 39, a businessman.

“This has probably been one of the quietest, if not the quietest, elections I have ever seen,” said Durkin, a San Clemente resident of 31 years.

Candidates say they believe that the recession, not a lack of serious and controversial issues, is the main reason for the calm.

“No one has money, times are tough,” Roy said. “I think the money most people will spend will be mostly out of their pockets.”

Still, the candidates said they certainly would not mind a more low-key council race.

“I hope this might be a nice peaceful campaign and we can talk about the issues,” Blencowe said. “It is a difficult time.”

The primary problem in the seaside city of 43,172 involves a continuing budget crisis that is not expected to ease in the coming year. In June, the City Council cut nearly $2 million in city services to balance its $20-million general fund budget. Three months later, with the late adoption of a state budget, the council is being asked to cut another $604,500 in city services.

More long-term cost-cutting options, including the enactment of a utility tax or contracting with the Sheriff’s Department for police services, are also being considered by city officials.

City leaders are also developing a plan that will guide development and preservation of the seaside Pier Bowl, deemed by city founder Ole Hanson in the late 1920s as the blueprint for his “Spanish Village by the Sea” vision. While a preliminary draft of the plan has largely been met with approval from the public, a main sticking point involves possible redevelopment of the 52-year-old Beachcomber Apartments Motel and neighboring Robison home into a 123-room luxury resort. Proponents say the resort would bring much-needed tax dollars to the city and revitalize the Pier Bowl, while opponents say that the city’s historic structures should be preserved and that the Beachcomber site is too small to sustain a competitive resort.

With such issues before the city and given the past voting patterns of residents, most candidates agree that things will likely heat up before the Nov. 3 election, especially for the incumbents.

“Since 1970, there’s only been one election where both incumbents ran and were both elected,” said Diehl, who first served on the council from 1982 to 1986 before being defeated in a spirited election in which voters tossed out all three incumbents. He was reelected in 1988.

“But the weight of the issues are very complicated this year,” Diehl said, “and I think the council is doing a real good job of dealing with them.”

San Clemente City Races

Seven candidates are vying for two seats on the San Clemente City Council and two candidates are seeking the city clerk’s seat in the Nov. 3 election. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 5. To register, pick up a form at any post office, library or city hall. For more information, call the county registrar of voters at (714) 567-7600.

CITY COUNCIL

Mark Blencowe

Age: 36.

Occupation: Business attorney.

Background: Executive committee member of Orange County Republican Central Committee; member California State Republican Central Committee; adviser to president of San Clemente Seniors; counsel to a county committee for the ethical conduct of political campaigns.

Issues: Supports Foothill Corridor; supports resort hotel in Pier Bowl if economically feasible; against new utility tax; supports local control and keeping Police Department in San Clemente; supports term limits.

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Scott Diehl

Age: 42.

Occupation: Incumbent; veterinarian.

Background: President of League of California Cities Orange County division; chairman of the Foothill/Eastern Corridor Transportation Agency.

Issues: Supports Foothill Transportation Corridor; supports resort hotel in Pier Bowl if economically feasible; opposes new utility tax; supports local control of Police Department if city can afford it and maintain quality service; opposes term limits as unnecessary in San Clemente.

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Jay Durkin

Age: 56.

Occupation: Business owner; retired broadcaster.

Background: Member of steering committee that created paramedic subscription program; Save Our Pier committee member; announcer and board of directors member of La Christianita Pageant Assn.; announcer and board of directors member for San Clemente Ocean Festival; six-year member of former Traffic and Parking Commission; co-founder Downtown Business Assn.

Issues: Supports Foothill Corridor toll road if it doesn’t affect local neighborhoods; opposes large-scale resort hotel in Pier Bowl; supports letting voters decide if city should retain Police Department or contract for police services; opposes new utility tax; favors term limits.

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Candace Haggard

Age: 41.

Occupation: Incumbent; governmental analyst with Orange County

Background: Representative for South County cities to Southern California Assn. of Governments; board of directors member of Boys and Girls Club of South Coast area.

Issues: Supports Foothill Corridor toll road with recent realignments; supports concept of smaller-scale resort in Pier Bowl; committed to maintaining high level of police service however possible; opposes utility tax unless put to a public vote; supports term limits, opposes lifetime limits.

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Daniel R. Huard

Age: 39.

Occupation: Self-employed computer consultant.

Background: Former Boy Scout leader.

Issues: Opposes Foothill Transportation Corridor; supports letting voters decide if a resort hotel should be built in the Pier Bowl; supports letting voters decide if city should retain Police Department or contract for police services; opposes new utility tax; favors term limits.

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David T. Leland

Age: 39.

Occupation: Preschool owner; accountant.

Background: Elected member of Orange County Republican Central Committee; member of California Republican Assembly.

Issues: Supports Foothill Transportation Corridor, but opposes road tolls; supports resort hotel in Pier Bowl if economically feasible; opposes new utility tax; opposes contracting with Sheriff’s Department for police services, but supports exploration of regionalized police services; opposes term limits.

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Glenn Edward Roy

Age: 39.

Occupation: Businessman.

Background: Helped found Coalition Against The Corridors, a group opposed to county toll roads; active with San Clementians for Managed Growth; helped found San Clemente Animal Shelter.

Issues: Opposes Foothill Transportation Corridor; opposes massive hotel projects and other intense development in Pier Bowl; supports local control of Police Department; opposes new utility tax; favors term limits, but not lifetime limit.

CITY CLERK

Myrna Erway

Age: Declined to state.

Occupation: City clerk/senior administrative assistant.

Background: Has served as San Clemente city clerk for seven years; city clerk in Grand Terrace for seven years; certified municipal clerk; Rotary Club member; San Clemente Chamber of Commerce member; City Clerks Assn. of California member; International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

Priorities: Provide support to the City Council, the public and city staff members; protect and maintain vital city documents; ensure compliance of all city regulations; properly conduct city elections.

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John Koch

Age: 61

Occupation: Self-employed software marketing consultant; semi-retired.

Background: More than 30 years management experience in the communications and computer industry; involved with Concerned Citizens.

Priorities: Increase communication with residents; ensure accurate council minutes; restructure position so city clerk does not answer to the city manager.