SANTA ANA : Successful Candidates Attend City Meetings

Although they will not be sworn in until next week, the three newly elected City Council members are already settling into their new jobs with tours of City Hall and orientation meetings with department heads.

Of the three, newcomers Tom Lutz and Lisa Mills are closely aligned with Mayor Daniel H. Young, who endorsed them. However, Ted Moreno defeated Young’s third protege, attorney Glenn Mondo.

The council members-elect met with fire and police officials Tuesday evening as part of a continuing orientation process that will culminate with their swearing in next week.

Moreno, a business consultant, said before the meeting on Tuesday that he is looking forward to working with the other council members to streamline the business permit process and lure companies and jobs to the area. He said he will also push for anti-gang and anti-drug programs and improved recreation during his term.

At 25, Moreno is the youngest council member. He said: “I’ll be nervous at first, being the new kid on the block. It’s a lot of responsibility, but I wouldn’t have run for this position if I didn’t think I could handle it.”

Mills, 36, director of planning and development for the Orange County Transportation Authority, said Tuesday that her foremost goal is to establish positive working relationships with the rest of the council members.

For the longer term, she said she wants to ensure funding for the new city jail. A related goal is to make the “public safety program the best it can be and to make people feel secure in our city.”

Lutz, 48, a general contractor, said throughout his campaign that he would fight for more police to deter crime and gang activity and better code enforcement to reduce overcrowding.

He also supported making it easier for businesses to come into the city, because “I hear our hoops are smaller and hurdles are higher. We need to have the city work with businesses.”

The new council members will be sworn in on Nov. 18 and attend their first regular meeting on Dec. 7.