NEWPORT BEACH : Tough Times Await New City Officials

Planning Commissioner Janice A. Debay will be sworn into office today as the city’s newest councilwoman, and Councilman Clarence J. Turner is expected to take over the mayoral reins from Phil Sansone.

The two begin new assignments on a City Council plagued by severe financial troubles, embezzlement by a top city official, the elimination of 34 positions--including 12 employee layoffs for the first time in more than a decade--and an alleged sex scandal in the Police Department.

“It’s been a very difficult year in many ways,” Sansone said, expressing confidence in the new leadership. “I believe there will be resolution in all the problem areas.”

Turner and Debay are hopeful of that.

“Things have got to get better,” said Debay, 55. “I feel like we’re on our way up now because the problems are out in the open so we can deal with them.”

In September, three female Newport Beach Police Department employees and one fired employee filed suit in Orange County Superior Court, contending that they had been sexually harassed by Capt. Anthony Villa and that Chief Arb Campbell had “condoned” the behavior. A fifth woman joined the lawsuit in October, alleging that she had been raped by the two high-ranking officers 11 years ago. Through their attorney, Campbell and Villa have denied the allegations.

Before the Police Department controversy arose, the city was mired in financial woes that led to a $4-million budget cut and the layoff of 12 employees.

Former Utilities Director Robert J. Dixon was sent to prison for embezzling $1.8 million from city coffers earlier this year.

“It’s unfortunate that things occurred as they did,” Sansone said. “But the city is in good hands. We’ll get over it.”

“I think the worst is yet to come,” Debay said predicting a bleak financial picture for the year ahead. “We don’t have all the bad news yet. But the city’s departments are already talking about it. That’s going to be the only saving grace.”

Turner said he agrees that the biggest challenge facing the council will be budgetary concerns.

“Over the past 12 months, the city has been hit with about a $10-million raid on our treasury. I think money is going to be the big issue in 1993,” he said.

“You can’t always pick the playing field that you have to participate on,” he added. “We just have to take each problem at a time, solve it and go on to the next one.”

Debay has served on the Planning Commission for the last five years and today takes over Councilwoman Ruthelyn Plummer’s West Newport seat.

Councilwoman Jean H. Watt will begin her second term on the council. Turner, 59, will most likely become mayor today after serving as mayor pro tem under Sansone for the past year.

The City Council will vote the new mayor in and inaugurate Debay at 1 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.