SAN CLEMENTE : Benedict Succeeds Anderson as Mayor

The faces and names remain the same after the Nov. 3 election, but this week members of the City Council shifted seats and unanimously elected Truman Benedict mayor.

Scott Diehl, who was reelected to his third four-year term on the council, was unanimously elected mayor pro tem during a meeting Wednesday night.

Before the council filled the mayor’s post, an honorary position that includes the duty of presiding over council meetings, both Diehl and Councilwoman Candace Haggard were sworn into office for another term.

Councilman Thomas Lorch was absent from the meeting.

Benedict, 69, is a former superintendent of the Capistrano Unified School District and a World War II fighter pilot. He has lived in San Clemente for 43 years and was elected to the council in 1990.

He replaces as mayor Joseph Anderson, who took a regular council seat Wednesday.

Benedict can take credit for one remarkable achievement already: He went on to preside over one of the quickest council meetings in recent city history, only 90 minutes long.

Despite financial problems that resulted in about $2.5 million in cuts, Anderson said he believes that the council accomplished many things in the past year.

He pointed to a new affordable housing program, completion of Max Berg Park, creation of the Neighborhood Pride program and completion of several street and water pipe improvements.