ANAHEIM : City Has 14 Choices for 2 Planning Posts

A former police chief and three former City Council candidates are among 14 contenders for the two openings on the Planning Commission that are scheduled to be filled by the council tonight.

Applying for reinstatement are the two former planning commissioners whose controversial firings last month created the openings: Bob Zemel, one of the former council candidates, and Stephen Bristol.

Retired Police Chief Jimmie D. Kennedy and former council candidates Manuel T. Ontiveros, a college student, and Paul Bostwick, president of a mobile home supplies firm, have also applied for appointment to the commission.

The Planning Commission reviews major construction projects proposed in the city. Its seven members are unpaid.

Zemel and Bristol were fired Dec. 15 by a 3-2 vote after a heated debate.

Zemel has accused Mayor Tom Daly and Councilmen Irv Pickler and Frank Feldhaus of orchestrating the firings because Zemel and Bristol supported former Mayor Fred Hunter over Daly in November’s municipal election.

“So many people have been outraged by this action. . . . I’m just hoping that the council will reconsider and do the right thing,” Zemel said. A mortgage broker, Zemel finished third behind Daly and Feldhaus in November’s council election. Attempts to reach Bristol were unsuccessful.

Daly, while declining to reveal his endorsements, said Monday that he would not support the renominations of Zemel or Bristol. “There are many worthy candidates and community leaders willing to serve,” Daly said.

Kennedy retired from the Anaheim Police Department in 1987 after five years as chief and a total of 29 years with the department. He teaches administration of justice at Fullerton College and is a police consultant for various government agencies.

Ontiveros finished sixth in November’s council election. Bostwick finished fifth in 1988.

Other applicants are Irish Courtney Baron, author of fitness books and former Maywood planning commissioner; Mitchell Caldwell, chairman of the Anaheim Neighborhood Assn.; Arthur L. Daw, retired Anaheim city engineer; Dona Hinson, former president of the Anaheim Assn. of Realtors; Thomas Holguin, owner of a commercial cabinetry business; Leonard L. Lahtinen, high school teacher and former member of the Orange County Grand Jury; Leonard J. Lawicki, real estate broker; Michael McKinney, tax consultant, and Cheryl Perreira, former Placentia planning commissioner and now staff analyst for Orange County’s policy research and planning division.

The council meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 200 S. Anaheim Blvd.