NEWPORT BEACH : Planning, Library Board Seats Filled

The City Council this week filled vacant seats on the Planning Commission and Library Board of Trustees.

Lucille Kuehn, 68, a former council member, was appointed Monday by unanimous vote to fill the vacancy on the library board created in November by the death of Trustee Charles H. Sword.

Tod W. Ridgeway, 47, a real estate broker and former criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles County, was appointed to finish the four-year term of former Planning Commissioner Janice A. Debay, who was elected to the City Council in November.

The council at first deadlocked 3 to 3 over Ridgeway’s appointment, with three of the votes going to Jerry L. Cobb, an engineer.

On a second vote, Ridgeway won the appointment 4 to 2, with Debay and Councilwoman Jean H. Watt voting for Cobb.

Despite voting against Ridgeway, Debay said afterward, “I am very impressed with Tod’s resume, and I think he will be a good addition.”

Ridgeway owns Ridgeway Development Co. and has developed 15 shopping centers throughout California, including the 50,000-square-foot center in Newport North for the Irvine Co.

“I’m honored to have been appointed, and I look forward to serving the city of Newport Beach,” he said.

Ridgeway will assume his seat on the commission at its next meeting Jan. 21.

Kuehn, who served on the council from 1974 to 1978, was recommended for the library post seat by Sword in a letter he wrote to the council just before his death.

“In a way, I’ll be trying to fill his shoes,” Kuehn said. “I’ll finish his term and try my best to fill his vision and my vision. He and I talked about having an adequate library in the city befitting the needs of Newport’s readership for a long time.”

When Kuehn served on the council, she pushed for the new main library, which is now under construction on Avocado Avenue. Her term will begin Tuesday.

Both appointees will finish their terms June 30, 1996.