MISSION VIEJO : Council Appoints 9 to City Commissions

Among the nine citizens appointed or reappointed by the City Council last week to serve on various commissions are several who have plenty of experience in city politics.

The best-known of the new commissioners is Norman Murray, the city’s first mayor, who was named to the Planning Commission by Councilman William S. Craycraft.

Murray failed to win reelection to the council in 1990, but he stayed active politically by joining a grass-roots campaign that helped persuade voters last summer to defeat plans for an $18-million City Hall.

The former mayor fills a vacancy on the Planning Commission created by the election of Joseph D. Lowe to the City Council last November.

“I never really departed,” Murray said. “I’ve been on the (Historical Heritage) committee all along. I really love this community.”

In 1981-82, before the city’s incorporation, Murray served as chairman of the planning committee for the community’s Municipal Organizing Council.

“I wanted to be around for the final build-out of Mission Viejo,” which is about 95% developed, Murray said. “This is a very critical time for the city.”

Lowe named Sherri Butterfield to the Planning Commission, Albert Hanson to the Economic Development Commission, Michael Tramutola to the Community Services Commission and Kenneth Martin to the Traffic and Safety Commission.

Martin and Butterfield retained their seats on the commissions. The others are new appointees.

Other newly appointed commissioners are Tom Grable and Ben Meharg to the Economic Development Commission and Thomas Potocki and Sylvia Schweizer to the Community Services Commission.

Meharg has previously served as a planning commissioner, and Potocki is known for recently spearheading a successful drive to persuade Mission Viejo to annex Aegean Hills.

“We saw a lot of talented people who will bring a lot of benefit to the city,” Lowe said. “Too bad we couldn’t pick all of them.”

On Jan. 1, the city completed its first year with a revamped lineup of commissions established by the council. Last year, the council eliminated several commissions, consolidating them into the newly formed Community Services Commission.