ORANGE : Appointee Will Fill Vacant Council Seat

The City Council has decided to appoint someone to fill out the council term of William G. Steiner, who resigned Monday to join the County Board of Supervisors.

The 3-1 decision came over the objections of Councilwoman Joanne Coontz, who favored holding a special election to fill Steiner’s seat.

The council members are expected to make the appointment sometime next month. So far, eight candidates have submitted applications for the post.

Mayor Gene Beyer said appointing someone to fill the vacancy is the quickest way to bring the council back to full strength, which he said is necessary as the city begins to grapple with such important issues as the budget.

A special election would be held in November, at the earliest, and could cost the city as much as $30,000.

“I didn’t think it was appropriate to wait for eight months to have a full council,” Beyer said. “We have pressing issues to deal with.”

Coontz argued that Orange residents should vote for Steiner’s successor.

“I feel it is extremely important to preserve the rights of voters to choose their representatives,” she said. “The people should decide this.”

The last two vacant council seats have been filed by appointment. Steiner was appointed in 1988, and Councilman Mike Spurgeon was appointed in 1990. Both went on to win elections to full terms.

The candidates who submitted applications so far are:

* Naomi Mason, a former planning commissioner.

* Pat Buttress, who has been active in the Chamber of Commerce.

* Ron Johnston, executive director of the California Asphalt Paving Assn.

* William Cathcart, a planning commissioner.

* Mark Murphy, a planning commissioner.

* Jim Wronski, who ran unsuccessfully for the City Council in 1992.

* Tom Debin, who also ran unsuccessfully for the City Council in 1992.

* Bob Mickelson, a former planning commissioner.