McGuigan Returns to Fill Seat on Santa Ana Council : Government: She is selected to replace Richards L. Norton, who resigned because of health problems.

Former City Council member Patricia McGuigan was chosen Monday to replace Councilman Richards L. Norton, who recently resigned because of health problems.

McGuigan was chosen by a 5-1 vote from eight applicants who gave short speeches before the council Monday afternoon.

McGuigan, 59, was elected to the council in 1981 and served several terms until 1992, including a stint as vice-mayor.

She said a few of her major concerns are overcrowding and hearing the needs of Santa Ana’s Asian-American residents, many of whom are shy of government. She also said she intends to take a new look at the practicality of neighborhood standards.

In choosing McGuigan, several council members cited her familiarity with the council and ability to quickly grasp issues in the one year remaining of Norton’s term.

Councilman Ted Moreno cast the sole vote against McGuigan, saying the council could benefit from having a member who had never served on it and who, in particular, was involved with the city’s youth and aware of their needs.

Councilman Tom Lutz, who disagreed, said, “We should have someone who can hit the ground running immediately. We will have an opportunity next year for that seat to open up, and then perhaps new blood might come in.”

Councilwoman Lisa Mills remembered McGuigan’s last night as a council member.

“I’ve never seen someone get a standing ovation” in that situation, Mills said.

McGuigan was a member of the Planning Commission before she became a council member Monday. She is a past president of the county chapter of the League of California Cities.

Nine people, including former council member P. Lee Johnson, applied for the seat as 6th Ward representative. One applicant did not appear at Monday’s interview session.

Those where appeared Monday were Robert John Banuelos, a former city community services worker; Maggie Brown, president of the Indian Village neighborhood association; Judy Buffin-Edge, a former bank manager; Miguel Gil, former member of the city’s Housing and Human Relations commissions; Ivan McKinney, a former principal at Valley High School; Sean Mill, a title service representative, and James Richards, a former member of the Santa Ana school board.

Norton resigned on Oct. 18 because of chronic rheumatoid arthritis.