Seal Beach Runoff Will Offer Voters a Distinct Choice : Election: Council incumbent Hastings is a slow-growth proponent. Challenger Klisanin is a pro-business developer.

A runoff election on May 10 for a seat on the City Council will offer voters two candidates with significantly different backgrounds and visions for the city’s future.

Councilwoman Marilyn Bruce Hastings, a community activist and longtime champion of slow growth, will face Jim Klisanin, a local realtor, Main Street developer and volunteer.

Hastings is supported by residents concerned that some Main Street businesses create noise, parking and crime problems. Klisanin has the backing of merchants who accuse the City Council of favoring the needs of residents over those of business.

Hastings came within a few votes of winning Tuesday’s general election outright, garnering 49% of the vote in a three-way race. Klisanin got 40.9%, and community activist Charles Antos received 10.1%.

Two other incumbents, Gwen Forsythe and William J. Doane, were reelected Tuesday.

Hastings and Klisanin are vying to represent Old Town, a neighborhood of small Spanish bungalows, apartments and regal oceanfront mansions bisected by the Main Street shopping district.

The shopping area’s close proximity to homes has created friction between residents and merchants. Hastings has championed the concerns of residents who said some Main Street businesses that sell alcohol lure noisy customers to the neighborhood.

Hastings has opposed increasing the number of Old Town businesses that serve alcohol and has generally expressed skepticism about new developments, including a proposal several years ago to build hundreds of homes on the Hellman Ranch property.

Hastings’ outspoken views have prompted some merchants to label her “anti-business,” which she strongly denies. She said she is only trying maintain the city’s small-town charm.

Klisanin said that Hastings’ actions have hurt the city’s fiscal health. The City Council has faced several large budget shortfalls over the last few years and was forced to raise taxes and lay off workers to balance the city’s books.

Klisanin said the current council has strapped businesses with too many regulations and made Seal Beach an unfriendly place to start or expand a business.

He said the city should encourage new businesses to open as a way of increasing revenue. He also has called for an improvement campaign on Main Street, including the installation of new street lamps and benches.

Both Klisanin and Hastings expressed disappointment with Tuesday’s election results.

“I wish I had done better and finished it here,” Klisanin said. “I don’t need six more weeks of this.”

FINAL ELECTION RETURNS

Seal Beach City Council

District 1

100% Precincts Reporting Votes % Marilyn Bruce Hastings * ** 569 49.0 Jim Klisanin ** 475 40.9 Charles Antos 118 10.1

District 3

100% Precincts Reporting Votes % Gwen Forsythe * 811 63.9 John Baker 320 25.2 Kathy Parker 139 10.9

District 5

100% Precincts Reporting Votes % William J. Doane * 460 54.8 Richard Davies 380 45.2

Turnout: 3,308; 32.6% of registered voters.

* Incumbent

Elected candidates are in bold type.

** In May 10 runoff.