Straight Into Fray for New City Leaders : Government: Two new council members--and a third to be appointed or elected--face some of the biggest decisions in Anaheim’s history.

Three brand-new political leaders must almost immediately confront some of the biggest decisions in the city’s 116-year history.

The power--and the sobering responsibility--falls to freshman City Council members Lou Lopez and Bob Zemel, and a third council member yet to be appointed or elected to fill a vacant seat.

Those three will join Mayor Tom Daly and Councilman Frank Feldhaus in judging such landmark proposals as a new baseball stadium, a renovated football-only stadium, a sports complex and more.

“They will have to hit the ground running,” Daly said. “They are both tough and experienced people and I don’t think either will be intimidated.”

Zemel, the president of a local mortgage company, said he already feels the weight of what decisions lie ahead, especially when it comes to settling the fate of the California Angels and the Rams.

“We are trying to get a professional basketball team to come to Anaheim and what we don’t need to do is show a face that we cannot provide for our existing sports franchises,” Zemel said. “The whole county is watching right now and we need to show that Anaheim is up to task.”

Zemel, who had strong backing from the business community when he finally found success on his third bid for a council seat, said the sports franchises need to be “treated like customers.”

“Obviously, we can’t give the store away,” he said. “But, from the business aspect, there’s a trickle-down effect from these franchises and it’s real important they get support from us at the council level to preserve that business base.”

Zemel, who spent more than $50,000 on his campaign, also supports the delayed Disneyland resort project, on which the Walt Disney Co. is expected to decide soon.

“I’m hopeful that Disney will move forward with some kind of project,” he said. “Westcot will be another very important revitalization tool to the economy in Anaheim.” Westcot is a theme park that would be part of the resort project.

Among those who made major financial contributions to Zemel’s well-funded campaign were the Rams, Angels owners Gene and Jackie Autry, the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, and the city’s firefighters and police unions.

Lopez, the top vote-getter in the Nov. 8 election, might not be scoring points with Disney after stating during the campaign that he would consider an admissions tax at Disneyland to help pay for any additional police and fire services that might be needed as a result of the proposed development.

“I would not oppose an admissions tax if it was needed to meet the needs of that development,” Lopez said. “But it would be as a last resort.

“I support the whole project,” he added. “I think we need it. It’s good for the city and it’s good for the economy.”

Lopez, an Anaheim police officer for 25 years, said he wants to keep the Angels and the Rams in Anaheim but is not ready to take a position on any stadium proposals.

“I’d like to sit down and see if it’s possible for both teams to stay at Anaheim Stadium,” Lopez said. “If it’s not, then I’d like to explore a new stadium for the Angels and a renovated football stadium. Everything depends on what it’s going to cost the citizens.”

Lopez spent more than $22,000 on his campaign. Among his major financial contributors were the Rams, and the Anaheim police and firefighters unions.

Zemel and Lopez will be sworn into office Tuesday. One of their first challenges will be trying to reach a consensus with Feldhaus and Daly on who will fill the fifth council seat.

The seat is vacant because of an election quirk that arose after a charter amendment was passed in 1992 changing the process for choosing the mayor.

Previously, mayoral candidates had to be sitting council members and they competed for two-year terms. This was the first year that the mayor was elected at-large, for a four-year term.

Because Daly was in the middle of his council term when he was reelected earlier this month, there are two years remaining on his old council seat.

“The next spot is as critical as the two that have been filled,” said outgoing councilman Bob D. Simpson, who did not run for reelection. “You never know what the chemistry is going to be. But you have to work together or things don’t move forward. Personal and political differences have to be set aside.”

Zemel has had his battles in the past with Daly, who was instrumental in having his new council colleague removed from the city’s Planning Commission two years ago.

At that time, Daly was quoted as saying he pushed for the ouster of Zemel and Stephen Bristol from the city’s most prestigious advisory board because “simply put, I no longer had confidence in their advice.”

Zemel charged that his removal was “purely political” but now vows to put the episode behind him.

“It’s in the best interest of Anaheim that the mayor and I work together and consider what’s best for the city in all of our votes,” Zemel said.

Daly said he and Zemel have met several times since the election and are prepared to work together.

“The fact is, he earned a position on the council and he has energy and ideas to contribute,” Daly said. “What happened (in 1992) was based on circumstances of that time.”

If the four council members cannot agree on an appointee within 60 days, then a special election will be held at a cost of about $100,000, according to the city clerk’s office.

“I’m hoping we can decide on someone,” Zemel said. “This is the first opportunity the council will have to prove we can work together. I believe we can.”