Q & A

Wally Linn, president, O.C. division, League of California Cities

La Palma Councilman Wally Linn, who served two terms as the city’s mayor, is the new president of the Orange County division of the League of California Cities. Linn, 57, is a banker and real estate broker who has served on the La Palma City Council since 1992. He is the first La Palma official to be elected league president. In an interview with Times correspondent Bill Billiter, Linn discussed the countywide organization he will head for the next year.

Q: What does the League of California Cities do?

A: It gives an opportunity for mayors and all city council members of all 31 cities in Orange County to share mutual needs and concerns. The organization attempts to build consensus among the cities for the common good of Orange County.

Q: How influential is the league?

A: I would say we’re very influential in directing state policy. The league is instrumental in bringing forth resolutions in support of issues affecting local government. We are lobbyists to the Legislature, and lobbyists for the cities are very badly needed.

Q: What are some examples of league successes?

A: The league worked very successfully in stopping the state from robbing us of our resources. We also worked very successfully and were very instrumental in bringing about the closure of the Orange County bankruptcy.

Q: What goals do you have for your term as president?

A: My main concern is unity among all 31 cities. Another is to have young people, possibly seniors from various high schools, attend our monthly meetings so that they can learn more about local government. We need to get more youth involved in government.

Q: What are some Orange County issues facing the cities?

A: Two issues that are causing concern, and on which we don’t have consensus, are the El Toro Airport and the [county] library issue.

Q: What state issue is of greatest concern?

A: The utility-user tax had to be adopted by some Orange County cities because the state took away some of its funding to cities. The league has been in support of legislation that would protect those cities from having to give back that [utility-tax] money. Having to do that and losing the utility-user tax would cause financial chaos in many cities.

Q: What have you learned from serving as an elected city official?

A: You learn how government really works. When you’re as close to the action as we are at the city level, you have to make decisions based not on political rhetoric but on what is good for the city at that time.