Three Seats at Stake

Nine candidates, including one incumbent, are seeking three City Council seats at stake in Newport Beach. A quick look at the candidates:

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District 2: West Newport Beach from the Newport Pier to the Santa Ana River

Jan Debay

Age: 59

Occupation: Retired nurse/realtor

Background: Incumbent; former city planning commissioner

Major issue: Rebuild city’s reserves by increasing tax revenue through economic revitalization programs such as business improvement districts

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Barry E. Zanck

Age: 41

Occupation: Mortgage banker

Background: Bachelor’s degree in business; member, Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce, city’s bicycle trails commission, city’s term limits committee

Major issues: Have city start managing its money better by not getting involved in expensive projects like the Fountain Valley water project (city signed deal in February with Fountain Valley to drill four water wells); focus on fixing roads, paying for police and library services

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District 5: Big Canyon, Newport Center, Belcourt, Balboa Island

Diane Coltrane

Age: 64

Occupation: Real estate broker

Background: Member, government and political affairs committee for Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce; former president of Chamber of Commerce Women’s Council; member, government affairs committee of Board of Realtors

Major issue: Maintain city’s high police presence to prevent crime

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John E. Noyes Jr.

Age: 50

Occupation: Businessman

Background: President, Balboa Island Business Assn.; member, board of directors Balboa Island Improvement Assn.

Major issue: Improve city’s financial situation by privatizing city services such as landscaping and trash hauling and streamlining city government

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Ralph Rodheim

Age: 52

Occupation: Businessman

Background: Member, city’s aviation and economic development committees; former member of state boating and waterways commission; president, Newport Harbor Chamber of Commerce; president, Balboa Island Homeowners Assn.

Major issue: Enhance and preserve city’s quality of life by reaching consensus with businesses and residents

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Robert Schoonmaker

Age: 64

Occupation: Retired engineer/manager

Background: 20 years of professional management experience; three business management degrees

Major issue: City should more carefully analyze possible annexation of Newport Coast area

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District 7: Spyglass Hill, Corona del Mar, Harbor View

Philip L. Arst

Age: 67

Occupation: Businessman

Background: MBA, University of Chicago; president, Community Associations Alliance, a coalition of homeowners associations; member, citizens’ campaign against Irvine Ranch Water District dumping in Upper Newport Bay

Major issue: Institute commercial accounting practices at City Hall, which might help city officials make better decisions about reducing costs

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Dolores A. Otting

Age: 44

Occupation: Businesswoman

Background: Regular attendance at city council, planning commission, library trustee board meetings for past five years

Major issues: Cut city expenditures such as payroll services; lease, rather than buy, city vehicles; reduce amount of money spent on outside consultants

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Tom Thomson

Age: 50

Occupation: Businessman

Background: Incumbent planning commissioner; director, Drug Use is Life Abuse and Project No-Gangs; former member of Orange County Fair and Exposition Center board of directors; member, state commission on alcohol and drug abuse

Major issue: Maintain high level of police and fire protection

Source: Individual candidates