Jail Expansion, Airport at Base Hot Topics for 8 Seeking Seats

When renowned architect William Pereira designed this master-planned community, he did not place a commercial airport or a maximum-security prison on its blueprint. No wonder this year’s council candidates are so concerned these two county proposals could turn a precisely mapped-out city into a jigsaw puzzle.

All eight candidates in the City Council race oppose the county’s plan to transform the minimum-security James A. Musick Branch Jail, just outside the city limits, to a maximum-security prison and increase its size tenfold.

And all but one candidate, Guy E. Mailly, are against the county building a commercial airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station when the base closes in 1999.

“It’s not in the plan and we will fight to save our city,” said Mayor Mike Ward, 50, who is running for a council seat because term limitations do not allow him to seek the mayor’s seat for a third time.

Four candidates are running for the mayor’s post and four are vying for two council seats.

While most candidates take the same position on the two major issues, their philosophical views about how the city should be governed vary. So this year’s election is not without debate, especially in the mayoral race, in which former Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan, who sidelined herself in 1992, is battling for the city’s highest post against outspoken Councilwoman Christina Shea.

Sheridan and Shea have formed their own teams for the election, each running on a slate with two council candidates.

Shea is running as a team with Planning Commissioner Dave Christensen and Irvine Financial Investment Committee Chairman Kenneth L. Hansen.

Sheridan’s team includes Ward and Bruce Peotter, a city finance commissioner.

Shea and her team call themselves “fiscal conservatives” and vow to be leaders who take accountability for their actions.

The 46-year-old Shea was one of two council members who voted against investing borrowed money in a county pool, which eventually led the city to lose $45 million when the fund collapsed and the county declared bankruptcy. She blames her fellow council members for getting the city into a financial mess, saying they rely too heavily on city staff members’ recommendations to make decisions rather than take the time to do their own homework.

“As an elected official, you need to scrutinize everything that comes before you,” Shea said. “Ultimately, I know I am the one who is responsible because I am the one Irvine residents have entrusted to make decisions for them.”

Shea said Hansen could bring financial expertise to the council because he has 20 years’ experience in banking.

Hansen, the co-owner of a Laguna Hills-based investment banking firm, became involved at City Hall in December 1994, shortly after learning about Irvine’s doomed investment in the county’s failed pool. Hansen said he was outraged about city officials’ irresponsibility in managing taxpayers’ dollars.

“When we lost $45 million, we took $37 [million] out of our reserves to balance the budget--reserves that were earmarked for maintenance and replacements of city buildings,” said Hansen, 52. “Now we need to really prioritize what is vital and what is not so our city does not fall into a state of disrepair.”

Hansen, who after the bankruptcy helped the city form the financial investment committee which he chairs, said Irvine could save money by privatizing more city services.

Christensen, 51, who is running with Shea and Hansen, is a former Chicago police officer and a pilot. Shea said she believes he could be a valuable addition to the council because his aviation background could benefit the city in discussions about the proposed El Toro airport.

“Air traffic in Southern California is considered to be one of the busiest in the world,” Christensen said. “To put a commercial international airport at El Toro is the formula for a crash.”

Christensen’s experience in law enforcement would also help, Shea said, giving the council a greater understanding of Police Department operations and public safety needs.

Sheridan, 60, a real estate agent who served on the council from 1984 to 1992, is attempting a comeback at City Hall at the urging of Ward and others. She said she can be the “strong leader” the city needs in fighting the airport and jail expansion.

“I have a lot of knowledge about the airport and the jail, and they thought I could help the city better communicate our position with the county,” said the former president of the League of California Cities’ Orange County division.

“We need to make the county know we are a united group and they must confer with us about these issues.”

Peotter, 37, who also opposes the airport and jail expansion, said his top priority would be to enhance public safety.

“We need to put more officers on the street to accommodate the growth of the city,” he said. “We need more youth programs so kids keep out of trouble.”

Peotter also said he would like to improve technology at City Hall, such as creating a World Wide Web site on the Internet so residents can better communicate with staff.

Ward, who was elected mayor in 1992 and reelected in 1994, said he wants to continue efforts to make the city more business-friendly. He wants to eliminate a utility user tax for businesses and expedite permit processing at City Hall.

Ward said he would work with the county to try to find another site for a maximum-security jail other than in Irvine’s sphere of influence.

“We are doing our share for the county with Musick jail,” Ward said. “Let’s find someone else who will do their share.”

Two newcomers are challenging Sheridan and Shea in the mayor’s race.

Paul Johnson, 38, said that if Irvine does lose its battle against a commercial airport at El Toro, the county should use private money instead of taxpayers’ dollars to build the facility.

“I do not want to get stuck with a tax bill to bail out a commercial airport,” Johnson said. “And I do not want my kids to get stuck with the tab down the road.”

Johnson also said he would like to expand the Police Department’s DARE program to discourage youth from using drugs and joining gangs.

Mailly, the fourth mayoral candidate, is the only City Council candidate who favors an airport at El Toro.

“I’m saddened to see the Marines leave, but if the base is not going to stay open, the only sensible use is to turn it into a commercial airport,” said Mailly, 42. “How else do you get the economy in Irvine moving again but by creating tens of thousands of jobs that an airport would bring?

“City leaders need to have a reality check. . . . It’s fantasy land to think of a sports stadium or a theme park in that area.”

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Irvine Mayoral and City Council Candidates

Four candidates, including Councilwoman Christina Shea and former Mayor Sally Anne Sheridan, are seeking the mayor’s office. Mike Ward, who has held the city’s top post for four years, is prohibited by law from seeking another term. However, Ward is running for one of two open council seats. A look at the contenders:

FOR MAYOR

Paul Johnson

Age: 38

Occupation: Attorney

Background: Former member of city’s Campaign Reform Committee

Major issues: Prevent gang infiltration in city; oppose county using tax dollars to build an airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station

*

Guy E. Mailly

Age: 42

Occupation: Attorney and partner of turnaround management company, Lipinski, Mailly & Arnold

Background: Member, Orange County Bar Assn., Orange County Business Council and Southern California Turnaround Management Assn.

Major issue: Promote county proposal to build an El Toro airport to boost Irvine’s economy and create thousands of new jobs

*

Christina Shea

Age: 46

Occupation: Community activist

Background: Incumbent councilwoman; president, Irvine

Child Care Project; board member, American Cancer Society, Irvine chapter; member, League of California Cities Resolutions Committee, Orange County Overall Economic Development Committee and El Toro Reuse Planning Authority

Major issues: Give decision-making responsibility to elected officials; encourage city leaders to rely less on staff direction and be accountable for their votes

*

Sally Anne Sheridan

Age: 60

Occupation: Realtor

Background: Former mayor and council member; member, Orange County Coastal Greenbelt Authority; president, Irvine Senior Foundation; co-founder, Irvine Conservatory for Music and Irvine Arts Alliance

Major issues: Establish public-private partnerships to renovate Heritage Park Aquatic Complex and other aging city facilities; improve public transportation for homebound seniors; strengthen city relationships with UC Irvine and local businesses

*

FOR CITY COUNCIL

Dave Christensen

Age: 51

Occupation: Owns silk-screen printing business

Background: Planning commissioner; coach for youth football and baseball; former Chicago police officer; pilot

Major issues: Use law enforcement experience to improve Police Department; reinstate police narcotics division; boost employee morale in the department; require all lieutenants and commanders to ride along with patrol officer at least once a week

*

Kenneth L. Hansen

Age: 52

Occupation: Co-owner, Asset Advisory Co., an investment banking firm in Laguna Hills; co-owner, First Independent Financial Group, an equity lending company in Rancho Santa Margarita; owner, PM Co., property management development firm in Laguna Hills

Background: 15 years’ experience in banking; 20 years’ experience in property and development management; chairman, city’s Financial Investment Committee

Major issue: Reestablish city’s spending priorities so aging infrastructure can be replaced

and public services maintained despite city’s $45-million loss in the Orange County bankruptcy

*

Bruce Peotter

Age: 37

Occupation: Attorney

Background: Finance commissioner; former member, Irvine Election Reform Commission

Major issues: Improve public safety by shifting more funds to the Police Department so additional officers can patrol streets; develop programs aimed at keeping youth out of trouble

*

Mike Ward

Age: 50

Occupation: Sells sandblasting and dust-collecting equipment for family-owned manufacturing business

Background: Completing term as mayor; board of directors, Orange County Fire Authority, San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency, Eastearn/Foothill Transportation Corridor Agency and Orange County Cities Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Agency

Major issue: Continue to make city more business-friendly by eliminating utility user tax for businesses and expediting permit processing

Source: Individual candidates; Researched by LORI HAYCOX / For The Times