Bauer Is Elected Mayor, Warns of Possible Service Cuts

Councilman Ralph H. Bauer, elected mayor by his council colleagues Monday night, warned that residents might have to live with cuts in city services while new economic development plans take root.

“The community needs to understand that they may have to give up some things, in terms of certain conveniences, in order for us to put together an effective economic plan,” Bauer said during a 50-minute speech at the Monday council meeting.

“In order to get sufficient money to pay for the police we need to hire, for the library books we need to buy, we’re going to have to give some things up.”

Bauer pledged to make economic development his top priority during his one-year term as mayor. He also indicated he will not seek cuts in the salaries of city employees. The city and the Police Department have yet to agree on a new contract.

Compared with other Orange County cities, employee salaries in Huntington Beach are “up toward the top,” Bauer said, “and I think it’s important that we stay toward the top to attract and retain quality personnel.”

Bauer, 66, a former oil company chemist, replaces Councilman Dave Sullivan as mayor. Bauer was first appointed to the council in 1992 after the death of Councilman Jack Kelly and was reelected in 1994.

As the city strives to attract new businesses and tourists, Bauer said traffic might become more congested and the beaches more crowded. And he offered little immediate hope for residents throughout the city who have complained about the slow pace of street and sidewalk repairs. Bauer said the city’s crumbling infrastructure is “a direct result of our inability to return enough money to the bottom line.”