Development Issues Dominate Election

Development issues and a lack of incumbents seeking reelection have spurred 16 candidates to run for three seats on the City Council in a race that could dramatically affect local politics.

The candidates are Mary Anna Anderson, Ray L. Benedicktus, Carol A. Bonner, Kurt A. Conone, Scott Diehl, G. Wayne Eggleston, Kevin T. Evans, Michelle K. Gillen, Gary R. Hartung, Dan Hensley, John Koch, Paul H. Linden, Thomas L. Padberg, Susan Ritschel, John P. Robinson and Keith R. Trezek.

Councilmen Patrick M. Ahle, Joseph Anderson and Steve Apodaca decided against seeking reelection. The two remaining members are Mayor Jim Dahl and Councilwoman Lois R. Berg.

The crowded field of candidates is a big change from the last election in 1996, when four candidates sought two seats.

What’s changed?

A majority of the council candidates said they were inspired to run for council to oppose some of the major development issues facing the community.

Supporters contend that the development is important to provide a much-needed boost in city revenue and bring financial stability. But opponents say the projects would ruin the city’s small-town character and coastal beauty.

Among the hot issues:

* Marblehead Coastal. The council in August approved a plan including 434 single-family homes, a retail outlet center, a movie theater and a 14-acre canyon preserve. A group of residents formed San Clemente Citizens for Responsible Development to overturn the plan by trying to organize a ballot initiative. The group favors a resort hotel and golf course for the ocean-view parcel.

* The Beach Trail. A proposed 2.2-mile path would run along the city’s beaches and connect to statewide coastal trails. The project faces opposition from the Surfrider Foundation and a local group, Derail the Trail. Supporters say the trail would make the beaches accessible to more visitors, but opponents contend it would harm the environment.

* Casa Romantica. The historic home of city founder Ole Hanson has been a source of debate since the city bought it for $2.5 million in 1989. The redevelopment agency in July approved placing a Mexican restaurant in the landmark building but recently, in the face of opposition from preservationists, offered the mansion’s current occupant, a wedding business, another chance to submit a proposal to stay.

Other issues facing the city include the revitalization of the El Camino Real and North Beach areas, the location of the final section of the Foothill South tollway, how to cope with development of the 4,965-home Talega community, the safety of the railroad tracks along the beach and the need for more youth activities and facilities.

San Clemente Candidates

Here are the candidates running for three seats on the San Clemente City Council in the Nov. 3 election. John P. Robinson and Keith R. Trezek could not be reached for comment.

Mary Anna Anderson

Age: 55

Occupation: Community volunteer; housewife

Background: Attended four years of college, including Saddleback College and San Diego State; board member, Parks and Recreation Commission; president and board member, San Clemente Ocean Festival; Chamber of Commerce; past PTA member; youth sports involvement with two sons

Issues: Increase information through more neighborhood forums and public hearings; unite city groups and pursue motto, “positive focus for our future”

*

Ray L. Benedicktus

Age: 78

Occupation: Retired engineer

Background: Bachelor’s degree in maritime studies, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Long Island, N.Y.); studied engineering at the University of Alaska; president, San Clemente Historical Society

Issues: Supports a resort on Marblehead coastal property; supports a natural beach as Surfrider Foundation favors, against any beach trail; seeks to preserve and restore Casa Romantica for cultural use, opposed to proposed restaurant

*

Carol A. Bonner

Age: 53

Occupation: Former city volunteer services manager

Background: Studied business administration at the University of Virginia; member, San Clemente Task Force for Youth Steering Committee, League of Women Voters, United Way South Regional Council; volunteer, Friends of San Clemente Animals; mentor, CSP Gang Prevention Program

Issues: Changing the “business unfriendly” image of city by encouraging business investment and working with local merchants; preserving historical structures through the Mills Act and revitalizing older commercial areas; encouraging public, private and nonprofit entities in city to build, fund and administer city projects together

*

Kurt A. Conone

Age: 42

Occupation: Economist; broker

Background: Associate degree, Saddleback College; studied economics at University of San Diego; worked on committees of

the Chicago Mercantile Exchange while a broker; several professional memberships; volunteer, Muscular Dystrophy Assn.

Issues: Would support a different beach trail plan that wouldn’t cause erosion and would help solve other issues, including railroad-track safety issues; supports removal and relocation of railroad tracks along the beach

*

Scott Diehl

Age: 48

Occupation: Veterinarian

Background: Doctorate in veterinary medicine, Purdue University; city councilman for three terms, 1982-1996 and mayor in 1983, 1990 and 1993; founding member, Toll Road Agencies; past chairman, Foothill Eastern Corridor; past president, Orange County League of Cities; founding member of CASA, city’s animal services agency

Issues: Balancing development to get adequate revenue for city infrastructure and services; use past council experience to bring balance and perspective to big issues; continue to bring innovative services into city while maintaining quality of life

*

G. Wayne Eggleston

Age: 52

Occupation: Executive director, Heritage Foundation of San Clemente

Background: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Mount Union College (Ohio); past president, San Clemente Historical Society; member, Chamber of Commerce

Issues: Seek cultural center in Casa Romantica; favors resort for Marblehead property, to provide business for existing merchants in city; opposed to a beach trail, sands should be untouched

*

Kevin T. Evans

Age: 45

Occupation: Municipal recreation superintendent, city of Dana Point

Background: Bachelor’s degree in recreation administration, San Diego State University; member, San Clemente Parks and Recreation Commission; member, city General Plan Update Committee in 1992; member and past president, San Clemente Host Lions Club, San Clemente Little League and San Clemente Ocean Festival

Issues: Opposed to putting the proposed Forester Ranch sports

park anywhere other than in Forester Ranch; opposed to any beach trail plan; supports including a skateboard park, dog park and therapeutic pool in the proposed San Clemente Park and Recreation Master Plan

*

Michelle K. Gillen

Age: 39

Occupation: Teacher

Background: Bachelor’s degree in sociology, Arizona State University; master’s degree, UCLA; secondary teaching credential, UC Irvine; volunteer, American Red Cross

Issues: Working with Talega developers to establish an additional high school; working with Surfrider Foundation and Endangered Habitats League to oppose toll roads in the city; opposes beach trail or sea wall

*

Gary R. Hartung

Age: 47

Occupation: Home builder

Background: Construction management degree from Saddleback College; past UC Irvine instructor of construction materials and methods; president and coach of Little League in Rancho Cucamonga

Issues: Stop wasteful spending; working to make the railroad tracks along the beach as safe as possible as quickly as possible; opposed to Marblehead development plan--would keep working with developer to come up with a solution that would better reflect theme of city’s general plan

*

Dan Hensley

Age: 31

Occupation: Clerk at Ralphs and Sav-On Drugs

Background: None provided

Issues: Create more youth activities in city, like bowling lanes and water park; favors donating Casa Romantica to city Historical Society or selling it to San Clemente Heritage Foundation

*

John Koch

Age: 67

Occupation: Semiretired business consultant

Background: Associate degree in engineering, San Bernardino Valley College

Issues: Support neighborhoods through strong code and law enforcement; balance business and residential growth in the city; opposed to a beach trail in any form, a supporter of Derail the Trail since 1996, would work to resolve railroad track safety issue

*

Paul H. Linden

Age: 60

Occupation: Retired golf course manager

Background: Course work at Saddleback College and Colorado University; served in U.S. Army for 2 1/2 years; member and past president, San Clemente Kiwanis Club; member, Knights of Columbus

Issues: Opposes proposed beach trail, wants further study of alternatives; keep proposed Forester Ranch sports center in Forester Ranch by raising funds to do so; strike balance between commercial and residential development to make city financially stable

*

Thomas L. Padberg

Age: 64

Occupation: Retired businessman

Background: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, St. Louis University (Missouri); member, 1998 Citizen Focus Group, which reviewed city operations; past member, San Clemente Golf Course Committee; helped lead 1997 campaign to defeat proposed utility tax

Issues: Opposes any kind of beach trail because of erosion--also opposes any decrease in access to the beach by OCTA fences along railroad tracks; opposes the Lusk, Inc. plan for Marblehead, wants an “objective” study of uses for the property; encouraging property maintenance in areas west of El Camino Real through aggressive code enforcement

*

Susan Ritschel

Age: 37

Occupation: Businesswoman

Background: Bachelor’s degree in political science, UC Berkeley; chair, San Clemente Planning Commission, member since 1995; past member, Community Design Commission; graduate of San Clemente Leadership program; scholarship chair of San Clemente Area Republican Women

Issues: Ensuring city’s balanced growth and financial stability by improving the tax base; making preservation of city’s beaches a top priority by establishing a beach preservation committee; revitalizing historic downtown business districts including El Camino Real and North Beach through grants and other means

Source: Individual candidates