Activists Want Councilwoman on Coast Panel

The California Sierra Club and local environmentalists are mounting a campaign to put Debbie Cook, a Huntington Beach councilwoman and environmental attorney, on the state Coastal Commission.

Cook is among a handful of candidates to replace Shirley S. Dettloff, a former member of the same city council who steps down next month after four years on the commission.

“Debbie Cook would make an incredible commissioner,” said Mark Massara, the Sierra Club’s manager of California coastal programs. “When you talk about strong environmentalists, Debbie’s name comes right to the top.”

Cook, 48, has been a leader on various environmental issues in Huntington Beach, including Measure C, a successful initiative prohibiting city leaders from approving development on parkland or beaches without majority support from the voters.

A graduate of Cal State Long Beach, Cook got her law degree from Western State University College of Law and joined the bar in 1994. She has served on the city Planning Commission and General Plan Advisory Committee.

Cook also spearheaded lawsuits against developers of the Bolsa Chica wetlands and the Huntington Beach waterfront, said Jan Vandersloot, a physician and Orange County environmentalist.

“We need to have someone on the Coastal Commission who would be protective of the coastal resources, and Debbie has shown in the past she would be protective,” Vandersloot said.

Massara said other elected officials with strong environmental credentials who have been suggested for the seat include Manhattan Beach Councilman Jim Aldinger, Irvine Councilman Chris Mears and Laguna Beach Mayor Toni Iseman.

Vandersloot said a number of Orange County environmental groups have faxed letters recommending Cook to state Senate leader John Burton (D-San Francisco).

“Burton has always given us the best votes on the commission,” Vandersloot said, “but we cannot take this appointment for granted.... It is necessary that Shirley’s replacement be strong on coastal protection.”

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has recommended that board members Tom Wilson and Jim Silva also be considered for the commission.

The commission regulates use of land and water along the state’s 1,150-mile coastline.

Dettloff earned kudos among local and statewide environmentalists for being outspoken for coastal protection, especially on the Malibu coastal plan and Bolsa Chica preservation.

“We could not have successfully concluded the hearing process, and the decision over Bolsa Chica couldn’t have been reached, without her,” Massara said.

Recently, the commission has been in tumult. Environmental activist Sara Wan stepped down last week as commission chairwoman after it became clear that Gov. Gray Davis and Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City) wanted her replaced.

And a property-rights attorney has asked a state appellate court to declare its composition unconstitutional. He argues that the commission violates the state Constitution’s separation-of-powers doctrine because the Legislature appoints two-thirds of a panel that acts as an executive agency by granting or denying building permits.