2 candidates qualify so far for Newport Beach City Council election

Only two of the eight candidates who have pulled nomination papers have so far officially qualified to run for Newport Beach City Council this November, according to city staff.

One of those candidates is Robyn Grant, who will run in District 4, which represents the Eastbluff and Bonita Canyon neighborhoods, to replace outgoing Mayor Kevin Muldoon.

The other qualifying candidate to date is Planning Commissioner Erik Weigand, who will run in District 3, which represents the neighborhoods surrounding upper Newport Bay currently represented by outgoing Councilman Marshall “Duffy” Duffield.

Grant in February reported raising over $60,000 for her campaign war chest by the end of 2021. Campaign financial disclosure documents that cover the period from January through June this year indicate Grant has raised an additional $46,604, not including nonmonetary contributions.

Weigand said he did not actively fundraise in 2021, though campaign documents from that year show he raised around $1,550. Campaign documents state that between January and June of this year, Weigand’s campaign raised $53,222.

According to city staff, nomination papers were pulled throughout late July by potential candidates Tom Miller, Joe Stapleton, Jim Mosher, Amy Peters, Lauren Kleiman and Councilwoman Joy Brenner.

Campaign finance disclosure documents show Miller raised $27,529.69 for the period between January and June; Stapleton raised $120,019 and Brenner raised $34,923 during that time. Both Stapleton and Brenner reported some nonmonetary contributions toward their campaigns.

No financial documents had been filed for Mosher, Peters or Kleiman with the city clerk as of Wednesday afternoon.

Stapleton announced his run for the District 1 seat, which represents the Balboa Peninsula and West Newport Beach and is currently represented by outgoing Councilwoman Diane Dixon, in October last year. He is expected to run against retired businessman Tom Miller, who announced his run in January.

Other contested races are expected in District 3 and District 6, the latter for which Councilwoman Joy Brenner is expected to seek reelection.

In December, Weigand announced his run for District 3. That race has become contested with the arrival of community watchdog Jim Mosher, who pulled nomination papers on July 26, and Amy Peters, who unsuccessfully ran for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District in 2020.

Meanwhile in District 6, which represents Corona del Mar, Brenner is expected to face off with Lauren Kleiman, the current chair of the Planning Commission.

Grant’s race may be uncontested. Planning Commissioner Lee Lowrey announced plans to run for the District 4 seat in March but has since withdrawn from the race.

The final day of the nomination period is Friday, Aug. 12. For more information visit newportbeachca.gov.

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