Councilwoman Jill Hardy says she’ll keep fighting for open space if she’s reelected

Jill Hardy says she has been a voice for the residents for her last three terms on the City Council, and she will continue to speak up for them if reelected in November.

The 44-year-old, fourth-generation Huntington Beach resident said preserving open space is one of her top priorities.

When she was a teenager at Edison High School, she was concerned about potential plans for an outdoor shopping center with a Ferris wheel on the beach side of Pacific Coast Highway.

That idea fell through, but it did spark an interest in a young Hardy to get involved.

Since being elected in 2002, Hardy has continuously argued to maintain open space.

In 2010, she was the only council member who opposed rezoning a swath of the Bolsa Chica Wetlands — a 5-acre parcel called the Ridge.

“That was sort of my inspiration to come back to council for my third term,” she said. “The council voted 6-1 to approve changing the open space to residential housing, and, of course, I was the one vote, and I was leaving the council at the time because of the consecutive term limits. For me, that really highlighted how important it is to have somebody on the council who listens to the residents and hears their point of view.”

She said she takes tallies of those opposed and unopposed to issues at every meeting. Sometimes the opinions are split, but other times it’s obvious.

Now, she’s siding with residents who have made it known that they don’t want the Michael E. Rodgers Seniors’ Center land sold to developers.

“Nobody has spoken in favor of homes on that site,” she said. “It’s obvious the public doesn’t want it. I am so optimistic that the community would want to preserve this parkland. We have a lot of people who want a park, and virtually no one who wants homes.”

She said she is not sure what should happen to the land — meeting space is one possibility — but residents should have a say at proposed community workshops.

She also is opposed to the proposed Poseidon desalination project next to the AES power plant at Newland Street and Pacific Coast Highway.

Opponents are concerned about marine life, environmental hazards and potential costs to the city and residents.

“I’ve always had environmental concerns, but more and more I have economic concerns,” Hardy said. “The water is going to be very expensive, and it’s not needed for the Orange County Water District to purchase it. They can purchase other water at much lower rates. I’m worried that they’re getting involved in a financial deal that is going to cause the ratepayers a lot of money for water that they don’t need.”

The mother of two said one of her proudest accomplishments is signing documents for Little League fields at Wardlow and LeBard parks.

She said the city is working to get funding to improve Barlett and Irby parks.

The math teacher at Marina High School also advises the city’s Youth Board and Youth in Government Day. Hardy served on the board and participated in the event as a teenager.

The councilwoman said she wants to help neighborhoods in the city, like Oak View, which is comprised of predominantly low-income Latino families.

“I’d like to continue to find ways to empower neighborhoods to have the city work with them,” she said. “I think Oak View is just really emerging as one of those neighborhoods, but it’s all around town. I’d like to continue to tap into the people who want to do a lot for their immediate community and how the city can help them do that.”

brittany.woolsey@latimes.com

Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey