Council Members Get Ready to Deal 21

With the soap opera that has been the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council this year, could there be anything other than 21 candidates vying for the seat vacated on the council by Gary Thompson?

There were 21 RSM residents who decided to throw their cards on the table, including Larry McCook, whose six-week campaign last year netted 4,326 votes. He's not the only former candidate to run; Michael Safranski ran unsuccessful campaigns in 1999 and 2004.

Carol Gamble won election in 1999 and served on the council from 2000-04 but resigned her position to take care of her parents; she was mayor in 2001. She is one of three women who applied.

Three first-year city planning commissioners applied, but Jack Leonard—who was appointed by Thompson and has served since 2000—decided to sit it out.

Another candidate is Curt Stanley, the man known as the voice of Rancho Santa Margarita.

The five-member council is working with only three members: Mayor Tony Beall and Jerry Holloway and Steve Baric. The fourth member, who currently is unavailable, is Jesse Petrilla, who won't return from California National Guard training at Fort Knox until June.

Thompson resigned March 3, citing the growing burden of caring for his elderly parents and his business demands. He was one of the original city council members elected in 1999, a month before the city incorporated Jan. 1, 2000.

The deadline for applying was noon Tuesday. The group of candidates will be discussed by the council members during the Wednesday City Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Here is the list of applicants:

• Glenn Acosta, Dove Canyon: Director of the Trabuco Canyon Water district, appointed by O.C. Supervisor Pat Bates to serve on the O.C. Waste Management Commission.
• David E. Collier, RSM: Senior fiscal clerk for city of Newport Beach, former small-business owner.
• Ronald Detrick, RSM: Educator, business executive and entrepreneur is a semiretired teacher and consultant who has held the position of university president. 
• Jim Eakin, Trabuco Canyon: Software engineer and businessman is on the Planning Commission as Jerry Holloway’s appointment.
• Stephen C. Erlandson, RSM: Accounting/licensing manager for city of Redondo Beach; former controller, audit senior.
• Carol A. Gamble, RSM: Consultant and civil engineer is the city's former mayor elected to the original City Council who was directly involved in the incorporation of Rancho Santa Margarita.
• Leeroy E. Hidok, RSM: The son of a mayor, Hidok is vice president of sales for a truck brokerage firm in Maple Grove, MN, and serves as board member on the HOA at Tijeras Creek Villas.
• Kenny P. Hrabik, Trabuco Canyon: Businessman owns the Dove Canyon Courtyard.
• John Jelaco, RSM: Businessman and trucking executive.
• Donnamarie Kline, RSM: Volunteer with professional background in employee benefits.
• Daniel K. Lak, RSM: Attorney with executive banking background teaches estate planning classes for free at the community center.
• Lawrence “Larry” McCook, RSM: Retired business executive garnered more than 4,300 votes during six-week campaign for council in 2010.
• Brad McGirr, RSM: Attorney and current member of the Planning Commission as an appointment of Mayor Tony Beall.
• Christopher K. McLaughlin, RSM: Lead technical support analyst is secretary and treasurer in his HOA.
• Quinlan A. Rakin, Trabuco Canyon: A telecommunications technical support engineer/instructor served twice in Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Marine Corps officer.
• Kevin J. Raney, RSM: Chief of police for the city of Garden Grove.
• Kathleen A. Roach, RSM: Worked 15 years in municipal government, including seven as the assistant to the city manager in Rancho Santa Margarita.
• Donald S. Runels, RSM: Project manager for local engineering and surveying firms.
• Michael F. Safranski, RSM: Senior director of facilities and security for Emulex Corp., board president of the Trabuco Canyon Water District and Trabuco Highlands Community Association.
• Curt Stanley, RSM: Small business owner and local advocate is often an emcee for Rancho Santa Margarita events.
• Peter Whittingham, RSM: Currently works for the former Anaheim mayor as vice president of Curt Pringle and Associates; former press deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, joined RSM Planning Commission in January as appointment of Steve Baric.