I's Dotted, T's Crossed, Special City Council Meeting Set for Interviews

Rancho Santa Margarita will hold a special meeting on Thursday to interview half the 12 applicants who are trying to win an appointment from the four city councilmen who will choose a replacement for former mayor pro tempore Gary Thompson.

Thompson resigned March 3, and the city has until May 2 to name his replacement.

Mayor Tony Beall is out of town this week on business and will be unable to participate in the interviews on Thursday. Instead, the candidates will interview in front of Jerry Holloway, Steve Baric and Jesse Petrilla.

On Monday, after Beall refused to call a special meeting at the mayor's discretion, Holloway requested a meeting and got a majority vote of agreement from Baric and Petrilla. That was done to include Petrilla in the selection process.

Petrilla is on a nearly four-month leave for training with the California Army National Guard but has a four-day pass this weekend. He has yet to participate in any meetings since he arrived in Fort Knox to begin training Feb. 22.

Beall reiterated on Wednesday that he felt the "hastily called meeting" was unfair to residents, applicants, and "compromises the integrity of the entire process needlessly and for political reasons."

"(Petrilla) has been authorized to participate fully at every city council meeting (through teleconferencing)," Beall said. "That’s why I thought this was so unfair to exclude the mayor from interviewing half the applicants knowing I would be out of town. Jesse told us before that his nights were his own. Based on what he’s told us, he should be able to participate in every meeting. I was happy to accommodate his participation in every meeting. I wish he had been willing to accommodate me as well. It's very disappointing they would call a special meeting knowing I would be unable to participate."

Although the meeting has been anticipated, in order to be compliant with the open meeting Brown Act, the agenda for the meeting had to be posted 24 hours in advance. The agenda wasn't posted until Wednesday morning, about 32 hours in advance the Thursday, 6 p.m. starting time.

According to city clerk Molly McLaughlin, candidates were chosen randomly and placed based on availability. The first six will be interviewed by Holloway, Baric and Petrilla. Beall will not be present.

The lineup of applicants Thursday are listed in interview order:

• Curt Stanley, RSM: Small-business owner and local advocate who is often an emcee for Rancho Santa Margarita events.
• Kenny P. Hrabik, Trabuco Canyon: Businessman owns the Dove Canyon Courtyard.
• 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.
• Donnamarie Kline, RSM: Volunteer with professional background in employee benefits.
• Kevin J. Raney, RSM: Chief of police for Garden Grove. 
• 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.

Candidates who will be interviewed at the regularly scheduled meeting April 13 before a panel consisting of Holloway, Baric and Beall—but not Petrilla unless he is able to teleconference—are: 

• Brad McGirr, RSM: Attorney and current member of the Planning Commission as an appointment of Mayor Tony Beall.
• Jim Eakin, Trabuco Canyon: Software engineer and businessman is on the Planning Commission as Jerry Holloway’s appointment.
• 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.
• Lawrence “Larry” McCook, RSM: Retired business executive who garnered more than 4,300 votes during a six-week campaign for the council in 2010.
• Kathleen A. Roach, RSM: Worked 15 years in municipal government, including seven as the assistant to the city manager in Rancho Santa Margarita.
• 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.