Six Down, a Half-Dozen to Go for Council Position

Six prospective candidates for the City Council position vacated by Gary Thompson last month stepped before the leaders of Rancho Santa Margarita on Thursday. In a specially called meeting that included rookie Councilman Jesse Petrilla—who hasn’t been to a meeting in two months—but didn’t include Mayor Tony Beall, who was out of town on business, the candidates answered questions and tried to win the approval of their interviewers.

A second set of six candidates will be interviewed on Aug. 13 during a regularly scheduled meeting that will include Beall but not Petrilla—unless he is able to teleconference into the meeting from outside Forth Knox, KY, where he is training with the California Army National Guard.

Jerry Holloway and Steve Baric will have the advantage of interviewing both sets of candidates in person.

The council is trying to make a selection by May 2.

According to the rules established in the interview, which took place in a public forum, each candidate was allowed a 3-5 minute opening statement, two questions from each councilman plus the appropriate follow-up, and a three-minute closing.

What they saw was a wide range of community members who might very well excel in the position given the opportunity. 

The appllicants are listed in the order of their appearance before the council:

Curt Stanley—Small-business owner and local advocate who is often an emcee for Rancho Santa Margarita events.

• Pro: Stanley closed by telling the councilmen that he was considered “The Voice of Rancho Santa Margarita,” and that was not a title that he asked for nor one that he created. He is uniquely identified with the city. “Of all the other applicants, have you ever remembered referencing them as the voice of Rancho Santa Margarita, other than Curt Stanley? …  I want to be a voice for RSM, not the voice of RSM.”
• Con: When discussing the annexation of Coto de Caza, Stanley said it was not feasible, “at least temporarily.” On a night in which Stanley looked so good, there was a little wiggle room there that he might like to have back.
• Lasting impression: He is a consensus builder, he’s against politics in local government, and he has more experience with budgets than any of us expected.

 Kenney Hrabik—Businessman owns the Dove Canyon Courtyard.

• Pro: His platform is business, he thinks like a businessman, and a city should be run as a business: “I have to remake my business constantly to stay ahead of the times.”
• Con: Off-the-cuff remark about bathing suits didn’t go anywhere, and the use of props—a poster of him and his family at an Angels game—was a bit gimmicky.
• Lasting impression: His family values enthusiasm was apparent, and he really does represent a voice from the business community that is lacking on the dais.

Peter Whittingham—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.

• Pro: Hrabik mentioned Big League Dreams as a business that would thrive at Chiquita Ridge, and Whittingham said, “I know the [owners], and it would be a great way to go.” He’s connected.
• Con: A couple of times he appeared to get stumped by questions and took his time to respond, though that’s not necessarily a negative, but seemed to indicate it was something he had not contemplated beforehand. He clearly took longer to respond to questions than did the others.
• Lasting impression: He was aware that his career working in government might be seen as a detriment, and he addressed it head on; he has no interest in governing beyond City Council.

Donnamarie Kline—Volunteer with professional background in employee benefits.

• Pro: She hit the nail on the head when she said, “Making the right decision isn’t always the most popular decision, and that’s what people need to understand.”
• Con: The bulk of her answers seemed to indicate one basic theme: “We need to reach out to them.” It became a pat answer almost regardless of the situation.
• Lasting impression: She’s not a politician. She’s just a resident. She’s one of us.

Kevin Raney—Chief of police for Garden Grove. 

• Pro: When asked about his vision for the city, he provided the only real plan for the night: For example, identify shopping, technology and alternative energy, determine what businesses are going to provide that, “and find those businesses that are going to be successful 10 or 15 years down the road” and bring them in.
• Con: Although Petrilla admitted the information might not be accurate, he said he had checked the voting records of all 21 candidates and said that Raney had voted only twice in the last five elections (including special elections) over the last five years. Raney’s answer appeared to justify at least three elections in which he voted. Correct or not, it was the surprise moment of the night. 
• Lasting impression: Where has this guy been? He was concise, candid, polished, insightful—a big picture guy who seemed to understand the tasks before him.

 Glenn Acosta—Director of the Trabuco Canyon Water District, appointed by O.C. Supervisor Pat Bates to serve on the O.C. Waste Management Commission.

• Pro: He wasn’t interested in change for change’s sake and defined government “to serve the people in a way that is transparent, accountable and cost effective.”
• Con: Mentioned RSM should benchmark itself against others in business development but then struggled to name comparable cities that didn't have Pacific Ocean shoreline.
• Lasting impression: Right or wrong, refused to answer Holloway’s question—asked twice in different ways—about whom he would vote for if not himself for this position.