Zur Schmiede Misses Coastal Commission Appointment

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Rob Zur Schmiede
Rob Zur Schmiede

Roberto Uranga, a Democrat from Long Beach, has been appointed to the California Coastal Commission, effectively dashing hopes that Laguna’s newest City Council member Rob Zur Schmiede might win the seat.

California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), chair of the Senate Rules Committee, announced the appointment late last month.

Zur Schmiede had been under consideration since January for the post vacated by Long Beach City Council member Robert Garcia when he was elected mayor effective last July, making him ineligible for the post. An effort to pass a law to allow Garcia to retain his seat on the commission failed and it was officially vacated in September.

The powerful regulatory authority that often has the last word on coastal development projects, such as Mark Christy’s Ranch renovation and Louis Longi’s artist work/live complex in Laguna Beach, the Coastal Commission has 12 voting members and three non-voting members.

The Laguna Beach City Council endorsed Zur Schmiede’s nomination to the commission. A locally elected representative from Laguna Beach last served on the Commission in 2005, a two-year stint by Council member and environmental crusader Toni Iseman, who was appointed by then Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco), an outspoken environmental advocate.

The deadline for nominations was Feb. 23 and the Senate Rules Committee was allowed 30 days to vet the candidates.

In the end, they selected another nominee from Long Beach, a retired city of Long Beach administrator who was elected to its City Council last year

 

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