Bob Whalen told a crowd of 175 supporters that he seeks re-election to the Laguna Beach City Council in part because “there is no shortage of things to work on” to improve the town.
Whalen, who acknowledged police and fire department representatives among those attending the $99 a head fundraiser Sunday, May 22, at The Ranch, pointed out that public safety issues have preoccupied him in the last year and he expects they will continue to do so.
After a power line ignited a fire in Laguna Canyon last summer – which forced the road’s closure, gridlock elsewhere in town and fanned residents’ worst fears – Whalen wrote a demand letter to Southern California Edison. But subsequent negotiations to pressure the utility to rid the town of above ground power lines went nowhere, he said.
Now, Whalen says he’s looking for guidance from residents in a soon to be circulated community survey. The survey will ask, among other issues, if residents are willing to raise hotel or sales taxes to underwrite the cost of burying utility poles citywide or for other infrastructure improvements, Whalen said.
Mayor Steve Dicterow, who is also seeking re-election, along with council members Kelly Boyd, Toni Iseman and Rob Zur Schmiede all showed their support for their colleague by attending Whalen’s kick-off event. He received $30,000 in contributions, treasurer Anne Johnson reported.
Whalen, a municipal finance attorney, previously served on the city’s planning commission and twice was elected to the school board.
So far, no other candidates have emerged to challenge the city council incumbents on the November ballot.
