Decades of experience depart

Paul Clinton

In a rare and historic changing of the guard, Huntington Beach

lost more than 40 years of experience when four veteran City Council

members retired this month.

When the four fresh faces were sworn in earlier this month, it

marked only the third time in the council’s 76-year history that four

new members stepped up to the dais.

“You get so much knowledge from serving so long,” Mayor Connie

Boardman said about her departing colleagues. “That kind of knowledge

and history is a tremendous resource.”

Only twice before, since Surf City shifted from a board of

trustees to a city council in 1926, has the seven-member panel sworn

in four nonincumbents at once. Elections in 1978 and 1986 mark the

only other times.

Huntington High School math teacher Jill Hardy, former city police

officer Gil Coerper, activist Cathy Green and former Mayor and

Councilman Dave Sullivan join Boardman, Debbie Cook and Pam Julien

Houchen.

Sullivan, who held a seat from 1992 to 2000, brings the most

experience to the new council. Sullivan said he learned some valuable

lessons during his past stint in City Hall. Sullivan is “a link to

that history we lost,” Boardman said.

“In making your decision [on an issue], it helps to know the

history,” Sullivan said. “You’ve got to listen to everybody and get

all the facts before making a decision.”

Except for Houchen, who has six years on the council, no other

member has held a seat for more than two years.

Boardman has scheduled a February workshop to teach the new

members about the lawmaking process in the city. The four new members

have also been meeting with the heads of each department in City

Hall.

In losing the experience and institutional knowledge of its four

departing leaders, the council will need to speed up its learning

curve as a looming state budget crisis threatens to further dent a

city treasury already hit by sales-tax loses.

Three members were termed out after eight years on the council, in

keeping with the city’s 1978 term-limits law.

Peter Green, who served two eight-year terms on each side of a

two-year break from 1992 to 1994, walked away with the most

experience. Green also held the mayor’s post twice.

Ralph Bauer left with 10 years on the council, completing two

elected terms after he was appointed to a vacant seat in 1992. Prior

to his time on the council, Bauer served on two school boards, those

of the Ocean View School District and Huntington Beach Union High

School District.

Bauer said he has given the new council members an open invitation

to call him if they want to tap into his knowledge.

“If they want support or help, I owe it to them to help them,

because they were put there by the people,” Bauer said. “They’re all

going to do a good job. On balance, they’re good, solid people.”

Shirley Dettloff left after an eight-year stint. The councilwoman

must also give up her seat on the California Coastal Commission in

January.

“I’m going to miss being on the City Council because it was a

joy,” Dettloff said. “I’m looking forward to opening a new chapter.”

Grace Winchell left with nine years under her belt. Winchell

stepped in a year ago, after former Mayor Dave Garofalo resigned in

disgrace. Garofalo stepped down before being indicted on conflict of

interest charges by the district attorney. Before that, Winchell held

a seat from 1986 to 1994.

In leaving the council for the second time, Winchell said she has

a lot of faith in Surf City’s newest leaders.

She also said the dramatic shift on the council reflects a

long-running shift in the community, stretching back to the early

1980s, when all four of the departing members began to wrest the city

away from developers.

All four belonged to Huntington Beach Tomorrow, a group that led

that charge.

“There’s a lot of past history that goes out with us,” Winchell

said. “We came in when the city was being run by developers with very

little concern about the future of the city.”

* PAUL CLINTON is a reporter with Times Community News. He

covers City Hall. He may be reached at (714) 965-7173 or by e-mail at

[email protected].