Election lures chamber president

Alicia Robinson

A prominent business supporter is eyeing a seat on the City Council,

but opposition is expected from the slow-growth Greenlight citizens’

group.

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce President Richard Luehrs

announced plans Friday to put his name in to replace departing

Councilman Gary Adams, who will resign Sept. 1.

The council is taking applications through Sept. 9 for candidates

to fill Adams’ fourth-district council seat. The fourth district

includes the Upper Newport Bay, newly incorporated areas in Santa Ana

Heights and areas near the airport. Adams is relocating to

Washington, D.C., for a job promotion.

Luehrs, who has been with the chamber for nearly 22 years, said he

doesn’t see a conflict between his paid position as a business

advocate and a seat on the council.

“I don’t see any conflict at all,” he said. “As a matter of fact,

I think it would be helpful to have that business perspective on the

council.... I think I’m objective enough to be able to step back and

look at issues on a more global basis. I don’t own any of those

businesses; I don’t have a financial interest in any of those

businesses [that the chamber represents].”

But Greenlight leaders see a potential problem with being a paid

business advocate and representing the interests of the city’s

residents, Greenlight spokesman Phil Arst said.

“We definitely think there’s a terrible conflict, and his

selection by the council would be a crass showing of an emphasis on

business and development, rather than retaining Newport Beach as a

high-quality residential and environmental community,” he said.

Getting a financial return from decisions in public office is what

makes a conflict of interest, and Luehrs wouldn’t get any financial

gain from serving on the council, said Mayor Tod Ridgeway, who is one

of four attorneys on the council.

“He’s extremely qualified, very competent and knows all the

issues,” Ridgeway said. “The only area where we would have to

question him is his ability to balance quality of life with business

interests.”

As head of the chamber, Luehrs recently took a stance in favor of

the proposed Marinapark luxury resort on Balboa Peninsula. Some

residents have vigorously protested the project, which will be on the

fall ballot.

Newport’s chamber is far more active in community issues than many

other cities, said Councilman Steve Bromberg, also an attorney.

While the knee-jerk response is to say there’s a conflict of

interest, it’s hard to think of a scenario in which there might be a

conflict as a matter of law, Bromberg said.

“We’re dealing with something we’ve never dealt with before,” he

said. “It is a very oddball issue.”

As of Friday afternoon, only city Planning Commissioner Barry

Eaton had filed papers with the city to be considered for Adams’

seat. But several others have expressed interest in the seat, such as

Planning Commissioner Leslie Daigle; Parks, Beaches and Recreation

Commissioner Tim Brown; and Corona del Mar photographer John Blom,

Bromberg said. Arst said he’s not aware of any Greenlight supporters

who have an eye on the seat.

The council will interview candidates at a special public meeting

on Sept. 21 and either appoint someone that night or continue the

appointment process at its Sept. 28 regular meeting, Ridgeway said.

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].