Anti-Baglin committee is underway

Barbara Diamond

A committee has been formed to defeat the re-election of incumbent

Councilman Wayne Baglin.

“We feel Wayne Baglin has proven to be the wrong sort of leader

for Laguna Beach and he needs to be unseated,” said James Whalen,

chair of “Laguna Beach Citizens For Good, Honest Government and

Civility in Local Politics and Therefore Against Wayne Baglin.”

Formation of the committee was mailed Sept. 22 to the Secretary of

State Political Reform Division and reached the City Clerk’s office

Monday.

Whalen and committee Treasurer Stuart Jeffries, both registered

voters in Laguna Beach, are associated with Arbitech at 920

Glenneryre St, across from Baglin’s real estate office.

“It is my understanding that the company is the subject of

possible code enforcement action, but I recused myself from council

closed session discussions because of the proximity of the company to

my office,” Baglin said.

City Manager Ken Frank said the city has no code violation action

taking place against Arbitech at this time.

Assistant committee treasurer Cary Davidson is listed on the

letterhead of the Los Angeles law firm, Reed and Davidson LLP, which

mailed the required California Form 410, Statement of Organization as

a Primarily Formed Committee. Primarily formed committees can support

or oppose specific candidates or measures in a single election.

Committees have been formed in the past against former Mayor Ann

Christoph and Planning Commission Chair Norm Grossman.

The committee to defeat Baglin was not “qualified” when the 410

was filed.

In order to qualify, a committee must have raised or spent $1,000.

However, a committee can file with the state before it qualifies in

order to get an identification number and re-file after

qualification.

Turnouts were good for two fundraisers Sunday.

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman was the guest of honor at the home of Steve

Kawaratani and Catharine Cooper.

“I support Cheryl because of all the candidates, she most supports

infrastructure emergency services,” said Kawaratani, who also hosted

a fundraiser for neighbor Baglin.

She said when she ran the first time, the major issues were a

commercial airport at El Toro and the decision of the Festival of

Arts Board of Directors to move to San Clemente.

“We stopped the airport,” said Kinsman, who represented the city

on the El Toro Reuse Authority and fought every attempt to reduce the

city’s participation.

She also extolled the 40-year lease the city has with the festival

and the present council’s efforts to repair the city’s aging sewer

system.

“The previous council paid no attention to the sewers until the

spills,” Kinsman said. “Now we have the cleanest beaches in Orange

County. And we have opened three new parks.”

If re-elected she will focus on parking Downtown, keeping South

Coast Medical Center here and getting a new city financial system

operating.

“The financial system is boring for most people, but it’s exciting

to me,” Kinsman said. “You really have to be a CPA to read the stuff

we have now. There is nothing wrong with it, but it is old.”

Kinsman said the city is in a good financial position, almost debt

free.

“We are a trophy community,” Kinsman said.

Enthusiastic members of the Laguna Beach Democratic Club gathered

to cheer on Jane Egly.

“She is a thinking, capable person,” said former club President

Anne Cox. “She will bring a civility to the council that is lacking.”

Cox said the bottom line is the relocation of the city maintenance

yard to Act V, which Egly opposes.

“I will fight to the death to protect the environment,” Egly said.

She covered her ears when David Schaar recommended bullet voting

for her.

“I don’t know if it has ever been more important to have a

majority on the council,” Schaar said. “Wayne Baglin came as close as

he could to endorsing Jane, when he said at the Board of Realtors

forum that a majority that agrees with him on Act V is needed.”

Baglin and Councilwoman Toni Iseman oppose the relocation.

Incumbent candidate Kinsman supports the relocation -- or any plan

that will improve Downtown parking, she said. She voted with

Elizabeth Pearson and Steve Dicterow to move the yard to the canyon.

“We need to define our goals,” Egly told the partisan crowd. “And

decisions must fit the goals.”

Egly defined herself as a mother, lawyer and law professor who

knows how to think on her feet, how to structure problems and how to

solve them.

Among the problems she sees is Montage -- employee parking and who

will be counting the money when the bed taxes start rolling in after

the city loan for Treasure Island Park is paid.

She said she had no solution to the pickle in which South Coast

Medical Center finds itself, but approved of the study underway to

find options to keep the center here or replaced.

“If you are going to be sick, you have the greatest view in the

world,” Egly said.

Egly accepts no donations from political action committees and

said she can work with anyone, if she can make them giggle.

FORUMS

* Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach and the American Assn. of

University Women, 11:45 a.m., today, at the clubhouse on the corner

of St. Ann’s Drive and Glenneyre Street. Luncheon is $10, which may

be paid at the door with reservations. No reservations needed for

just the forum.

* Election Festival, noon to 4 p.m., Saturday at Laguna Beach High

School. Organized by the League of Women Voters Laguna Beach unit.

The event will include mini-forums, information tables staffed by

local organizations and an nonpartisan Voter Service table, offering

voter registration, e-slate voting demonstrations and ballot issues

pros and cons. For more information, call (949) 494-9928.

* Laguna Beach Alliance for the Arts, 10 a.m., Oct. 16, Laguna

Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road. Coffee will be served, courtesy of

the Playhouse.

* Top of the World Neighborhood Assn. and Temple Hills Community

Association, 7:30 p.m., Oct. 18, City Council Chamber, 505 Forest

Ave.

FUNDRAISERS

* Egly fund-raiser, Oct. 17, at the art-filled, Woods Cove home of

Bill DeLand and Mark Fleming.

* We’ve had the good and bad, now it’s time for the Egly,” Fleming

said.

For more information about Egly’s campaign, visit

www.jane4laguna.com

Kinsman fund-raiser , 4 to 6 p.m., Oct. 24, at Madison Square and

Garden Cafe. Requested donation, $30.

This will be the third council candidate fundraiser hosted by Jon

Madison.

For more information, call (494) 499-2900.

OTHER ELECTION ACTIVITY

In October:

* Saturday Night at the Movies. 7 p.m., Saturday Night at the

Movies, at the Laguna Beach Democratic Headquarters, 1212 S. Coast

Highway. Popcorn and soft drinks provided or bring your own

refreshments. Seating is limited. Beach chairs suggested.

OTHER ELECTION ACTIVITY

In October:

* Get Out the Vote rally, 11:30 a.m., Sunday, at the Laguna each

Democratic Club Democratic Headquarters in the old Pottery Shack

building, 1212 S. Coast Highway, Hwy. Laguna Beach.

* Presidential Debate Party, Tuesday, at the Democratic

Headquarters. The debate will start at 6 p.m. and last about 90

minutes. Lively discussion and refreshments. Guests are welcome to

bring their own snacks and are encouraged to bring beach chairs.

Seating is limited.

ONGOING

* Saturday Night at the Movies. 7 p.m., Saturday, at the

Democratic Club Headquarters, 1212 S. Coast Highway. Pop corn and

soft drinks provided or bring your own refreshments. Seating is

limited. Beach chairs suggested.

The Laguna Beach Democratic Headquarters is open every day from

noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays and from noon to 9 p.m. on weekends. Phone

(949) 497-7027.

* Art Exhibit. “Mean Times S Back at Home,” an art exhibit through

Nov. 2 at BC Space Gallery, 235 Forest Ave. For more information,

e-mail [email protected], visit www.bcspace.com or call (949) 497-2880.

* Contributions to ELECTION ’04 NOTEBOOK are welcomed. Write to

Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to

384 Forest Ave., Suite 22; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 8979.