City backs citizen award

Andrew Edwards

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is hoping this year’s Citizen

of the Year Award event will make a bigger splash than past

ceremonies.

“We needed to enhance this; it needed to be bigger,” chamber

president Richard Luehrs said.

The award got some extra backing last week, when the Newport Beach

City Council agreed, without taking a vote, to work with the chamber

to help promote the award, City Manager Homer Bludau said.

Luehrs said that in past years, Citizen of the Year ceremonies

have been smallish affairs with attendance largely limited to chamber

members. He approached the City Council with the expectation that its

involvement could stir up interest among the broader Newport

community.

“Now, with the city’s participation and involvement, it will be a

little bit bigger, a little better, a little bit flashier,” Luehrs

said.

Bludau said he expects to represent the city at meetings with

chamber officials to figure out how the city will work with the

business group. Cooperation will likely include the installation of a

perpetual plaque at City Hall to commemorate past winners.

“That’s kind of a no-brainer,” Councilman Tod Ridgeway said

regarding the idea to put the plaque at City Hall.

The chamber has given the Citizen of the Year Award since 1949.

The award is intended to recognize people who have made major

contributions to Newport Beach over a long period of time, and are

chosen by previous winners, Luehrs said.

This year’s winner has not yet been chosen, Luehrs said. Past

recipients are scheduled to meet March 31 to choose the chamber’s

2005 honoree.

Last year, the chamber selected Harbor Realty owner Bill Ring as

its Citizen of the Year. A Newport Harbor High School graduate, Ring

chaired the chamber during the 1970s and was on the board of

directors for Hoag Hospital’s 552 Club.

Other winners include former state senator and California

education secretary Marian Bergeson and Irrelevant Week founder Paul

Salata.