Mayor gets a second term

Pearson-Schneider elected to another one-year stint by council, praised as leader on landslide.The City Council unanimously reelected Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider to serve for a second consecutive term as mayor of Laguna Beach.

Pearson-Schneider was nominated by Mayor Pro Tem Steven Dicterow, who traditionally would have succeeded her. Dicterow, who has served two terms as mayor during his three terms on the council, was elected for a second term as mayor pro tem.

“I loved the two years of being mayor, and there is nothing more I’d rather do than serve next year, which may be my last on the council.” Dicterow said. His term is up in 2006.

However, he said, Pearson-Schneider’s remarkable leadership as mayor during the city’s landslide crisis should not be interrupted, though it will be a personal and professional sacrifice for her.

Pearson-Schneider’s nomination was seconded by Councilwoman Toni Iseman, who also nominated Dicterow for his position.

“I am honored,” Pearson-Schnieder said.

“What a year!” Pearson-Schneider said. “It started with me working with Toni on the corporation yard. It was one of the easiest things I have ever done.”

The alliance forged a compromise project that had stumped the council and city staff for almost a decade and had simmered for about 30 years.

“The other remarkable thing was how pleasant it has been to serve on the council since Jane [Councilwoman Egly] came on,” Pearson-Schneider said. “We have done wondrous things.”

When the city was turned upside down by a landslide June 1, the council led a unified community that pulled together in the face of the disaster, Pearson-Schneider said.

“We really care about each other,” Pearson-Schneider said. “The landslide devastated a lot of families, but it united the city.”

Pearson-Schneider also thanked the volunteers in the Adopt-A-Family program she initiated to help those who lost their homes in the landslide.

“Things are positive and upbeat in the city,” Pearson-Schneider said.