‘Dream team’ sworn in

NEWPORT BEACH — In one of the biggest swearing-in ceremonies in recent memory, six members of what Councilman Ed Selich called “the dream team of City Councils” took the oath of office and their places on the dais Monday night.

It was no surprise to anyone when Steve Rosansky, who held the only seat of seven that wasn’t on November’s ballot, was unanimously chosen mayor for 2007 by his colleagues. He took the gavel from Don Webb, a history lover who fulfilled his dream of serving as mayor during the city’s centennial year, 2006.

Selich replaced Rosansky as mayor pro tempore, a ceremonial post that fills in for the mayor when necessary.

Two members are new to the council, Councilwoman Nancy Gardner and Councilman Michael Henn; three were appointed incumbents who won their first elections, Councilman Keith Curry, Councilwoman Leslie Daigle and Selich; and Webb won reelection last month.

There would have been just four seats on the ballot, but because the councilmen who held Selich’s and Curry’s seats resigned partway through their terms, their appointed replacements had to run in the next general election.

“It feels good not to have that ‘appointed’ in front of my name,” Selich joked.

He called this council a “dream team” because of the members’ varied qualifications — Henn has been a corporate finance officer, Gardner is a longtime environmentalist, and Selich’s own background is in urban planning — and because he expects their personalities to mesh well.

The last council had its turmoil. The two outgoing councilmen, Dick Nichols — who served a four-year term that ended Monday, and Tod Ridgeway, a two-term councilman who also served six years on the planning commission — were outspoken in their own ways and sometimes ran afoul of colleagues or constituents.

But both were honored for their service by the council and more than 100 people who packed the council chambers and filled the lobby for the ceremony.

Nichols said he enjoyed the job, and he said the council’s efforts have helped Newport Beach gain worldwide recognition as a beautiful city.

“I think the community has progressed and become just a little bit better,” he said. “We don’t need to become something different. We need to be better as we are.”