Perhaps the biggest surprise in the final list of Laguna Beach City Council candidates is who’s not on it: Toni Iseman.
After 187 years (or so), the miraculous Iseman finally called it quits. No, it’s only been 24 years, but Iseman said it’s time.
In the end, the toxicity became too much, she said, and there’s a growing intractability within the city’s bureaucracy that makes change hard.
Now, she’s going to try and put the negativity behind her and catch up on life.
“I have lots of books I haven’t read. I have lots of New Yorker magazines that I haven’t even looked at the cartoons,” she said, laughing.
“But I’m afraid it’s going to be really hard to watch what goes on unless this election goes well, and we see a change in the city,” she said. “It’s going to be painful.”
It’s no secret that Iseman often butted heads with Councilmember Peter Blake, who is up for reelection.
There are three spots for the Nov. 8 election. The candidates are:
Incumbents: Blake and Sue Kempf. Challengers: Ruben Flores, Mark Orgill, Jerome Pudwill, Alex Rounaghi, Louis Weil.
You have to think that Blake and Kempf are the early favorites – certainly Kempf, who has been a thoughtful, consummate professional throughout her public service.
Blake, maybe not so much, but he’s been true to form. You may not agree with him, but he’s consistently lived up to his points of view.
If Blake and Kempf retain their seats, that leaves one seat for five people.
You heard it here first: Orgill takes it.
