Avery, Herdman and O’Neill win seats on Newport Beach City Council
Final, unofficial vote totals on Election Night showed Harbor Commissioner Brad Avery, retired educator Jeff Herdman and Finance Committee member Will O’Neill winning their districts in the Newport Beach City Council race.
Local voters lined up Tuesday to pick from among eight candidates for three available seats.
With all precincts reporting, returns from the Orange County registrar of voters office showed Avery winning against law student Shelley Henderson for the District 2 seat, which represents the Newport Heights and Newport Crest areas. Current District 2 Councilman Tony Petros did not seek reelection after his first term.
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Avery celebrated the initial results at Muldoon’s Irish Pub in Newport with fellow candidates Lee Lowrey and Will O’Neill, saying he was grateful but not surprised at the early results.
“I didn’t take the race for granted, but I was surprised that [Henderson] chose not to come to the forums and really run a campaign,” Avery said. “The results reflect that. I’m very happy to have the chance to serve on the City Council.”
In the race for the District 5 seat representing Balboa Island and the Fashion Island area, returns showed Herdman had won.
“That’s wonderful news,” Herdman said earlier Tuesday night when he was leading by a thin margin. “I hope it keeps up and I hope I get a chance to do this.”
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Newport Beach City Council candidates Brad Avery, Lee Lowrey, Jeff Herdman, Mike Glenn, Phil Greer, Fred Ameri and Will O Neill, from left, discuss civic issues during a Speak Up Newport forum at the Newport Beach Civic Center on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016.
Newport Beach City Council candidates Brad Avery, Lee Lowrey, Jeff Herdman, Mike Glenn, Phil Greer, Fred Ameri and Will O Neill, from left, discuss civic issues during a Speak Up Newport forum at the Newport Beach Civic Center on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (Don Leach / Daily Pilot)
Herdman was competing against activist and businessman Mike Glenn and Lowrey, a local businessman. The three candidates were vying to replace termed-out Councilman Ed Selich.
In the District 7 race, O’Neill took a strong start in early returns against attorney Phil Greer and former Planning Commissioner Fred Ameri. The seat, currently held by termed-out Councilman Keith Curry, represents Newport Coast and Newport Ridge.
“I’m optimistic,” O’Neill said Tuesday night. “I think it’s going to be a long night. I’m surrounded by friends and family, and I appreciate all the support I’ve received from the community.”
Measure MM
Also on Tuesday’s ballot in Newport Beach was Measure MM, also known as the Taxpayer Protection Act, which would require at least five votes on the seven-member City Council to place a council-sponsored general or special tax proposal on the ballot for voter consideration. It was approved.
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Hannah Fry, hannah.fry@latimes.com
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
