POLITICS Supervisor announces he will seek Assembly...

POLITICS

Supervisor announces he will seek Assembly seat

Newport Coast supervisor Tom Wilson stirred up the 73rd Assembly

District race on Monday when he revealed that he would seek the seat.

Before Wilson’s announcement, which came in an e-mail to

supporters, Laguna Niguel Councilwoman Mimi Walters was the highest

profile candidate in the race. Walters has secured endorsements from

current seat-holder Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), Assemblyman

John Campbell and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista).

Former Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) has endorsed Wilson.

It was revealed this week that Assembly Ken Maddox had quietly

moved to Dana Point, outside his district, but stayed registered in

Garden Grove. John Campbell, Maddox’s opponent in the 35th District

state Senate race, raised the issue.

A Campbell campaign consultant said Maddox’s decision raises a

credibility question.

A Maddox consultant said his boss wasn’t engaging in any behavior

that other legislators haven’t done.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.

COSTA MESA

Council still can’t agree on Robinson’s replacement

For the second time, the City Council deadlocked on appointing

someone to replace former Mayor Karen Robinson. At a special meeting

on Monday, they will try for a third time. They will probably expand

the choices beyond Eric Bever and Mike Scheafer if they can’t decide

again between them.

On Wednesday, groups that work to prevent teenage pregnancy got

together to be more strategic about reducing the high teenage

pregnancy rate in Costa Mesa. The 92627 ZIP code has the dubious

distinction of one of the highest percentages of teenage pregnancies

in the state.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Defense admits former city employee sucked toes

The defense in the trial of Trenton Veches admitted that the

former Newport Beach recreation coordinator sucked on the toes of

several boys enrolled in the city’s after-school programs, but that

it wasn’t sexual.

In his opening statements on Thursday, defense attorney John Dolan

said Veches was obsessed with feet, which was “weird and quirky,” but

that he didn’t use the children for sexual gratification.

Prosecutor Sheila Hanson said the 32-year-old Huntington Beach man

was a man with a serious foot fetish and that the sight of the

children’s feet aroused him. He took digital photographs of the boys’

feet and of himself sucking the children’s toes, she said.

Veches faces 28 felony counts of lewd contact with minors. He

pleaded not guilty to the felony charges, but pleaded guilty to one

misdemeanor count of possessing child pornography. If convicted, he

would face 25 years to life in prison.

The prosecution will continue with testimony on Monday.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.

NEWPORT BEACH

‘Mayor of Corona del Mar’ Sansone dies at 83

Former mayor Philip Sansone, the unofficial “mayor of Corona del

Mar,” died Wednesday at his home in Hawaii.

The City Council got its first look at the city’s proposed 2003-04

fiscal budget, a $165-million draft spending plan that reflects the

city’s fear of Sacramento’s budget crunch. The council will discuss

the plan at its study session on Tuesday and are scheduled to vote on

it at the end of June.

A new camera-equipped van could soon become part of the city’s

arsenal for protecting water quality. Staff made a compelling case

why the council should approve purchase of the $127,000 van to

monitor city sewer lines, showing that within the first two years it

will save the city money on contracted services.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.