Mailbag: Voters choose new path for council

A council election story headline in last week’s Laguna Beach Independent was “Voters Choose Familiar Names.”

While certainly council members Toni Iseman and Kelly Boyd are familiar names, Planning Commissioner Rob Zur Schmiede did not start out that way. All three winners ran on their experience, knowledge and accomplishments in Laguna Beach.

However, it is important to note that with the election of Iseman and Zur Schmiede, the voters chose a different philosophical path of residents first — the campaign themes both Iseman and Zur Schmiede ran on.

This election was a rejection of the politics and philosophy of Mayor Elizabeth Pearson. Pearson chose not to run after her pet project, the $65-million parking garage at the Village Entrance met with widespread public opposition. The council initially voted 4 to 1 to support it (only Iseman opposed) and 3 to 2 against the financing of the garage with a 25-year bond (Iseman and Boyd opposed) — likely a reason the voters rewarded both Iseman and Boyd.

The opposition spawned the Let Laguna Vote movement with Iseman leading the charge.

Pearson was also rejected for her politics. She worked behind-the-scenes to recruit Jon Madison .

But instead of distancing herself from Madison after the OC Register published a story regarding the authenticity of his claimed college degrees, Pearson held on to him to the very end.

Madison capsized, Pearson supported Michele Hall — perhaps that is the reason why Hall did not get more votes.

In the end, the voters chose a very experienced and knowledgeable City Council, rejecting partisan politics, the past direction of the council’s wholesale acceptance of developer interests over residents’ needs, and a desire not to pave paradise and to keep Laguna, Laguna.

Audrey Prosser

Laguna Beach

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The GOP’s midterm victories

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy said, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” He was speaking metaphorically about the U.S. economy.

With this thought in mind, let me say this to all the surfers wondering about the national midterm election results: “Simply put, the GOP got barreled and the Democrats pearled.”

If you need a translation it’s this: Republicans were lined up in the perfect position to ride their waves while the Dems fell flat on their faces when their boards suddenly were dragged under water.

Denny Freidenrich

Laguna Beach