Newport City Council seats go to Avery, Herdman and O’Neill
Kent Barkouras, 55, of Newport Beach, wears a patriotic costume as he waits in line to vote at the Lido Isle Clubhouse on Tuesday.
Harbor Commissioner Brad Avery, retired educator Jeff Herdman and Finance Committee member Will O’Neill claimed seats on the Newport Beach City Council in Tuesday’s election.
Local voters picked from among eight candidates for three available spots on the seven-member council.
Complete returns from the Orange County registrar of voters office showed Avery defeating 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.
Avery, a longtime Newport Beach resident and harbor advocate, garnered 58.4% of the vote.
Henderson, who was absent from most candidate forums and did not actively campaign, claimed 41.6% of the vote.
“I’m very happy to have the chance to serve on the City Council,” Avery said Tuesday night. He could not be reached for further comment Wednesday morning.
In the race for the District 5 seat representing Balboa Island and the Fashion Island area, complete returns showed Herdman winning by a slim margin.
The longtime Balboa Island resident competed against businessman and activist Mike Glenn and businessman Lee Lowrey to replace termed-out Councilman Ed Selich.
Herdman finished with 36.4% of the vote, followed by Lowrey with 33% and Glenn with 30.6%.
Herdman said he and his wife were awake early Wednesday keeping a close eye on the returns, waiting for results from the final precincts to roll in. Polling conducted a few weeks ago indicated Herdman was ahead in the District 5 race, but he said he didn’t think victory was guaranteed.
“I knew I needed to be out there working hard to win,” he said. “I’ve spent almost every day in the last week walking and knocking and talking to people. I’m just so pleased and anxious to get going.”
Herdman has been critical of members of the “Team Newport” council majority elected in 2014 — a group he will now have to work alongside. Team Newport consists of Mayor Diane Dixon, Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Muldoon and council members Marshall “Duffy” Duffield and Scott Peotter.
Herdman has cited differences with them and Avery and O’Neill over issues including development (he favors slow growth) and campaign finance reform (which he favors).
Herdman is the only councilman-elect whose campaign was not managed by political consultant Dave Ellis, who also managed the campaigns of the Team Newport slate.
Herdman said he will work to build alliances with current and newly elected council members.
“I am optimistic about us being able to work together,” he said. “I’m going to put the effort into it. That call will basically be up to them.”
O’Neill handily won the race for the District 7 seat, receiving 50.3% of the vote in the field of three. O’Neill had a strong start in early returns against attorney Phil Greer and former Planning Commissioner Fred Ameri and cruised to victory.
Greer finished with 26.8% of the vote; Ameri with 23%.
District 7, currently represented by termed-out Councilman Keith Curry, includes Newport Coast and Newport Ridge.
O’Neill said Wednesday morning that he’s humbled by the outpouring of support from residents.
“Phil Greer and Fred Ameri ran strong campaigns,” he said. “We will continue to strengthen leaders in our community, balance budgets, maintain safe streets, improve infrastructure and turn more attention to our harbor.”
Measure MM
Also on Tuesday’s ballot in Newport Beach was Measure MM, also known as the Taxpayer Protection Act, which aims to require at least five votes on the City Council to place a council-sponsored general or special tax proposal on the ballot for voter consideration. The measure was approved with 81.2% of the vote.
Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
