Newport council candidates are now six

June Casagrande

Six council hopefuls will get only about 25 minutes to show their

stuff before one of them is chosen, sworn in and made a council

member on the spot.

The City Council will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to

interview the remaining six applicants to fill the vacant council

seat. The seventh, Gerald Scarboro, dropped out on Wednesday.

“I have determined that my lack of previous involvement in the

city’s government has prevented me from establishing specific

positions regarding numerous issues before the City Council,”

Scarboro wrote.

At its meeting on Tuesday, the council decided how they would pick

someone to replace Councilman Gary Proctor, who stepped down earlier

this month from his seat representing District 2.

Councilman John Heffernan said he had a list of questions on

issues affecting that district that he planned to ask the applicants,

including where they stand on Banning Ranch and Fourth of July

restrictions.

Heffernan was the only one to volunteer the questions he will

raise during next week’s special session, but all agreed on the

terms: Each candidate will be interviewed in a televised public

meeting for about 25 minutes, which includes time for brief opening

and closing statements. Candidates will be sequestered while the

others are being interviewed to assure that they all have equal time

to consider their answers.

“I suggest we appoint, swear in and seat the new council member

that same night,” said Mayor Steve Bromberg, who got his colleagues’

support.

Members of the public will also have a chance on Tuesday night to

comment on the applicants.

To be appointed, an applicant must win votes of a majority of the

council. If no one wins a majority of the votes, the council will

decide Tuesday how to narrow the field to reach consensus.

The six applicants are David Goff, Michael Kite, Dennis Lahey,

Earl Miller, Steven Rosansky and Merritt Van Sant.