Five candidates to face off for two seats on Laguna Beach City Council

Come this November, Laguna Beach residents will be voting on five candidates that have qualified for the election, including current Mayor Bob Whalen and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Dicterow.

Two seats are open on the five-person council.

Also up for election this November is the seat for city clerk. Lisette Chel-Walker announced her retirement from the position after 37 years at City Hall in March.

Village Laguna and the Laguna Beach Community Summit will be sponsoring a candidates forum in the City Council chambers on Aug. 24, starting at 6 p.m. Candidates will be available to answer questions.

The forum will be viewable on Cox cable channel 852 and online by Zoom. The link will be published on Village Laguna’s website at villagelaguna.org. Candidates will be wearing masks or calling in from their homes. No audience will be allowed in the chambers. To submit a question, email [email protected] by Wednesday.

Here is a quick look at the candidates running, in alphabetical order:

City Council

Steve Dicterow (incumbent): Dicterow was first appointed to City Council in 2012 and served as the city’s mayor in 2016. He was appointed the council’s mayor pro tem by council members for a second term. Dicterow is an attorney. In his candidate statement, Dicterow said he plans to tackle issues with city spending, business recovery, development and maintaining local control if reelected.

Ruben Flores: A Laguna Beach resident of more than 24 years and owner of Laguna Nursery, Flores is the current chair of the city’s View Restoration Committee and was president of the Laguna Beach Beautification Council. In his candidate statement, Flores said he plans to focus on issues of civility, parking and enhancing Laguna’s canyons, parks, beaches and parkways.

Larry Nokes: A land use attorney and 36-year Laguna Beach resident, Nokes was a chairman for the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce. Nokes also served on the city’s view equity committee in 2013 and helped draft the historic preservation ordinance. Nokes said he would be focusing on traffic, infrastructure and streamlining permitting and application processes.

George Weiss: A co-founder of Laguna Residents First, Weiss said he will be focusing on issues of city spending, development and increasing transparency. Weiss was a president of the Laguna Beach Beautification Council and was chair on the city’s Housing and Human Services Committee in 2016.

Bob Whalen (incumbent): Whalen was first appointed to the City Council in 2012 and has been the city’s mayor since 2018. Whalen also was mayor in 2015. A public finance attorney, Whalen said he would be focusing on continuing to navigate the city through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in addition to other issues of parking, senior housing opportunities and ocean conservation.

City Clerk

Ann Marie McKay: McKay is a law office manager and a notary public, but was previously an administrative assistant for the city’s Community Development Department for 10 years. McKay was also a captain in the U.S. Air Force. On her campaign website, McKay said she will focus on improving transparency, access and efficiency.

Mariann Tracy: A 31-year resident in Laguna Beach, Tracy has served as the executive assistant to City Manager John Pietig for the last seven years. Tracy was previously the program director for Laguna Beach Seniors. In her campaign statement, Tracy said she would be responsive and diplomatic if elected.

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