The Huntington Beach City Council flipped to a majority of conservatives Dec. 6, when four newly elected members—Casey McKeon, Gracey Van Der Mark, Pat Burns, and Tony Strickland—were sworn into office during the council’s regular meeting replacing Mayor Barbara Delgleize, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Posey, and councilors Kim Carr, and Erik Peterson.
This is the first time the city council has seen a conservative majority since 2012.
The four newly elected officials immediately demonstrated their new voting bloc, when they won a series of votes by a 4–3 majority, each time clashing with remaining councilors Dan Kalmick, Natalie Moser, and Rhonda Bolton.
The council elected Strickland—a former California Assemblyman and Senator—as mayor and Van Der Mark as mayor pro tem in two separate such votes, both with Kalmick, Moser, and Bolton opposing.
McKeon also introduced a motion to allow the city’s mayor to determine councilors’ seating arrangements at the dais during meetings, office space assignments, and parking spaces at city hall.
His motion was challenged by Kalmick as not being properly agendized, but later affirmed by newly re-elected City Attorney Michael Gates. The motion passed, again, on a 4–3 vote.
The new councilors have four initial goals including to “unleash Michael Gates,” a reference to fighting legal battles with the state to stop high-density housing mandates, according to Strickland, getting the homeless of the streets, “making crime illegal again,” and creating a more welcoming city for new businesses.
“From the bottom of my heart, I’m going to work as hard as I can to make you proud of the leadership I want to provide for the city of Huntington Beach,” Strickland said.
As mayor, Strickland said one of his first promises would be to not limit public commentators’ time to speak at meetings. Delgleize, in her role as mayor, had reduced such time from 3 minutes to 1 or 2 minutes in the past.
“I believe God gave [us] two ears and one mouth for a reason,” said Strickland. “We want to hear from you.”
The new councilors took time during the meeting to thank their campaign volunteers and to bask in their Nov. 8 wins.
We’re “returning the council to the good people of Huntington Beach,” Van Der Mark said.
The public showed up in full force for the swearing-in of the new members—packing the chambers until there was standing room only and repeatedly gave standing ovations throughout the night for the new members, with cheers and applause.
The night was especially meaningful for Van Der Mark, as she spoke about the joy, as a first-generation American, in fulfilling her parents’ wish of being an example of the American Dream.
“There is no question we have a lot of work to do,” she said. “I am fully prepared and committed to dedicate as much time and effort as it takes to make our city the safest home possible for all of our families and our future generations.”
Many members of the public also gave standing ovations and words of thanks to outgoing councilman Peterson, for his service as a “lone wolf” conservative on the council.
“Erik Peterson, you were the best investment and time I ever spent on a candidate,” said Cari Swan, a Huntington Beach resident who helped Peterson win election in 2014. “My only disappointment is that your exceptional honor and integrity did not rub off on your current colleagues on the dais.”
The outgoing councilors made several comments about their accomplishments and gratitude for the time they were given to serve, despite many negative interruptions from the crowd.
“It’s been my privilege to serve along so many wonderful people,” Delgleize said. “I welcome and wish only the best for our incoming council members.”
Delgleize served on the council for eight years and described it as some of the “best years of [her] life.”
Amid the negative comments, the outgoing councilors still received many thanks for their years of work servicing the community.
“I’d like to thank you for your hard work, I don’t think people realize the hours you have put in,” said Huntington Beach resident Cheri Atkinson.
The next council meeting was moved by Strickland from Dec. 8 to Dec. 20 so the new councilors could be better prepared to begin their terms, he said.
