Redevelopment a Key Issue in Council Race

Pursuing redevelopment and ensuring a smooth conversion of the Tustin Marine Corps Air Facility when it closes in July have emerged as top issues in the race for two City Council seats.

Incumbents Mike Doyle and Tracy Wills Worley, both seeking second terms, are being challenged by Lou Bone and S. Scott Webster in Tuesday’s election.

All of the candidates, who are longtime Tustin residents, agreed the city must seek a successful conversion of the base, which the Marine Corps will transfer to the city next year. Doyle and Worley recently voted to call the base’s afterlife the Tustin Legacy, which calls for, among other things, a county regional park, learning and technology village, convention center, hotel and an affordable public golf course. The two historic blimp hangars may also make the final cut, pending their overall costs.

Bone, a former planning commissioner and business owner, said he supports the plan’s basic concept, although he would expect some modifications. Webster, a systems project manager and newcomer to local politics, called the base’s redevelopment a 20-year project.

The candidates also generally agree that the city needs to continue pursuing revitalization of Old Town and parts of southwest Tustin.

A detailed plan of action has remained elusive in this decade, though some changes have been made. The latest is a six-month trial period of diagonal parking, which the council approved earlier this year.

Candidates are stressing a variety of issues.

Bone said he’s concerned about traffic on Red Hill Avenue and the maintenance of water reservoirs. He also supports extending Newport Avenue to Edinger Avenue before construction on Red Hill.

Doyle cited airport concerns. He said the city must either reduce any expansion of John Wayne Airport or force the proposed El Toro airport’s flights to avoid takeoffs that would affect Tustin.

Worley continues her pursuit of a new or expanded library branch, which has become more of a reality in recent months with the council’s adoption of a tentative library plan.

Webster suggested that there be better internal communication with city employees.

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Tustin City Council Candidates

Four candidates are seeking two seats Tuesday on the Tustin City Council:

Lou Bone

Age: 61

Occupation: Business owner

Background: Associate degree in business administration, Compton Junior College; business administration course work at Long Beach State University; past president, Tustin Chamber of Commerce; founding member, Tustin Pride; former chair, Tustin Planning Commission; member, Tustin Marine Corps Air Facility Base Closure Task Force and Tustin License and Permit Board; graduate, Tustin Citizen Police Academy; judge, Spectrum Award for high school scholarships; three-year nominee, Tustin man of the year

Issues: Ensure successful redevelopment of Tustin Marine Corps Air Facility, including a learning village, affordable golf course, convention, hotel and technology center; extend Newport Avenue to Edinger Avenue and fund Red Hill Avenue overcrossing at the railroad tracks; improve water reservoirs and expand water system

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Mike Doyle

Age: 56

Occupation: Councilman/restaurant owner

Background: Associate degree in police science, Santa Ana College; worked 10 years as paid-call firefighter, Orange County Fire Department; former volunteer for 30 years as a high school referee for various sports

Issues: Redevelopment, including southwest Tustin and Old Town; oversee successful base closure with at least one blimp hangar becoming the world’s largest movie soundstage; clearing city’s airspace of airplanes by either reducing the expansion of John Wayne Airport or forcing a proposed El Toro airport to avoid Tustin takeoffs

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S. Scott Webster

Age: 37

Occupation: Systems project manager

Background: Bachelor’s degree in business administration (accounting emphasis), Cal State Fullerton; master’s degree in finance, Claremont College; volunteer coach for various youth sports teams; volunteer for Phenylketonuria (PKU) Network

Issues: Redevelopment and revitalization of Old Town; increase internal communication with city employees, including police; oversee successful base reuse

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Tracy Wills Worley

Age: 39

Occupation: Councilwoman

Background: Bachelor’s degree in physical education, Cal Poly Pomona; master’s degree in business administration, Pepperdine University; board member, Orange County Fire Authority and Orange County Library Board; member, Tustin Marine Corps Air Facility Base Closure Task Force; former member, Tustin Parks and Recreation Commission; graduate, Tustin Citizen Police Academy; member, PTO at Tustin Memorial Academy

Issues: Oversee successful base reuse; seek new or expanded library branch; supports city redevelopment, including southwest Tustin and Old Town

Source: Individual candidates

Researched by JAMES MEIER / For The Times