Local attorney jumps in race for Noyes’ seat

Noaki Schwartz

BALBOA ISLAND -- Ending weeks of rumors sparked by Mayor John Noyes’

announcement that he would not run for reelection, his former campaign

manager has stepped up to the plate.

Community leader and attorney Steve Bromberg on Wednesday said he will

pull papers July 11 to run for Noyes’ soon-to-be-vacated seat on the City

Council. Both Bromberg and community activist Jack Callahan have been

encouraged by local residents to run for the open seat, but neither was

committal.

Noyes could not be reached for comment.

Bromberg struggled with the idea of entering the political arena, but

in the end felt that he has something to offer to the city.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought, talked to a lot of good people and

sincerely believe I can make a difference,” he said.

Some other community leaders agree.

“Oh my word!” Balboa Beacon publisher Gay Wassall-Kelly exclaimed when

she heard the news. “He’s just a breath of fresh air. I think he really

and truly understands the mechanism between the residents and commercial

business in Newport Beach.”

With his years on the Balboa Island Theater Foundation, the Business

Improvement District and as a member of the Civil Service Board, Bromberg

does have significant experience with community members.

The news that started the ball rolling was Noyes’ announcement at the

end of May that he would not run for reelection. He made his announcement

the day before an article was published in the Los Angeles Times

revealing that the mayor -- who campaigned on a law-and-order platform --

was from 1976 to 1985 wanted on kidnapping charges for snatching his two

daughters from his former wife. The charges were eventually dropped.

So far, the only other person to announce candidacy for Noyes’ seat

has been Big Canyon resident Robert Schoonmaker. Schoonmaker made his

announcement at a council meeting after the Noyes’ story became public.

Bromberg, who was also shocked by the mayor’s revelations, said that

as his campaign manager in 1996, he had asked Noyes about any possible

scandal in his past. Noyes made it very clear there was nothing, Bromberg

said, adding that the news about his history was “embarrassing for Balboa

Island and Newport Beach.”

However, when asked if his recent decision was linked to how things

unfolded personally with Noyes, Bromberg replied that it was not.

He added that the motivation behind his change of heart was because he

saw so many residents concerned about the current direction of the city.

“The words ‘quality of life’ keep arising every time you turn around,”

he said. “I feel that with my community involvement and my knowledge of

the city, I have a sincere belief I can do good.”

PERSONAL PROFILE

* NAME: Steve Bromberg

* PROFESSION: Attorney and mediator for Bromberg and Yaeger.

Specializes in business litigation and employment law.

* MARRIED: for 34 years, to wife Ronnie.