Running in Orange

Two candidates--including the incumbent--are seeking to become Orange mayor, while 13 (one an incumbent) are running to fill two City Council vacancies. Here’s a look at those in both races:

MAYORAL RACE

Joanne Coontz

Age: 67

Occupation: Incumbent mayor

Background: Former planning commission member; councilwoman for eight years; member, American Businesswomen’s Assn.; member, Orange Historical Society; endorsed by police and firefighters unions.

Major issues: Expand libraries and recreational activities for youth; continue promoting new businesses; oversee ongoing development projects such as Mill Corp. Mall.

Nick Lall

Age: 38

Occupation: Business owner

Background: Board member, Orange Taxpayers Assn.; former Scout leader; member, Building Industry Assn.; endorsed by Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.

Major issues: Support existing businesses; stop “corporate welfare”; improve accessibility to City Hall; attack blight.

CITY COUNCIL RACE (2 SEATS)

Michael Alvarez

Age: 40

Occupation: Real estate investor; president of Army-Navy Store’s corporation

Background: President, Friends of the Library; director on Orange Chamber of Commerce; served on Orange Police Department gang task force; former planning commission member.

Major issues: Initiate full disclosure of all city taxes on utility bills; oppose subsidizing developers with redevelopment funds; raise pay for police officers.

Steven Frank Ambriz

Age: 26

Occupation: Community services leader in city’s Community and Library Services Department

Background: Orange native.

Major issues: Make city services more user-friendly; involve young people in government; spread funds to all areas of city; encourage night life in Old Towne.

Barry I. Besser

Age: 44

Occupation: Civil, family attorney

Background: Member, Chamber of Commerce; past president, Orange County Barristers; past member, board of directors Orange County Bar Assn.; judge pro tem; arbitration panel of Orange County; mediator.

Major issues: Beef up police equipment and encourage officers to live in city; cut red tape for business; keep east Orange development from creating traffic problems.

Bernie W. Dennis

Age: 59

Occupation: Engineer

Background: City engineer for 33 years; fellow in Institute of Traffic Engineers; member, American Public Works Officials.

Major issues: Improve youth services; build community center; pay more attention to fiscal policies; create Heritage Park; encourage community participation in east Orange development.

Robert L. Douglas

Age: 38

Occupation: Maintenance worker for federal government

Background: Former member, special education advisory committee for Tustin Unified School District; former member, Reserve Police Assn. in San Bernardino County.

Major issues: Reduce city spending; use redevelopment to create affordable housing for seniors; hire more police; bring leadership to City Hall.

Jonathan Andrew Dumitru

Age: 25

Occupation: Fire communications dispatcher

Background: Eagle Scout; associate advisor of Explorer Post 540; member, Orange Community Chorus.

Major issues: Maintain police standards; improve transportation for seniors; reopen City Hall on Fridays; direct redevelopment funds to low-density housing.

Betty I. Nauer

Age: 42

Occupation: Office manager

Background: Board of directors, National Junior Basketball.

Major issues: Improve services for seniors; improve maintenance of streets and sidewalks; control east Orange development.

Adolfo Perez Jr.

Age: 24

Occupation: Finance

Background: Unavailable

Major issue: Unavailable

Kevin Rice

Age: 38

Occupation: Civil attorney

Background: President, Orange-Villa Park Republican Assembly; former chairman, Taxpayers Against Maintenance Assessment District; endorsed by Assemblymen Mickey Conroy and Jim Morrissey, County Treasurer John Moorlach, Orange Unified School Trustees Marty Jacobson, Maureen Aschoff and Bill Lewis.

Major issues: Promote public safety; control spending; reduce city involvement in some areas and offer basic services; encourage more community involvement.

Juan Pablo

Serrano-Nieblas

Age: 57

Occupation: Retired laborer

Background: U.S. Air Force veteran

Major issues: Use redevelopment entirely for affordable housing; impose moratorium on east Orange development; represent working classes.

Richard W. Siebert

Age: 53

Occupation: Pharmacist

Background: Huntington Beach city councilman, 1976-1979; Orange Park Acres board of directors for 16 years; former chairman, Orange Park Planning Committee; endorsed by Orange Taxpayers Assn.

Major issues: Represent east side; ensure adequate controls on east Orange development; explore uses for redevelopment other than enticing businesses to city.

Mike Spurgeon

Age: 54

Occupation: Chief of staff for Supervisor William G. Steiner

Background: Incumbent since 1991; former businessman and Chamber of Commerce officer; former director of flight operations for Pan Am; former captain, U.S. Army; endorsed by Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., police, fire and marshals union.

Major issues: Continue to help large and small businesses with redevelopment; remove blight; create more efficient and accessible City Hall.

Jim Wronski

Age: 49

Occupation: Owns recumbent bicycle shop

Background: Fund-raiser and donor for various charities; law degree from Western State University College of Law.

Major issues: Make parking and street sweeping more compatible; open City Hall 5 1/2 days per week; offer low-interest loans to homeowners; explore bringing in a card parlor.

Source: Individual candidates