Laguna Beach Councilman, Mayor Pro Tem, Withdraws From Race

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Mayor Pro Tem Rob Zur Schmiede released a statement Monday that he would not be seeking reelection after all in November, and was withdrawing from the heavily crowded Laguna Beach city council race.

To the shock and sadness of his campaign staff, friends and supporters, Zur Schmiede described his reluctance to leave as well as the needs of his family superseding that of the needs of the city at this time.

Zur Schmiede's younger brother was in a tragic, near fatal vehicle collision across the country in June. "He was rear-ended at high speed and remains hospitalized, accoridng to the statement. The family is struggling with "medical, legal and financial after-effects" following the crash. Zur Schmiede has worked as legal representative for his brother, and has split time since June helping his family and maintaining duties on City Council.

"Over the last few weeks, my brother's situation has become more complicated than I could have anticipated," he said in the statement. Something had to give, and that something was his bid for reelection.

"I am profoundly grateful for the efforts of my campaign team, for the encouragement and collaboration I have enjoyed from my colleagues on the Council, and from the enthusiastic support of residents throughout Laguna," his statement said. "It has been my honor to serve Laguna Beach as Mayor pro tem, as a Council Member, as a Planning Commissioner, and as a Design Review Board member."

Zur Schmiede has said that he will serve out the balance of my term on the Council to the best of his ability. He now joins Mayor Kelly Boyd, who is not seeking re-election. Toni Iseman is running for her sixth term.

Candidates include:

• Elizabeth (Liz) Bates: Laguna Beach-based entrepreneur and Realtor;
• Peter Blake: owner of Peter Blake Gallery on Ocean Avenue;
• Ann Christoph: landscape architect who was a City Council member in the early 1990s;
• Sue Marie Connolly: former owner of Sue Marie’s Day Spa;
• Toni Iseman: council member and the city’s longest-serving politician;
• Sue Kempf: planning commissioner who has a background in business and management;
• Cheryl Kinsman: certified public accountant & fiscal conservative
• Lorene “Laguna” Auger: community advocate
• Judie Mancuso: member of the California Veterinary Medical Board;
• Allison Mathews: member of the city’s Affordable Housing Task Force
• Paul Merritt: businessman and long-term resident of Laguna Beach since the early 1960s.

Photo courtesy Rob Zur Schmiede