Six Interviewees Set for Thursday, but No Agenda Yet

It appears a party is being set, but there are no formal invitations yet. The City Council of  Rancho Santa Margarita is set to meet on Thursday in a specially called meeting in order to interiew applicants for the vacated seat of Gary Thompson. Thompson, one of the founding fathers of RSM, resigned March 3 for personal and business-related issues.

However, the agenda had not yet been posted by the end of the business day Tuesday.

By law, the bare minimum requires the agenda be posted 24 hours in advance of the meeting that is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.

According to City Clerk Molly McLaughlin, six randomly chosen candidates have been confirmed to be interviewed during the Thursday meeting by Councilmen Jerry Holloway, Steve Baric and Jesse Petrilla. Mayor Tony Beall will not be present; he is out of town on business.

The lineup of applicants to be publicly interviewed are:

• Glenn Acosta, Dove Canyon: Director of the Trabuco Canyon Water District, appointed by O.C. Supervisor Pat Bates to serve on the O.C. Waste Management Commission.
• Kenny P. Hrabik, Trabuco Canyon: Businessman owns the Dove Canyon Courtyard.
• Donnamarie Kline, RSM: Volunteer with professional background in employee benefits.
• Kevin J. Raney, RSM: Chief of police for Garden Grove.
• Curt Stanley, RSM: Small-business owner and local advocate who is often an emcee for Rancho Santa Margarita events.
• Peter Whittingham, RSM: Currently works for the former Anaheim mayor as vice president of Curt Pringle and Associates; former press deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, joined RSM Planning Commission in January as appointment of Steve Baric.

 That means the candidates who are expected to be interviewed at the regularly scheduled meeting April 13 before a panel consisting of Holloway, Baric and Beall—but not Petrilla—are: 

• Jim Eakin, Trabuco Canyon: Software engineer and businessman is on the Planning Commission as Jerry Holloway’s appointment.
• Carol A. Gamble, RSM: Consultant and civil engineer is the city's former mayor elected to the original City Council who was directly involved in the incorporation of Rancho Santa Margarita.
• Lawrence “Larry” McCook, RSM: Retired business executive who garnered more than 4,300 votes during a six-week campaign for the council in 2010.
• Brad McGirr, RSM: Attorney and current member of the Planning Commission as an appointment of Mayor Tony Beall.
• Kathleen A. Roach, RSM: Worked 15 years in municipal government, including seven as the assistant to the city manager in Rancho Santa Margarita.
• Michael F. Safranski, RSM: Senior director of facilities and security for Emulex Corp., board president of the Trabuco Canyon Water District and Trabuco Highlands Community Association.

The council must have Thompson's replacement in place by May 2.