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Businessman to run for Newport council

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Balboa Peninsula resident Mike Glenn announced Tuesday that he intends to run for Newport Beach City Council in District 1 next year.

Prompted by the recent debate over whether Newport Beach should outsource its trash services to a private company, Glenn said he believes council members should listen more closely to residents.

“The communication is why they’re there,” he said. “They’re elected to represent the people. Without that communication, what’s the point?”

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Glenn, 33, first took an interest in city politics when he began to follow arguments surrounding increased dock rents in Newport Beach.

The debate that arose soon after over the city’s refuse pickup augmented a growing frustration for Glenn with council decisions that seemed poorly executed and out of touch with what people want.

The council’s vote Sept. 10 to pursue a contract with a private trash hauler company marked the final straw, he said.

Glenn on Friday filed his statement of intention to run in the November 2014 election, according to city records.

A seven-year Newport Beach resident who owns a small software company, Glenn has not been involved in politics or city projects before, he said. Last week’s meeting was the first time he had seen the council in action.

Glenn, nonetheless, believes Newport Beach would benefit from a council member who aims to be more responsive to the will of the people.

“Right now, I’m just trying to get a feel for what the community wants,” he said. “I know a lot of people are unhappy with what’s happening in the city.”

Newport Beach Harbor Commissioner Joseph Stapleton announced his intention in August to seek the council’s District 1 seat, which has been held by Councilman Mike Henn. Henn cannot run again because of term limits.

Rounding out the 2014 council race so far are Newport Beach Planning Commissioner Timothy Brown and Fight Club owner Roy Englebrecht in District 4, and former Planning Commission Chairman Michael Toerge in District 6.

Councilman Rush Hill has said he will seek reelection for his District 3 seat. Councilwoman Leslie Daigle is termed-out of her District 4 seat, while Nancy Gardner is termed-out of District 6.

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