Advertisement

Newport firefighters union endorses Brown, Toerge for City Council

Share

The union representing firefighters in Newport Beach announced two endorsements Thursday for the Newport Beach City Council election.

Tim Brown, vying for the District 4 seat, and Mike Toerge, who is running in District 6, both won backing from the Newport Beach Firefighters Assn.

Brown, a planning commissioner and former chairman of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, is in a race against fight promoter Roy Englebrecht and lawyer Kevin Muldoon to replace termed-out Councilwoman Leslie Daigle.

Advertisement

Toerge, who has served on the Planning Commission for about 11 years, hopes to replace termed-out Councilwoman Nancy Gardner. He is in a race against former Planning Commissioner Scott Peotter.

The firefighters endorsed Brown and Toerge because they are longtime Newport Beach residents who have experience working with city government, association President Bobby Salerno said.

“We believe [Toerge] has the best interest of the community in mind and will look out for public safety as well,” Salerno said. The association feels the same way about Brown, he said.

Toerge also is a member of the city’s Community Emergency Response Team, a volunteer program run by the Fire Department.

The association decided not to make an endorsement in the District 3 race, where businessman Marshall “Duffy” Duffield is challenging Mayor Rush Hill.

Neither candidate approached the association for an endorsement or contributions, Salerno said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck

Advertisement