Newport Beach District 1 race pits Stapleton against Babajanians

Newport Beach voters head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to decide the District 1 City Council seat and three other council races.

Incumbent Joe Stapleton, whose ballot designation is "Newport Beach Councilmember/Businessman," faces one challenger: Tina Babajanians, listed on the ballot as "Businesswoman." The certified candidate list comes from the City Clerk's Office, according to the Newport Beach Civic Ledger, which compiled candidate profiles and questionnaire responses for all four races.

What's at stake

District 1 is one of four council seats on the ballot. Districts 3, 4 and 6 are also up for election. Council members must live in the district they represent, but under the city's current charter every registered Newport Beach voter casts a ballot in all four races.

Council members serve four-year terms and are limited to two consecutive terms under the existing charter, according to the city's election page.

Where the candidates stand

The Civic Ledger sent written questionnaires to all eight certified candidates across the four races. Babajanians responded. Stapleton had not responded as of the Ledger's most recent update; the questionnaire was sent to him Sept. 8 with a reminder Sept. 29.

On housing, Babajanians said she opposes Measure H, the citizen-sponsored ballot initiative that would cut the city's zoned housing capacity from about 8,174 units to roughly 2,900 units reserved for affordable housing. She said reducing the number on paper "does not demonstrate a workable housing plan" and warned of potential litigation and loss of local zoning control if the city falls out of state compliance. Stapleton, according to the Ledger's summary of his public statements, said the city is "doing exactly what we need to do" on housing and pointed to entitlement and permitting numbers as evidence the city is not overbuilding.

On short-term rentals, Babajanians said she supports reducing the city's 1,550-permit cap if the industry "cannot operate within the rules" and called for a comprehensive compliance audit. Stapleton lists maintaining high standards for short-term lodging regulations among his campaign priorities, according to the Ledger's review of his campaign website.

Babajanians' filed candidate statement with the City Clerk emphasizes public safety, citing Spring Break and July Fourth unrest as her motivation for running.

Both candidates oppose a proposed district-only voting charter amendment. Stapleton said he is "accountable to all seven districts regardless of where he's elected from," according to the Ledger's summary. Babajanians said she favors retaining citywide elections because city decisions on housing, traffic and public safety affect all neighborhoods.

Ballot measures

Voters will also decide Measure H. As we reported Oct. 28, the city cancelled the special election on charter measures that had been planned for the same day.