There will be new faces on the Laguna Hills City Council following the November elections, with two contenders in District 1 and four candidates vying for District 4.
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Councilmembers Erica Pezold and Dave Wheeler are termed out as the city starts its transition to district elections.
We invited the candidates to participate in the newspaper’s voter guide, asking questions about leadership, needs in the city and more. It can be found at ocreister.com/voter-guide.
District 1
Retiree Harry Huggins, president of the Laguna Terrace Beautification Team, is facing off with Laura Thies, a sales and project manager.
Huggins, when asked how the city can best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, said city leaders should focus on new housing where appropriate infrastructure, transportation, utilities and services can support it, while carefully considering impacts on existing neighborhoods.
“Redevelopment of underutilized commercial properties and thoughtful mixed-use development may provide opportunities without unnecessarily disrupting established residential areas,” he said. “Affordable and workforce housing should also be part of the discussion.”
The biggest need facing the city is ensuring neighborhoods, infrastructure and public spaces receive the attention necessary to maintain the quality of life residents expect, Huggins said.
“Parks, trails, roads, landscaping, public facilities and infrastructure require planning, maintenance and sustained investment,” he said. “At the same time, Laguna Hills is changing. We face development pressures, housing requirements, rising costs and decisions about the city’s future. We need to manage those changes without losing what residents value living here.”
Thies said building relationships with developers and new business is needed to have balanced financial and population growth.
The state-mandated minimum percentage of new residential developments is that 5% of new builds be for low-income households, but Thies points out Laguna Hills is requiring that any new development includes at least 15% at lower affordability.
“We need to get the word out that Laguna Hills is open to growth and welcomes creative concepts and solutions to move into a successful future,” Thies said.
The biggest need facing the community is the loss of many income sources for the city over the past 10 years, Thies said.
“With the increased housing entering the city, we need to network and get the word out to strategic business partners to encourage the opening of business in the city of Laguna Hills,” she said.
District 4
Four candidates are campaigning for the seat: Tiffany Boccieri, Michael Caputo, Valerie Anne Geller and Scott Miller.
Boccieri, an attorney, said in for the ballot that “transparent, effective leadership is essential” and she understands “that sound decisions require careful analysis, active listening, and accountability.”
“I grew up in South Orange County and chose to raise my family here because I value the safe neighborhoods, parks, and close-knit communities that make this area unique,” she said. “I believe every resident deserves a strong voice in the decisions that shape the future of Laguna Hills, and I will work to ensure every perspective is heard.”
When asked about the biggest need facing the city, Caputo, a regional sales manager who has served as a traffic commissioner for Laguna Hills, cited his campaign slogan, “Keep it Simple.”
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Too often, the basic needs of the city are over debated and often derail, going off topic, he said.
One of his biggest concerns is safety, he noted, saying he would “take action within the guidelines of the law to make the recommendations necessary to help the residents of Laguna Hills.”
He also said the city’s demand and mandates for more housing at lower price points is something that city leaders need to balance.
“Creating the opportunity to have a first-time buyer program through builder or state programs can help entering the market and still maintain the property values of the homeowners that have already built equity in their homes,” he said, answering the voter guide question. “I will promote reducing the city fees for new housing construction, suggest alternative building materials that reduce initial and long-term costs of the home.”
Geller, a conductor, violinist and educator, said the city needs to meet state mandates for housing “wisely.”
“I hear neighbors who are concerned about too many new apartments and transient dwellings, along with increased traffic, parking problems, and bottlenecks around our schools,” Geller said. “Those concerns deserve to be heard.”
There are areas where new housing makes more sense, she said, including The Village at Laguna Hills, the Oakbrook area, and Via Lomas.
“Let’s concentrate growth where roads, shopping, services, and higher-density housing already exist, while protecting established neighborhoods,” Geller said.
The biggest needs facing the city, Geller said, are three concerns she hears come up often: “our city budget deficit, an insufficient contingency or ‘rainy-day’ fund, and the need for better landscaping and beautification throughout Laguna Hills.”
There’s not one magic answer, she said. But looking at other cities’ successes and practical planning, examining spending and new revenue options, and encouraging smart economic development would help, she said.
Miller, a Laguna Hills Traffic Commission chair and former mayor for San Jacinto, said the city should meet its housing obligations through thoughtful, locally driven planning — not one-size-fits-all development.
“We should identify appropriate sites for new housing, encourage redevelopment of underused commercial properties where it makes sense, and support a range of housing options for seniors, young families, working professionals, and first-time buyers,” he said. “At the same time, new development must be supported by adequate roads, parking, public safety, utilities, schools, and other infrastructure. Housing policy should not come at the expense of existing neighborhoods or the quality of life residents worked hard to build.”
The biggest need facing the city is staying focused on the fundamentals that directly affect residents’ quality of life: public safety and safe neighborhoods, economic development and responsible management of the city’s future.
“My goal is straightforward: keep Laguna Hills safe, strengthen its economy, protect its quality of life, and ensure the city remains financially strong for the future,” he said.
Ballots may be returned by mail (must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received within a week of Election Day) or to the OC Registrar of Voters’ drop boxes around town now, and the first vote centers will open for casting ballots in person on Oct. 24.
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