Politics & Government

Newport Businessman Announces Plan to Run for City Council

Roy Englebrecht says the controversial fire ring issue in Newport Beach sparked his interest to run for a seat on the City Council.

The controversial ongoing fire-ring issue in Newport Beach has sparked a local businessman's interest in a seat on the City Council.
 
Roy Englebrecht, owner of an Orange County fight promotions company, announced Tuesday his plan to run for the District 4 City Council seat, which will be vacated by Councilwoman Leslie Daigle when her term expires in November 2014.

“I was extremely disappointed and frustrated with the way the city of Newport Beach handled the entire fire ring issue,” Englebrecht said in a released statement. “If I am elected to the City Council in November of 2014, never again will there be a city issue voted upon that is not fully discussed by the council and alternatives presented."
The Newport Beach City Council voted in March 2012 to remove the concrete fire rings citing potential health and safety risks. Supporters maintain the fire rings are a long-standing Southern California tradition that signify the beach lifestyle and provide the community with low-cost recreation.

Newport Beach requested permission from the California Coastal Commission to get rids of its 60 fire rings at Big Corona Beach and near the Balboa Peninsula. The application was later withdrawn and Newport officials said they would look into non-wood burning fire ring alternatives.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District was involved in the fire ring debate, and originally proposed a ban on all beachside fire rings in Orange and Los Angeles counties.

Earlier this month the AQMD approved amendments to its Rule 444 in relation to the beachside fire rings. The new changes will have the potential to result in the removal of some of Newport's fire rings.

Find out what's happening in Newport Beach-Corona Del Marwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Englebrecht said he is disappointed in how the fire ring issue has been handled in Newport Beach.

" I believe the residents of Newport Beach were not properly served by the City Council, which subsequently cause a tremendous amount of discord and unnecessary expense for many Southern California communities and residents, all which could have been avoided by the city council doing a better job,” Englebrecht added.

Englebrecht, a registered Republican, lives in the Harbor Cove community of Newport Beach and is the owner of Roy Englebrecht Promotions, which currently promotes the Fight Club OC shows in The Hangar at the OC Fair & Event Center, as well as shows across the country.

Englebrechtt serves on the city’s Park, Beaches, and Recreation Commission. He has been married to his wife, Nancy, for 43 years. His two children are graduates of Corona del Mar High School.

For more information on Roy Englebrecht and his run for a seat on the Newport Beach City Council, visit royefornbcouncil.com.

Do you think Roy Englebrecht is a good candidate for the Newport Beach City Council? Tell us why in the comments.

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