Three seats on the Laguna Beach City Council are being sought by seven candidates, according to an election notice posted by the City Clerk Wednesday.

Incumbents Sue Kempf and Peter Blake will seek their second four-year term after helping lead the city through the pandemic.

“My work isn’t done,” Kempf said in a press release. “I assessed that I have sufficient support from a broad coalition of residents.”

Kempf spearheaded COVID-19 relief programs for businesses, employees, and residents. Along with Mayor Pro Tem Bob Whalen, she was deeply involved in the creation of the 2019 wildfire mitigation report, which led to the City adding a helicopter refilling station and an expanded outdoor warning system.

Councilmember Toni Iseman’s decision not to run for reelection after 24 years of public service in Laguna Beach leaves a door open to five challengers, who are known quantities in Laguna Beach politics. These candidates are:

A Laguna Beach High School graduate and third-generation Lagunan, Rounaghi returned to his hometown after graduating from Dartmouth College in 2020.

“I feel really lucky to have grown up in this community and so I feel sort of an obligation to step up and ensure that future generations get to enjoy the same unique, special Laguna Beach that I got to grow up in,” Rounaghi said.

Rounaghi’s top priority is seeing utility lines underground in Laguna Canyon.

“The power lines on Laguna Canyon Road and fire pose an existential threat to us. We’ve had two fires in the last year and the question is not if but when the next power line causes a fire,” he said.

He advocates pursuing all possible financing options, including a one or two percent increase in the hotel transient occupancy tax.

Before deciding to run himself, Rounaghi served as Kempf’s reelection campaign manager. He supports her reelection.

The clarity in decision making and his ability to shred the haters makes Our Leader Peter the clear winner for all Laguna.

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