to repeal a law that gave the city the power to buy homes by force ...
Loves golf and traveling, with a favorite spot in Maui that he tries to
visit twice a year with his wife, Vicki .. Retired teacher of
communication ... Greatest achievement is his graduate degree in cinema
... Favorite movie is "Godfather: Part II" ... Last year's ranking:
unranked
4) TOM HARMAN, 58, Huntington Beach ... City Councilman ... Became the
Republican nominee to replace Scott Baugh in the state Assembly ... Saw
his share of controversy during the campaign after finance statements
showed he accepted donations from labor unions ... Some say his moderate
stance on the environment, gun control and abortion gives him crossover
appeal ... Says he'll be "stressing my experience" in his race against
Democrat Andy Hilbert in the November election ... Last year's ranking:
75
5) SUSAN ROPER, 64, Huntington Beach ... Led unsuccessful battle to
pass a school bond this month as superintendent of Huntington Beach High
School District ... Is struggling to find the district $160 million in
facility repair funds ... Has been in education her whole career ...
Fountain Valley native ... Served as a student counselor at Marina High
School ... Two daughters and a son ... Lives in Downtown ... Active in
the Assn. for California School Administrators, Nationwide Assn. of
School Administrators and the National Assn. for Curriculum and
Supervision ... Likes to run, golf, fish and read ... Loves to cook,
especially Italian and German food ... Also loves to travel ... Last
year's ranking: 4
6) RICK STEPHENS, 47, Villa Park ... Vice president and general
manager of reusable launch vehicles at The Boeing Co., the city's largest
employer ... Responsible for the space shuttles that carry into orbit
parts of the future International Space Station, the first permanently
inhabitable space laboratory, which should be completed by 2005 ...
Already has a master's degree in computer science, working on another in
business administration ... Former Marine ... Registered Native Indian
who served as chairman of the Pala Ban of Mission Indians ... Enjoys
cycling, scuba diving and woodworking ... Last year's ranking: Unranked
7) SCOTT BAUGH, 37, Huntington Beach ... Republican leader in state
Assembly ... After serving since 1995, he's stepping down this year
because of term limits ... Fights to reduce taxes and reduce size of
government ... Leaving office on a high note after criminal charges of
