public policy and biographies ... Serves on the Huntington Beach Chamber
of Commerce board of directors ... Member of the Kiwanis Club ... Adopted
a fourth-grade class at Oak View Elementary School to help students set
their sights on college ... Married to Donna ... Hometown is Tampa, Fla.
... Last year's ranking: 48
25) DAVE GAROFALO, 54, Huntington Beach ... Surf City's mayor ...
Energetic, enthusiastic, and at times controversial ... As mayor, says he
wants to "take City Hall to the people" ... A fierce defender of business
and private property ... Created city's Economic Committee, responsible
for nailing city's Coca-Cola sponsorship ... Former Chamber of Commerce
president ... publisher of the Local News and the Huntington Beach
Visitor's Guide ... Underwent elective heart surgery on Wednesday -- his
second heart surgery in two years ... Last year's ranking: 35
26) SHERI MEDRANO, 37, Westminster ... Succeeded beloved Fran Andrade
as Oak View Elementary School's community liaison in August ... Holds one
of the most important positions in the Oak View Center, which helps
low-income residents ... Works as a part-time psychologist, teacher and
social worker ... A native of Huntington Beach ... Married to Juan ...
Has a daughter and a son ... Enjoys good movies, especially romantic ones
... Argues with husband and son because they like action movies ... Likes
family time and reading about other cultures ... Currently reading
"Angela's Ashes" ... Last year's ranking: 63
27) TOM DAWES, 56, Huntington Beach ... Project manager for the
Groundwater Replenishment System, a groundbreaking project seeks to
provide a new source of water by reusing highly treated waste water ...
Has worked on several aspects of the water business -- from flood control
to retail water, and as director of the Orange County Sanitation
District's engineering department for 18 years ... Likes his career in
water because it allows him to be an environmentalist and serve the
public ... Originally from Minnesota ... Hobbies include biking, skiing
and surfing ... Favorite music: rock 'n' roll ... Says he's "not an
exciting person"... Married to Jeannine and has three children ...
Unranked
28) STEVE SEIM, 50, Huntington Beach ... In charge of all the
lifeguards -- not just the 130 grown-ups who patrol the beach but also
the 1,000 kids who have joined the junior volunteer program ... The best
part of job is saving lives ... His troops have an "awesome record," with
