MAYOR STEVE JONES speaks at the 2024 “State of the City” event at the Hyatt Regency Orange County (OC Tribune photos).

This week and next, city councils and school boards across our West Orange County communities are bidding goodbye to long-serving councilmembers and trustees.

Term limits, personal choices and shifting political winds are responsible for the changes, and some will be especially missed.

In Garden Grove, long-serving mayor Steve Jones is leaving after eight years as the city’s top elected official. He has been a calming, unifying influence on the seven-member body and maintained a good sense of humor throughout it all, which is rare among politicians.

He’s been an innovator, an enthusiast and a problem-solver, and ranks among the best hizzoners in the history of The Big Strawberry.

Kim Nguyen-Penaloza (District 6) on the Garden Grove council has been unique in several ways. Coming from a Mexican-Vietnamese background she helped bridge ethnic perspectives and has almost always been the most prepared and engaged councilmember at every meeting.

She asked questions, dug deep and probably exasperated a few people, but you could tell she took her responsibilities seriously, and wasn’t just decorating a chair as some council members over the years have.

In Huntington Beach, the figure I’ll miss the most will be outgoing city clerk Robin Estanislau. She’s a rarity in that her post is an elected position; in most cities it’s an appointed job.

Now she’s retiring and leaving behind a legacy of helpfulness, good cheer and even-handedness.

Some public employees regard their jobs and information about them as their personal possessions rather than something that belongs to the people. Robin always saw it the other way ‘round and set the standard for what a city clerk should be.