Citizen Of The Year Award

Edward Selich was born in Johnstown Pennsylvania. When he was 11 years old his family moved to Southern California. He grew up in Chula Vista Ca.

He studied Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning at California State Polytechnic University San Luis Obispo and California State Polytechnic University Pomona. He has a Bachelors Degree in Environmental Design with an emphasis in Urban Planning from California State Polytechnic University Pomona and did post graduate work in Urban and Regional Planning at the same institution.
Upon completing his college education he was employed by the City of Huntington Beach California Planning Department. In 1976 he was appointed Director Of Planning and Environmental Resources. During his tenure he supervised the creation and adoption of the General Plan for the city, the writing and adoption of a new Zoning Code, the creation and adoption of the Local Coastal Plan, the writing and adoption of the City Sign Ordinance and administration of the city’s Housing and Community Development Block Grant Program. He also was at the same time the city’s first Redevelopment Agency Director and oversaw the creation of five Redevelopment Project areas and the adoption of two Redevelopment Plans, including the Downtown Redevelopment Plan.

Prior to working for the City of Huntington Beach he worked for CST Engineering doing site and subdivision planning and design. In 1978, after his tenure at the City of Huntington Beach he became Director of Land Development for Cadillac Fairview Homes West, Newport Beach California. He was responsible for or part of the team for the development of planned residential projects in California ranging from 100 to over 3000 homes.

In 1984 he began developing projects in various partnerships and on his own and as well as consulting with other developers. In these capacities he has developed planned residential projects ranging from 400 to 4200 residential lots.

In addition to his land development activities, from 1996 to 2002 Mr. Selich owned and operated a property management company that was responsible for managing apartment properties.

Mr. Selich was a member of the City of Newport Beach Planning Commission from July 1995 to June 2005, serving three terms as chairman. In June 2005 he was appointed to the City Council and ran for reelection in 2006, 2008, and 2012. Mr. Selich was Mayor of the City of Newport Beach in 2008, 2009 and 2015. He has served on the city’s Zoning Code Update Committee, General Plan Advisory Committee and Local Coastal Plan Advisory Committee among numerous other City committees. He was a member of the City’s Economic Development Committee from 1995 to 2005 and Chairman from 1998 to 2005. Mr. Selich was also involved in the Corona del Mar Business Improvement District and helped create the Vision Plan for the improvement of the business district.

Mr. Selich has been on the board of Directors of Speak Up Newport since 1997 and has been president since 2017. Prior to moving to Newport Beach Mr. Selich was a member of the City of Huntington Beach Design Review Board.

Mr. Selich has been a resident of Newport Beach since 1979. He has two daughters and two grandchildren. His leisure interests include boating, fishing, motorcycle riding and skiing.