The 2027 Seal Beach Citizen of the Year is Patty Campbell of College Park East. She is a past Seal Beach mayor and currently serves on the Planning Commission. Campbell is a 56-year resident of Seal Beach.
Following the announcement, Campbell received a standing ovation from everyone present.
Scott Newton of the Seal Beach Lions Club made the announcement during the Monday, Sept. 28 City Council meeting. Newton is a member of the selection committee. The announcement was not on the agenda. District Three Councilwoman/Mayor Lisa Landau asked him to come to the podium before the night’s presentations.
“Each year a prominent citizen is selected as Citizen of the Year for Seal Beach,” Newton said, reading from a prepared statement.
According to Newton, the selection committee includes past Citizen of the Year recipients and two members of the City Council. That information was not part of the prepared statement.
“The Citizen of the Year is featured in the Christmas Parade and recognized at the Cypress College Americana Gala on March 22, 2027,” Newton said.
“The person selected is no stranger to this room. She has served on the council for eight years and twice served as mayor. She has been on the Planning Commission since 2013 and is the co-founder of the College Park East Neighborhood Association,” Newton said.
“She is passionate about her neighborhood and helps bring us: Spring Fling, Fourth of July BBQ and Movies in the Park,” Newton said.
“She loves her neighborhood,” Newton said, again departing from the prepared statement.
District Four Councilwoman Patty Senecal, who represents College Park East, gave Campbell a bag of flowers. Senecal thanked Campbell for her years of service.
In an after-meeting phone interview, Campbell said she thanked Senecal for submitting Campbell’s name for the award.
“I kind of get the giggles about it,” Campbell said.