‘Simply heartbroken’: City officials mourn loss of former Laguna Niguel mayor killed in plane crash

Orange County officials Monday were mourning the death of former Laguna Niguel Mayor Robert Ming in a plane crash in Kansas.

Ming, a managing partner and founder of the Quadrant Law Group, crashed a single-engine plane he was piloting Sunday at Johnson County Executive Airport.

The 51-year-old attorney was first elected to the Laguna Niguel City Council in 2006 and re-elected four years later. He served as mayor in 2009 and 2013.

Laguna Niguel Mayor Elaine Gennawey said city officials were “simply heartbroken at Robert Ming’s passing.” She added that “words are inadequate to convey the depth of Robert’s character and the force for good that he was in the community.”

Gennawey praised Ming as “a man of impeccable ethics whose actions were guided by faith and the belief that when we work together much good can be accomplished. He had vision and the commitment to follow through on his vision to put into place vehicles and processes for positive action to create good.”

Ming was the founding president of the Laguna Niguel Military Support Foundation and the Association of California Cities-Orange County, Gennawey said.

“Robert’s legacy is one of a man of solid faith and values whose strong love for his family and community put his faith into action,” Gennawey said. “His positive impact on Laguna Niguel and our region will be lasting and is immeasurable.”

Aliso Viejo Councilman Dave Harrington said Ming was “a great guy, good family man, very devoted.”

Harrington said Ming was “super smart… and very devoted to his family. I think we lost a good one.”

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, who Ming ran against for supervisor in 2014, was “a really smart guy. He was a nice person. We’re just heartbroken for his family.”