the hill in Newport Beach....there is something somewhat distant
about it. People in Costa Mesa seem more down to earth...more
interested in specifics...more interested in providing a town
type atmosphere. It is only a perception, but have you noticed
that most Costa Mesa electeds....never move on to greater office.
Maybe they do...we just can't think of any right off hand.
We know we love Wendy Leece....she was on the NMUSD school board.
We know that Katrina Foley is a smart one that knows her stuff
and she still seems like a real person. We know former Mayor Gary
Monahan now owns a restaurant after starting out as a bartender.
We know that Jim Righeimer moved from Fountain Valley with his
lovely family. We know that Eric Bever was hand selected by
Mayor Alan Mansoor and got in one cycle. We don't know a lot
of the others running this time: Bill Sneen, Chris McEvoy, Lisa
Reedy, Chris Bunyan or Nick Moss. They all seem like nice folks
and we will do our best to hear what they have to say.
People run for City Council for a variety of reasons. Sometimes
it's just a issue or two that bugs them. Sometimes, City Staffers
have upset them on one thing or another. Sometimes, running over
people's rights or changing major things in the community give
them the impetus to "just go for it!". In any event, too many
do not realize the expenses necessary, filing responsibilities,
the various labor groups involved, the fund raising necessary,
setting up their websites, printing and mailing and sign costs
...finding a campaign manager and then dealing with the power
brokers in their cities. Most unconnected candidates are just
marginalized to the point...that they are considered more laugh
tracks...rather than candidates. It is really sort of sad to
watch at times.
Then there is Newport Beach..which we kind of know about..since
we ran for Council four times! We even won once in 1994 for two
weeks....but that is another story! Here in Newport Beach we
have the "Power Broker Candidates backed by Dave Ellis" and then
you have the "Greenlight Candidate's" which were back by Phil Arst
and Jean Watt and that whole group. Phil passed away this last
year and will be greatly missed. Then we have those crazy "Oh
boy...Independents"...like we were that dare to challenge both
groups!
In the old days, of Home Owners vs. Developers all was in rhythm
and joy. Sometimes a Home Owner candidate would win, sometimes
a developer candidate would win. But that was all before 1986...
when the developers got there foot strongly in the door and have
since...never relinquished that control. Then came the "Halley's
Comet Issues" we call them. Issues designed to get people off
track. Examples include: "The Location of a New City Hall!",
"Should the Oasis Center be Expanded?" and so it goes from there!
You get the idea that things that really matter like "Term Limits"
which did pass or whether to elect a Mayor in Newport Beach or
how to regulate Rehab Homes....are all issues that should never
be put before the average citizen...which may not be sophisticated
enough to grasp the realities of such things! Luckily, Term Limits
snuck in there several years ago. It is lucky that it did, but
the Power Brokers found a way around that by electing their four
vote majority and then having them step down before the end of
their terms and replacing them with choices of the remaining City
Council. So, if we wanted to change the City Charter and ask that
all future resignations require a vote of the people....the Council
looks aghast! Perish the thought...citizens! We have it exactly
the way we want it....which insures incumbency ad infinitum!
OK, so what about the three open seats in Newport Beach? Well, we
have one no-name person running against Steve Rosansky in District
one! Ed Selich is running unopposed in his district and Dolores
Otting is challenging Keith Curry. Sadly for Dolores - Keith has
been doing a pretty good job and it will be difficult if not quite
impossible to beat the incumbent Curry!
But back to Costa Mesa....it is pretty interesting that one of the
incumbents...Eric Bever is not considered the odds on favorite to
repeat. We don't exactly know why. So, can "The bearded guy" Chris
McEvoy beat out Bever or will it be someone else? Who knows? We do
truly believe Katrina Foley will be re-elected, so that basically
leaves the third choice of former Mayor Monahan or Daily Pilot...
writer, politically connected Jim Righeimer.
There can only be three!
Our big question is: Who is Dave Ellis supporting?
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