Years ago, when the Daily Pilot first came out with their
list of Most Influential Persons in the Newport-Mesa area,
it was done halfway tongue in cheek. Oddball people would
show up on the list and be mixed with the movers and shakers.
People cocked their heads and said: "Who?" When the famous
bearded Sid Soffer showed up...it was great! Then as the list
started to gain greater heft....people like Chris Cox...our
then Congressman got to join the ranks of Henry and Renee
Segerstrom, George and Judy Argyros, Tom Fuentes and Fletcher
Jones! Slowly, "electeds" were filtered in to the process!
Hey, this was Reagan Republican territory and by golly if "the
Pilot" happened to add the Director of Save Our Selves or some
other liberal organization it was considered an attempt at fair
reporting. Today Republican icon Scott Baugh and the Democrat,
Frank Barbro are sharing the Number #1 spot of the 103 Most
Influential.
Olympic Gold Medal Resident and "Dancing with the Stars" injury
victim Misty May-Treanor came in at Number #3....but we didn't
even see Kobe Bryant....either sharing that spot or even being
considered! Which is weird! 2nd District Supervisor John Moorlach
came in at Number #5, ahead of the all the money of Don Bren #6,
Henry and new wife Elizabeth Segerstrom #7 (Elizabeth not even
mentioned)and Henry and Susan Samueli #76 (Currently..under
indictment for Stock Option misdeeds)! Bill & Sue Gross (New
Money) did come in one ahead of Moorlach at the Number #4 spot!
Which is all really, really weird! If these people with billions
aren't Influential....then who is?
The controversy surrounding Independent Expenditures by
Jack Croul for Dolores Otting has launched him into the
Number #2 slot....while his pal America's Cup Captain Bill
Ficker was pulling up lame at #28! The current mojo and all
the razz-ma-tazz regarding Dolores Otting has moved our
darling Dolores onto the list for the first time at Number
#88 just behind our pal Dr. Jan Vandersloot at Number #87 -
which we do believe is deserved....but late...years late!
Dolores was not mentioned in reference to her running against
Council member: Keith Curry..not listed!
How "electeds" make this list every year is a bit disturbing...
in that....if they truly had the power....they probably should
have been spending time "fixing stuff" rather than considering
themselves "Most Influential". FED Bail Out Lead Congressman
John Campbell landed at Number #12, Ex Costa Mayor Mayor Gary
Monahan who is running again for Costa Mesa City Council came
in ahead of his pal Eric Bever at Number #29, while up for
re-election Bever got Number #32! Why Katrina Foley..another
CM Council member up for re-election got Number #31?
Back to Sports: Super Agent Scott Boras (for Manny Ramirez)
landed at Number #9....but the guy that made the Newport Beach
Film Festival actually happen...Leigh Steinberg...didn't even
make the list! Then what about Angel's Coach Mike Scioscia?
Nope! The Angels evidently didn't make it to the World Series
this year - so how Influential could they be?
Now let's get real here; NB City Council member Steve Rosansky
#23 and ahead of Dave Ellis at Number #24? Hey, we love Homer
Bludau our stalwart Newport Beach City Manager...but Number
#55, behind Allan Roeder of Costa Mesa at #41? Hey, the Pilot
had no qualms about making ties happen like Bob and Jeff Teller
and maybe 10 more! Rosansky and Ellis...certainly shouldn't
list that high on anyones scale! Influential? How about just
plain bugging?
Let's just say that we were pleased to see Assemblyman Chuck
DeVore get listed along with Wendy Leece and Alan Mansoor..
Tom Harman, Dana Rohrabacher, Debbie Cook, Jim Righeimer, Ed
Selich and Van Tran too! However, these are all "just electeds"
and hardly as "Influential" as say:
"Hoag Hospital", "The Lincoln Club", "Fashion Island", "The
Toshiba Classic", Mr. G and Producer of "The OC" or even Paul
Salata and "Mr. Irrelevant Week". Aren't they just supposed
to be: "Public Servants or Representatives - for the people?"
How about the Army Corps of Engineers? You know, the ones
that don't want to spend the government money to dredge our
bay! They seem pretty "Influential".
Let's just say there are a few holes in the list this year.
Award winning Blogger; Geoff West - "The Bubbling Cauldron"
is perhaps one of the most consistent and caring voices in the
Newport Mesa area. "Influential"? Very! Just a glaring Daily
Pilot oversight we suppose! Let us hope that next year..the
103 Most Influential list..will not be dedicated to "Electeds"
or "Bureaucrats"! How about people that are doing the caring
and loving service for the Newport Mesa Community or that are
celebrities that live in our community - making a difference!
Those are the ones - truly the "Most Influential"!
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