Opinions mixed on Steel charges

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- Community leaders are divided over the importance of an

allegation that City Councilman-elect Chris Steel filed an invalid

election document and should not have been allowed to run for a council

seat.

The city attorney’s office is investigation the charge, made Monday

night at the council meeting by Costa Mesa resident Michael Szkaradek.

He claims that a man signed Steel’s nomination petition and forged his

wife’s signature, and since the councilman-elect would then have lacked

the 20 necessary signatures, should be barred from taking office.

Steel, whose nomination petition was validated by the Orange County

Registrar of Voters office, has denied any wrongdoing and called the

charges “phony.”

As the investigation continues, community members are arguing about

whether the allegation -- if proven true -- should result in any

consequences.

“[Szkaradek] thinks a husband signed for his wife and I’m sorry, but

that is just not a big deal,” said Mayor Gary Monahan. “The bottom line

is really that our democracy is based on the concept that whoever gets

the most votes wins. Chris Steel won fair and square. To strip his office

over a technicality would be a slap in the face of the voters of Costa

Mesa. I don’t believe there was fraudulent intent; everyone has had

problems with those nomination papers.”

Councilwomen Linda Dixon and Heather Somers disagree with Monahan.

“As potential elected officials, it is extremely important to follow

the procedures and policies that are laid down by the state,” said

Somers, who currently trails Karen Robinson in a close race in her bid

for reelection. “If people cannot understand or fully implement policies

or procedures appropriately, they have no business running for office. I

hope all this will be cleared up before the vote is certified. It

wouldn’t be fair to certify a vote with questions of this magnitude

hanging in the balance.”

The Orange County Registrar of Voters office plans to certify the

election by Wednesday, said Registrar Rosalyn Lever, adding that the city

has complete jurisdiction over the Steel controversy.

Dixon said action should be taken if it is confirmed that there is

impropriety in Steel’s papers.

“To allow or to overlook a dishonest attempt in the process is a slap

in the face to potential candidates who follow the rules and to citizens

in the community,” Dixon said. “People who serve as public officials are

often criticized, scrutinized and sometimes unnecessarily placed in a

category of not being forthright and honest. To allow anything improper

to go unpunished would further damage the public perception of

‘politicians’ and that would be a slap in the face for many of us.”

Opinions also are divided in the community.

Janice Davidson, chairwoman of Citizens to Improve Costa Mesa, said

the allegation is just “dirty politics” attempting to unfairly sully

Steel’s name and that Steel, who received the most votes, should take

office no matter what.

Karen McGlinn, director of Share Our Selves, said guidelines for

dealing with the allegation should be followed to avoid creating

divisions in the city.

The city is consulting an independent law firm to research the city’s

options and is investigating the matter on its own, said City Attorney

Allan Roeder.

City staff will report its findings once the review is complete.