NEWSMAKER OF THE YEAR -- Signed, Steeled and delivered

Lolita Harper

Councilman Chris Steel is well aware of the fact he is not the city’s

favorite politician.

Although the outspoken 60-year-old has created more than his fair

share of headline news, he recognizes it does not all consist of gleaming

support.

“I wasn’t elected to get popular. I was elected to get results,” Steel

said.

During Steel’s first year on the Costa Mesa City Council, he has

provoked cynicism from the Latino community with seemingly anti-immigrant

views, angered some residents by calling for the removal of certain

charities from the city and lost the backing of once-avid supporters with

a surprising “yes” vote on the Home Ranch project.

Steel has even caught the wrath of the Orange County District

Attorney’s office. He faces two felony charges for allegedly forging

signatures during the last two City Council elections.

He has pleaded not guilty to both.

While justifying his controversial views on some issues, the

Pittsburgh native must also defend himself in court. Steel has already

poured more than $40,000 into his defense. He won a partial victory in

July, when a Superior Court judge threw out a civil lawsuit brought

against the Costa Mesa Councilman by local resident and Steel adversary

Michael Szkaradek.

Steel is intent on clearing his name on all counts and defends his

actions tooth and nail.

“I allowed a man to sign for his wife and there is no law against

that,” said Steel, who called the felony charges trumped up. “And I

signed for a blind woman.”

Steel says the criminal charges looming over him are distracting.

“There’s no doubt they have affected me,” he said. “I haven’t been

able to be a better councilman.”

Facing what some may see as insurmountable political hurdles, Steel --

who gained his elected position after 20 years of running for office --

said he will not give up easily on his lifelong dream of leadership. He

is determined to spread his message of improvement and gain the support

of those who “misunderstand” him.

He refutes the insinuation that he is a racist or intolerant of those

who are less fortunate than he.

“I am very tolerant,” Steel explained. “But what I’m not tolerant of

is what is going on in the community with property values and the schools

and the crime and the overall quality of life, which is not as good as it

used to be.”

Steel champions change for the entire city but has focused his efforts

on the Westside, where he says a disproportionate amount of charities

exist. A Westside renter himself, Steel said he is impressed by the

hard-working nature of many of his neighbors.

But their good intentions do not make up for the negative affects on

the city, he says.

That attitude has caused some to doubt that Steel can represent the

whole of the Westside.

“I don’t think we are in favor of what Steel is planning,” said Edilia

Torres, a member of the Latino Community Network. “He is probably

representative of the Eastside but may not be as familiar with the

problems we are having on the Westside.”

A more compassionate spirit also could help the councilman, others

say.

“I hope Chris Steel will see the value of the whole population of

Costa Mesa and might become more tolerant of us all,” said Jean Forbath,

the director of Share Our Selves.

Steel said he has no problem with charitable spirit as long as the

needy stay beyond the city limits. He claims large charities encourage

those who cannot afford to live in Costa Mesa to move here by any means

possible, often overcrowding tiny apartments with six or seven people.

“I used to deliver bags for [Share Our Selves],” said Steel, who first

learned about the charity through a church event. “I would take them up

to Santa Ana. No harm no foul. But now they have moved down here.”

At best, Share Our Selves should have a small satellite location in

each city, rather than concentrate its efforts in Costa Mesa, he said.

He supports all charities, as long as they don’t unintentionally and

unknowingly affect the schools, hospital emergency services, crime rate,

property values and police and fire service costs.

“We can still be a city of diversity with a heart but with a healthy

heart, not a bleeding relentless heart.”

Steel said he will continue to work with his fellow council members in

the hopes that he will some day win two more votes on a matter he is

passionate about. He hopes to gain support for such issues as the Job

Center, the gang ordinance, the rezoning of various areas in the city for

low-density, owner-occupied housing and an underground bridge to run

along Newport Boulevard from 19th Street to the Newport Beach border.

“When I was first elected, I didn’t have the best image. I was not

looked at as a team player, but I have gone out of my way to give [fellow

council members] what they want -- to a point,” Steel said. “I hope they

will give me the benefit of the doubt and second some of my motions -- at

least give me a chance.”

Although he is unpopular at times, Steel said his greatest source of

accomplishment stems from sitting on the council dais. He said he enjoys

the opportunity to help mold the city’s future and has learned a lot from

his fellow council members and city staff.

“Pride of being on the council is the civility and the courtesy of the

staff and fellow council members,” Steel said. “They may be a better

councilman and smarter than I am.”

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .