Planning commissioner revved to run

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- A City Council position is ripe for the picking given

that the community is dissatisfied with the current leadership from the

dais, a council candidate said.

Planning Commissioner Bill Perkins said he updated his official

candidate status from probable to “absolutely” after gauging a sense of

disapproval for the City Council from residents.

“I think the council members right now are very good people as

individuals,” Perkins said, “but as far as getting city work done, there

is disharmony and dysfunction.”

Perkins said he recognizes that the council has been able to get

through some tedious and far-reaching issues, including Home Ranch, but

still said the overall synergy on the dais is nonexistent.

The 26-year-old ran for City Council in 2000 and finished last of 11

candidates. He didn’t expect to win, he just wanted to get his name out

there, Perkins said. Putting his name on the ballot gave him enough

recognition to gain a spot in the Planning Commission, he said.

As of December, Perkins had decided against another run at the

council. Both he and his wife still had school to finish and were

considering a move -- there was too much going on to wage a campaign.

After talking to residents about the current council’s leadership

abilities, Perkins changed his mind.

With two council members up for reelection and one facing criminal

charges -- combined with an air of dissatisfaction for incumbents --

Perkins said he can’t pass up the opportunity to run this year.

Mayor Linda Dixon and Councilman Gary Monahan are both up for

reelection, and while Dixon said she will fight to keep her seat, Monahan

has decided to bow out of politics. Councilman Chris Steel has no

intention of leaving the dais but could be forced off if convicted of two

felony charges for alleged forging of signatures in the last two City

Council elections. Steel has pleaded not guilty to both.

Monahan said Perkins has proven himself to be a “pretty solid leader”

and seems to have a common-sense grasp of the issues in front of him.

Plus, the council could use a business-minded member after he retires his

post, Monahan said.

“He has a business background,” Monahan said of Perkins. “We need more

of that and less of this bureaucratic mind set.”

Perkin’s colleague, Planning Commissioner Chairwoman Katrina Foley,

has also expressed interest in a council position but could not be

reached for comment Friday.