Leece has book idea

Paul Clinton

Losing a local election may represent the end of a political road.

Oftentimes, it can also be the beginning of a new one.

Wendy Leece, the often controversial Newport-Mesa school board

trustee, said she was exhausted by the grueling reelection she lost

to Costa Mesa engineer Tom Egan.

“To run a political campaign at the grass-roots level with the

least amount of money is very time-consuming,” Leece said. “It takes

a lot of effort. I’m tired and I don’t know what I’ll do next.”

Apparently, Leece has kicked around the idea of writing a book

about her tumultuous eight years on the school board, in which she

came under fire from other members for her often conservative

stances.

Leece said she wouldn’t rule out running for the school board

again, but said it’s too early to make that decision.

Egan defeated Leece by fewer than 2,000 votes.

Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner Katrina Foley, who lost in the

City Council race, is one candidate expected to be heard from again

in the future.

Foley finished fourth in a five-person race for two open seats.

Councilman Gary Monahan and Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Allan

Mansoor won the seats.

On Wednesday, Foley also said she would not make any decisions

this year.

“Right now, I’m just trying to get through the holidays,” Foley

said. “Whether I will run again in two years again will not be

decided in the next two months.”

Foley, however, did say she plans to reapply for her Planning

Commission seat.

In Newport Beach, Greenlight activist Allan Beek has taken his

defeat to former Public Works Director Don Webb in stride.

The 75-year-old Beek, in his typically wry style, said he would

probably not seek a City Council seat in 2006.

“I’m too old to run again,” Beek said. “I’m very grateful to

[Webb] for getting me off the hook. I was dreading all of that work.”

KEEP ON MAKING POLICY

Fresh off an election triumph for his seat in the House, Rep.

Chris Cox won another race Wednesday.

Members of the Republican caucus returned Cox to his post as

chairman of the influential Policy Committee.

As the majority party, Republicans have the ability to name their

leaders to head House committees.

“I look forward to serving the majority leadership for the fifth

time since 1994,” Cox said. “Our policy course is clear ...

individual freedom and responsibility, limited government, less red

tape and bureaucracy, lower taxes and a compassionate conservatism.”

The committee is considered the policy-making arm of the House

majority.

PLAYING THE WAITING GAME

His seat wasn’t open during this election cycle, but that didn’t

keep state Sen. Ross Johnson from participating in election politics.

Johnson, who holds the 35th District seat in the state Senate, is

hawkishly watching three statewide races that are still too close to

call to see how ambitious his proposals can be during the next

legislative session.

In the Senate, the 12th District race between former State Parks

Director Rusty Areias and Republican Jeffery Denham has a mere 1.5%

spread. Denham leads by slightly more than 2,000 votes, with

elections officials still hand-counting ballots.

Before the election, Democrats held a 26-to-14-seat edge.

Republicans could pick up an additional seat if Denham holds his

lead.

In the Assembly, Republicans picked up two seats, not including

the still-contested 30th District, which includes Fresno.

Democrat Nicole Parra leads Republican Dean Gardner by a scant 187

votes, or about 0.4%.

A clear winner has also not emerged in the race for State

Controller. Democrat Steve Westly is leading Republican Tom

McClintock by 0.4%, or about 22,000 votes.

“Those are the things people are watching up here,” said Matt

Ross, a spokesman for Johnson. “That’s why there isn’t a lot going on

up here.”