Dixon won’t fade into distance

Lolita Harper

She may be headed down from her elevated seat on the dais, but

soon-to-be former Mayor Linda Dixon is definitely not out, she said.

Although the incumbent was defeated this month by political

newcomer Allan Mansoor, Dixon said she will not stop her campaign to

make Costa Mesa “the best place to live, work, play, own a business,

raise a family and spend your golden years.”

Dixon’s fiery passion for the community, which is evident from her

laundry list of service during the past 28 years, has not been

quelled.

Once her time on the City Council is done, she simply will

redirect her love for the city in other avenues.

“I will miss staff and I will miss being a part of the

decision-making process, but I will continue to work to be a

representative of promoting all that is positive about Costa Mesa,”

she said. “That you can be sure of.”

At the same time, Dixon plans to reinvest some time in herself.

Being mayor is no small feat. Dixon had replaced pleasure reading

with staff reports and her love for cooking with pre-made sandwiches

offered to the council before meetings. She sacrificed beauty sleep

for public hearings that lasted until 2 a.m. and opted for a quick

kiss on the cheek from her husband on the way out the door, rather

than a rich evening by the fire.

Given the choice, Dixon would still rather be highlighting city

documents, meeting with residents and representing the city, but the

voters have spoken, and she plans to full advantage of her new free

time.

Starting Monday, Dixon will return to the kitchen, the library,

the theater and school, as she plans to enroll in a welding class at

Orange Coast College.

Councilman Chris Steel said her defeat may be a “blessing in

disguise,” saying Dixon was gifted in so many other areas. He wished

her luck, but knew she wouldn’t need it.

“I know she’ll do great,” he said.

Councilman Gary Monahan echoed Steel’s statements, saying Dixon

was very easy to talk to and work with.

“I’ll miss her,” said Monahan, who won reelection in this month’s

election. “We may have had philosophical differences, but we worked

together well. She was very committed, in her own way.”

And with the gavel out of her hand and time back on the clock,

Dixon will have the opportunity to do things her way. She intends to

stay active in promoting the arts and will keep her seat on the board

of the Costa Mesa Senior Center. She wants to fight teen pregnancy in

the city and work with students, parents and educators alike to

combat the frightening epidemic.

Her agenda may not be public record anymore but there is no doubt

it will effect the community.

“I have truly enjoyed serving the people for the past four years,”

Dixon said. “It’s been a wonderful experience and I have met

tremendous people. I thank the community for giving me the

opportunity to become more involved and will continue that

participation, no matter what my official title is.”

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

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