Linda Dixon departs the dais

Lolita Harper

The City Council practiced its episodic changing of the guard

Monday as the defeated incumbent mayor, Linda Dixon, left her seat on

the dais to make way for political newcomer Allan Mansoor.

Dixon stepped down graciously, thanking her supporters, her family

and the entire community for the opportunity to serve them.

The audience returned the gratitude by rising to its feet and

applauding her efforts.

Dixon’s council colleagues also expressed their appreciation for

her service and told her she would be greatly missed.

Councilwoman Karen Robinson, who was later elected mayor, was near

tears when she said her goodbye.

“Linda was on this council when I first came on, and I consider

this my council family,” Robinson said with a lump in her throat. “A

member of that family is moving along, and that is hard. I will miss

you terribly.”

Councilwoman Libby Cowan, who first worked with Dixon on the

Planning Commission, said she was sad to see Dixon go.

But she seemed certain the former mayor would continue to work for

Costa Mesa.

“I appreciate who she is and what she stands for, and this

community is so much better off for having her involved,” Cowan said.

“I will miss you as a council peer, but know that I have gained a

lifelong friend.”

Aviva Goelman, executive director of the Costa Mesa Senior Center,

presented Dixon with a certificate of appreciation and thanked her

for all her hard work at the center.

“I just want those seniors to know I am not going away,” Dixon

said.

And that goes for the rest of the city. Dixon promised she would

continue to promote the wonderful things the city has to offer.

Dixon said it was time for her to step down and watch from the

sidelines. She told the audience that “change is good.”

“I will continue to work in my own way and my own style,” Dixon

said. “This is goodbye for right now, and thank you.”

And with that, she stepped into a sea of applauding people to

watch her successor be sworn in.

Mansoor walked down the aisle of City Hall amid the hoots, hollers

and whistles of his supporters. The newly elected councilman held a

4-inch thick black binder, with additional handouts and agendas

stacked on top. After taking his oath and his seat on the dais, he

sheepishly admitted he had not prepared a speech and thanked his

friends and family for their support.

“I plan to really focus in on all these issues and I am looking

forward to it,” Mansoor said.

Councilman Gary Monahan was also sworn in for his third council

term. He thanked all his volunteers and supporters and pointed in

particular to his wife, who was at home with the couple’s five

children.

“Deb, I know you are watching, and thank you for all that you do,”

Monahan said.