Money predicts returns

S.J. Cahn, June Casagrande and Lolita Harper

The latest financial numbers for Newport-Mesa’s two Congressional

races shows that money is still a great indicator of who’s going to

win.

In the new 48th Congressional District, Rep. Chris Cox once again

soundly defeated UCI Graduate School of Management professor John

Graham -- financially and in the voting booth.

Heading into the Nov. 5 election, Cox had raised $672,000, spent

$642,000 (much in the form of donations to other campaigns) and,

interestingly enough, had $520,000 available, according to the

nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Graham, meanwhile, had brought in $8,000, spent $7,000 and was

left with about $1,800 on hand.

Cox eventually pulled in 68% of the vote.

The 46th Congressional District was a little more competitive,

financially and at the ballot box, but Rep. Dana Rohrabacher still

ran away in both categories.

The Congressman had raised $312,000, had spent $281,00 and still

had $98,000 if he needed it. His opponent, Gerrie Schipske, had

raised $166,000, had spent $159,000 and had just less than $7,500

heading into the final days of the election.

Rohrabacher won with 61% of the vote.

SOME THINGS ARE BETTER KEPT PRIVATE

In his first few hours on the Costa Mesa City Council dais Monday

evening, Councilman Allan Mansoor wasted no time pointing out that

the contentious Huscroft House project illustrated his belief that

some things are best left to the private sector.

Mansoor, who knocked off incumbent Mayor Linda Dixon in November’s

election, said the botched attempt to restore the house was an

example of projects the city should not be taking on with taxpayer

money.

Council members again delayed any decision of the 1915

Craftsman-style home to allow the city longer negotiation time with a

private property owner.

The house has been a hot topic for nearly two years now, since the

city accepted the arguably historic house from the Huscroft family.

For months, city leaders argued whether to restore it with public

funds, move it to Fairview Park, turn it into a cultural center, sell

it or demolish it.

Council action on the house remains stalled as the house falls

further into a state of disrepair. While Mansoor was not a part of

previous council decisions on the house, he spoke out during

discussions Monday.

The city is faced with paying about $30,000 to either destroy the

house or fund its move to a private property.

Mansoor said the Huscroft was a tragic example of a project that

should never have become city business. Now residents have to pay for

the council’s failure, he said.

MONAHAN’S ASSUMPTION THWARTS MAYORAL BID

Costa Mesa Councilman Gary Monahan should have asked for support

for mayor instead of presuming the position was automatically his,

council colleague Libby Cowan says.

Cowan, who served as mayor during 2001, said it is customary for

anyone considering the mayoral seat to discuss it with other council

members and make sure they have the necessary votes to get the title.

Monahan may not have been so surprised about the election of Karen

Robison as mayor had he taken the time to talk to his colleagues, she

said.

Robinson was unanimously chosen mayor -- a one-year ceremonial

position -- on Monday, astonishing nearly everyone in the council

chambers except Cowan.

Monahan also shot himself in the foot in a recent article when he

criticized his fellow council members for being inefficient and

unprepared, Cowan said.

“I also think it is very difficult to support someone who has said

that we don’t work hard and that we need to change the way we work,

and I am really insulted by that,” Cowan said.

A BREAK FROM ALL THAT WALKIN’

Walkin’ Don Webb gave his shoes a rest this week to take a long

road trip to Sacramento. There, the yet-to-be-sworn-in Newport Beach

councilman was already doing service to the city.

Webb was in Sacramento to help lobby for $3.2 million in state

funding for the joint-use Mariners Library. The project won approval

by the state this week thanks in part to activists like Webb and with

the help of Friends of the Library, which earlier this year donated

$25,000 for the project.

O’NEIL SEND-OFF ALL SET

Termed-out Newport Beach Councilman Dennis O’Neil will get a warm

send-off from neighborhood businesses. The Corona del Mar Chamber of

Commerce will honor the longtime public servant at their December

luncheon -- the group’s way of saying “thank you” to their district’s

representative.