Report sets up Nichols for harsh rebuke

June Casagrande

A sternly worded staff report lists four instances in which

Councilman Dick Nichols is reported to have made derogatory

statements about Mexicans, clears up a fifth alleged instance, offers

an apology to people of Latino origin and gives council members the

opportunity to officially call for Nichols’ resignation and to strip

him of his committee appointments.

According to the report, which council members will consider on

Tuesday, City Councilman Dick Nichols has implied that “Mexicans”

deliberately get into automobile accidents to rip off wealthy white

residents.

Explaining an earlier gaffe, Nichols told Mayor Steve Bromberg

during a phone conversation last month, “ ... it’s the Mexicans that

do these phony accident rings and rip off the white people in [Corona

del Mar],” according to the report prepared by City Atty. Bob Burnham

at Bromberg’s request.

Burnham’s report also sets the record straight on one instance in

which Nichols was said to have made a derogatory comment about

Mexicans.

“I reviewed a tape recording of the meeting that was referenced by

Lloyd Ikerd during his testimony on June 24, 2003, and during which

Council Member Nichols allegedly opposed construction of a school on

the Banning Ranch property because Latinos would attend and

Caucasians would not. In fact, the comments by Council Member Nichols

at that meeting did not express a position on the construction of the

school, but did represent Council Member Nichols’ understanding of

the reasons why the developer did not intend to construct the

school,” Burnham wrote.

In what’s sure to be a long and emotional meeting on Tuesday,

council members will vote on the options laid out in the report,

including condemning Nichols’ comments, asking him to step down and

asking that he apologize to community members offended by his

comments.

“Some people will probably say that the apology is political

correctness,” Bromberg said. “People should not confuse political

correctness with decency. And what we’re doing by the apology is

decent. ... The buck stops with us.”

All six of his colleagues have already said they believe Nichols

should resign. The council agenda item would formalize that request.

Nichols did not return phone calls or e-mail messages on Thursday.

He has said he does not plan to resign. A recall effort by residents

is in the works.

Bromberg said he wants to give Nichols a chance to tell his side

of the story. Once Nichols has had a chance to speak, Bromberg said

he will decide whether to vote to rebuke Nichols for his comments and

strip him of committee appointments.

Nichols serves on five city committees, including the

Environmental Quality Affairs Citizens Advisory Committee.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.