Monahan might run for supervisor

Lolita Harper

The rumor has been burning up the Goat Hill grapevine for weeks, and

now Mayor Gary Monahan has said that he is considering running for a

seat on the county board of supervisors after the end of his City

Council term in 2006.

Monahan said Thursday that he would neither confirm his candidacy

for Supervisor Jim Silva’s position nor deny that he has been

seriously considering a run at the second district seat. He will see

how things go in the next couple of years, he said.

“It’s not like I am an official candidate or anything, but I am

going to talk to my wife and shake some hands,” Monahan said.

Silva’s seat will not be up until 2006, the same year Monahan’s

term on the Costa Mesa City Council is up. It’s a long way off, but

political aficionados have already begun strategizing, and Monahan

was among their top choices.

Monahan said it was suggested to him numerous times by people he

refused to name, and it has become a very real possibility.

“I am feeling the waters,” Monahan said. “I am intrigued because

it keeps me in the area.”

Monahan had once made it seem as though he were through with

politics all together. In October 2001, he announced he would not

seek reelection in the 2002 race for City Council. His mind quickly

changed after he saw some of the potential candidates. Monahan

reentered the race to protect the rights of property owners and the

overall “character” of the city, he said.

He easily won his third term on the council, amid cries of foul

play by those who hoped Monahan would follow the spirit of the

two-term limit instead of serving on through a loophole. He ignored

the naysayers and regained the mayoral seat, after losing it to

former Councilwoman Karen Robinson, who left the dais in April to

become a judge.

Although Monahan is arguably the most popular Costa Mesa

politician, his service to the city would have been over come 2006.

Except for this revelation.

“So there. That is something you can splash out there as the

latest buzz,” Monahan said. “I am willing to confirm it is a

possibility.”

Silva, who will be termed out, said he has not taken an official

position on who should replace him. A few names have been dropped,

including Monahan’s, but the supervisor is just “stepping back to see

who is interested.” The Costa Mesa mayor is certainly an accomplished

leader, Silva said.

“He is a very dear friend, and I think he’s a very competent

elected official,” Silva said. “He represents Costa Mesa well and has

done an outstanding job.”

Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder said Monahan had mentioned

possibly pursuing the position, but only in passing. The two would

muse about the possibility and then move on to real business.

Roeder said he is glad that Monahan is considering the post and

that the issues Monahan has dealt with in his years on the Costa Mesa

dais are good training for the diverse issues in the county arena.

Roeder considers Monahan one of the most gifted leaders to emerge

from the local pool.

“I am pleased to hear that one of our local talents has a real,

sincere interest,” Roeder said.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan and Councilman Allan Mansoor said they

had not been privy to the gossip, but both wished him well in the

endeavor.

Mansoor called it “interesting” and said he was “sure he would do

a good job.”

Cowan echoed his sentiments.

“I wish him the best of luck if that is what he wants to do,” she

said.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.