Eye on the future

Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan, who is serving his third term on the

City Council, talks to Daily Pilot columnist Lolita Harper about his

recent announcement that he is “seriously considering” a run a seat

on the county board of supervisors. Monahan is looking step in where

District 2 Supervisor Jim Silva would leave off in 2006, after being

termed out.

The longtime community leader and local businessman, whose

nickname is “Skosh,” has nothing but big goals -- in or out of the

political arena. Here’s what he had to say:

What issues have you dealt with serving on the Costa Mesa City

Council that you feel have well prepared you for a regional

leadership position?

There are a number of issues, the bridges for one [regarding plans

on county maps that call for 19th Street and Gisler Avenue to cross

the Santa Ana River] and I think we are finally getting to a point of

resolution. Most recently, Centerline and again, I think we should

will be getting to a point of resolution very soon. Anything to do

with the Orange County Transportation Authority, quite frankly,

dictates regional traffic and I think too often cities look at just

how it is going to affect them instead of seeing it for what it is,

and that is a regional traffic plan.

Any social issues? Do you think the city’s make up or diversity

has prepared you for the multitude of issues on a county scale?

That is a good way to put it because Costa Mesa has all walks of

life and we are very proud of that what you call eclectic character,

or whatever label you put on it. That’s a good way to go into the

county because you have different concerns in south county than you

do in the north, different concerns on the coast than you do inland

and I think it’s a good broad background and like you said, a good

training ground. And also Costa Mesa hasn’t had a county supervisor

in a long time, if ever, so it would be good to have some local

representation.

We know you are familiar with Costa Mesa and also with Newport

Beach, how much do you know about the other cities that make up the

Second District, such as Cypress, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove,

parts of Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach and

Stanton?

Obviously, it is not a small district. (laughs) I am pretty

familiar with Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley. Some of the

outskirts, I have dealt with some of the leaders here and there but I

would say mostly Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley -- and even

Garden Grove -- I have been in and dealt with some of the leadership

and frankly, I have done business with a lot of people there.

What kind of feedback have you gotten since your pseudo

announcement?

Well, you can imagine running a restaurant and spending a couple

nights a week tending bar, I have heard quite a few comments and it’s

been quite a lengthy discussion from the hilarious to the very

serious but it’s has all been pretty much positive. Again, its been

put in front of my face, I am considering it as an option. It’s a

long way off. There are a lot of variables that go into that but it

is a job that would keep me in town, in the county, rather than

higher office that would take me to Sacramento. From the moment you

announce candidacy the first time you run for office that is one of

the questions a lot of people have: Do you have higher aspirations?

Where do you want to be? I never felt that I did but then again, I

never thought I would be running for City Council in the first place.

So, life changes things and what I say today, or what I think today,

may not be the same thing two or three years from now.

What about feedback from the person who really counts, from your

wife Deborah?

I better plead the fifth on this one. (Laughing) We are

discussing, have discussed and will continue to discuss it and it’s

not a yes or no situation. I mean, if it makes sense for us as a

family. If there are specific factors that are pushing me to do it,

like there is a certain area of concern, or something I want to get

done, or need to get done, then I am sure it will be positive. If

there isn’t -- if there are no motivating factors -- then it’s not

going to happen. Simple as that.

Speaking of family, what kind of pros and cons, such as time away

from home and running your business, do you wrestle with when

deciding to pursue higher office? Or any office, I guess.

You get to be very flexible. My business -- that would be a big

decision if I were to decide to go forward. But on the other hand, I

am deciding if I want to open up a second location -- provided that

this one continues to be successful and is still growing. Either way,

there is a lot of time taken up. I mean, I could never open a second

location now, there just isn’t enough time in the day, no matter how

I structure it. There is a lot of time that is involved and as my

kids get older and start to have more activities going, my time is

going to be even harder to come by. And it’ll be difficult. So far,

they have been on the younger side of the scale and it has been

relatively easy to accomplish things but that won’t stay the same as

they kid older.

So, you’re contemplating expanding your business, what about you

family? Any more kids?

(After moment of laughter and a slight roll of the eyes) Next

question, please.

You proved to be an effective fund-raiser in this last council

election, how much do you think the stakes will be raised on the

county scale?

It’ll definitely be higher, depending what the issues are. Back

when the [El Toro] airport was a big issue there was a ton of money

being dumped into campaigns -- for and against -- the majority coming

from South County. Last year Silva ran unopposed and in [races for

other district seats] raised more money than you would in Costa Mesa

but it is not nearly the amount of money that Silva raised when he

ran four years ago. You do need to raise money. I believe it is

possible if you have the right message and the right connections. If

you’ve shown what you can do and the people who believe in you --

even if they don’t always agree with you -- will put money out there

for good government.

What kind of competition do you see for this district -- provided

it is a long way off.

The only name I have heard pushed around is Tom Harmon, he is in

the State Assembly. We’ve had Bill Campbell going from county

supervisor to the state and now we have Lou Correa [former supervisor

also at the state level] and there will be Harmon going from state to

county. I think term limits has a lot to do with that. Other than

that, I am running short on any other names but, again, it is a long

way off. But you know, if I decide to do it I will do it with

confidence. If I don’t, if I don’t feel like I am going to win, then

I won’t bother. I mean, look at the governor’s race. We have 150

people running for governor and maybe three or four that actually

have a shot at winning. What is going through their heads, I couldn’t

tell you, but it doesn’t make any sense to me. I think most of it is

for fun, games and ego than realism and if you don’t feel you could

really win, then you shouldn’t be out there.

Are you reading my notes? You just segued perfectly into my next

question. What are your thoughts on the recall?

Go, Arnie, go. [meaning candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger] That is

about it on that one.