A councilman reflects on 2003

Dick Nichols speaks.

More than six months after the controversy over a comment

regarding Mexicans on the beach, Dick Nichols shared the following

thoughts in response to Daily Pilot questions. What follows is the

text of the interview, which was conducted via e-mail messages:

*

In our end-of-year recap of top stories of the year, we plan to

recap this summer’s news about the Mexican comment and the ensuing

controversy. If you’re willing, we’d like you to share your after

thoughts. Please consider answering the following questions:

1. Six months after the fact, have your feelings on the issue

changed in any way?

My feelings on the issue were that the Pilot felt that they had

the power to cause any councilman to resign. We believe that you

thought that if you made a big enough fuss that I was not politically

correct that the electorate would rise up and cause enough pressure

to force me to resign.

1b. Do you still believe the comment was taken out of context?

My comment was totally taken out of context. Most people believe

that I was speaking of the city land up on the bluff overlooking the

beach. We were talking about the smaller grassy area down on Corona

del Mar State Beach, which separates the parking lot, restrooms and

concessions from the beach. This area was designed as a transition

area for changing shoes from beach to street ware. The beach has been

losing sand, which we support replacing. We feel beach use should be

maximized.

Don’t you honestly believe that a councilman should be able to

explain a situation to a reporter with the expectation that the whole

idea will be presented and not one phrase in a 15-minute conversation

misconstrued for a totally different purpose? I guess I was too

naive.

1c. Do you feel it was right to remain on the council?

The Pilot took my comment out of context and tried to make my

remark racist. The TV newscasters who interviewed us and most radio

shows either were for us, dropped the issue or did not feel our

actions were grievous enough to follow up in any way. Only the Pilot

and the [Los Angeles] Times followed up and had reporters, to whom we

never talked, speculating on and vilifying our character. Why should

I resign? Two [Orange County] Register polls showed 90% and 95% of

responders were favorable to us. Constituents supported me. People

who know me, asked me to stick it out. I took an oath to represent my

constituents, why should I allow the press, on a whim, force me to

resign.

2. Has the incident changed the way you conduct public business or

the way you conduct yourself in public?

2. We learned we couldn’t talk at all to the Pilot or [The] Times.

3. Do you think the situation caused permanent damage to the city?

I think we have brought more viewers to council meetings and a new

awareness to many people that City Council decisions affect their

property.

3b. Or do you feel that healing has taken place?

This is not a question for me. I did not vilify anyone. I have

learned and grown to appreciate the time and thought that Mayor

[Steve] Bromberg spent in doing his many city duties. I have grown to

respect the special intellect and time Councilman [John] Heffernan

has spent on city matters. I have appreciated the respect shown me by

the Council and staff and particularly appreciate the help Councilman

[Don] Webb has provided.

4. Any other after-the-fact thoughts or reflections you’d like to

share?

It appears that if you’re under the gun of the largest paper in

town, that you can only respond in writing. Even then, it will be

used the way the paper decides.