The Martins have landed

Geoff West

What is it with “Martins” and me? I kind of feel like June Casagrande

in her battle with dangling participles.

First, let’s dispose of Martin Brower’s most recent mutter

(“Tearing the airport debate apart”). In his feeble attempt Thursday

to rebuff criticism of his previous letter, he falls flat on his

face. I found myself wondering what the heck he was saying. It is not

possible, as he suggests, to separate John Wayne Airport, El Toro and

the Orange County economy -- the issues are like conjoined triplets.

If the poor man is, indeed, trying to say that El Toro is not the

absolute best solution for Orange County’s commercial aviation

future, then he needs help, and lots of it. His disjointed diatribe

affirms all the previous criticisms of him -- in spades.

Next comes my old pal, Martin Millard, who graced these pages on

Thursday as “M.H. Millard.” As frequent readers of these pages may

know, sometimes the editors of the Daily Pilot have mischievously

chosen to pair up letters Millard and I have written because our

viewpoints differ dramatically on many issues in this city. Thursday

was a little different.

In his commentary, purportedly about the banner flap in Costa

Mesa, he leads off by rejecting a recent characterization of him as a

“gadfly,” and provides us with his definition of that word. Of

course, I realize that he must be kidding us with a little

tongue-in-cheek humor, because I’ve watched him in action at meeting

after meeting, forum after forum, as he chides and berates elected

and appointed officials on any number of issues. In fact, I make it a

point to catch his performance before the City Council, Planning

Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission just to see how far he

will go. I watch, hoping not to miss the time when the

sergeant-at-arms hauls him away for violating the rules of civility

that are supposed to be enforced.

That being said, the broader message of his commentary Thursday is

pretty darn accurate. It is “activists” like Millard that get things

done in this city. They take the time to study an issue, form an

opinion and deliver it with whatever style fits their personality to

the officials in our town. I found it fascinating when he took credit

for the fact that four years ago he “helped one person, who virtually

no one thought was electable, get elected.” This “success” would be

Chris Steel -- the most incompetent elected official in these parts

in recent memory and a person Millard has frequently berated

mercilessly from his public comments pulpit in recent months.

Millard is right, though, when he observes that not enough people

get involved in city issues. His description of a recent conversation

with a resident who complained about various problems, yet had no

clue about the identity of officials in the city is, painfully, far

too accurate. I admit that a few years ago that description would

have fit me to a tee. It is, indeed, a sad fact of life in our city

-- and most others, I suspect -- that a few dozen residents who take

the time to be active are the ones who mold and control the agenda on

important issues. It is they, therefore, who control our lives to a

very great extent.

More people in this town need to get involved in civic issues.

Otherwise, we abdicate control of this city. “Gadfly” is much too

benign a description of Millard. It is his activism and influence

that makes a narrowly focused Westside majority on the City Council a

frightening possibility in November. I suspect, as the months pass

and the election heats up, we will see another slate of Millard

candidates emerge. When they do, we should ask ourselves if those are

the kind of people we really want to run our city for the next

decade. I already know my answer to that question.

* GEOFF WEST is a Costa Mesa resident.