Waiting on November

S.J. CAHN

I ran into one of our local politicians this past week and lamented

the lack of any big news on our political scene.

That’s just fine, came the response.

Now, typically, I’d name the person, but the meeting was brief and

fairly informal and I wasn’t thinking “story” or “column.” So I’ll

leave the name off the record, not that anything juicy or untoward

got said.

But it did, later, start me thinking. The election season is

quickly approaching, these few months of quiet are about to end and,

at some point, a humdinger of a story will bubble up from the

trenches.

But despite what any of our elected officials might think, we

really aren’t aching for a scandal.

Here’s what I hope the general election holds:

1. In Costa Mesa, a candidate who is willing to call opponents to

the carpet. I listened two years ago as candidates tossed a lot of

weak generalities -- on development, on racial issues, on education

matters -- about that demanded an answer. None came. This time, Costa

Mesa needs at least one strong candidate willing to cut to the chase

and require specifics and explanations from others in the race. Too

many issues of too great importance did not get enough discussion

last time around. And any local media can highlight only so much

before it’s simply creating or directing the news.

2. In the congressional races, a race? See the end of the column

for the chances of that happening.

3. In Newport Beach, one strong Greenlight candidate to carry the

cause and get all the financial backing. Like it or not, Greenlight

is a force in the city, but it got badly diluted after the last

election. Healthy debate is good for any government, though, and

Greenlight folks can provide that.

4. Stops in Newport-Mesa by both presidential candidates. And by

Hillary. (OK, I want a little local scandal.)

5. Interested voters and interesting issues. There are any number

of issues that could grab the spotlight this fall: Marinapark,

Westside redevelopment, mansionization, St. Andrew’s Church

expansion. An engaged electorate asking questions of candidates and

seeking answers to problems makes for healthy debate. And healthy

debate is, again, good for any government.

6. Candidates in all the races. Right now, there’s little doubt

that Costa Mesa is going to be a battle. But Newport’s a different

story: Both Steves on the council, Councilmen Steve Bromberg and

Steve Rosansky, don’t have any competition that I know of. Nor does

Councilman John Heffernan. Whether they’re doing a good job, they

shouldn’t be able to walk into office unchallenged. It isn’t

democratic.

Have anything you’d like to see happen between now and November?

Feel free to let me know.

NO DOUBT IN THESE ELECTIONS

As much as I might hope for close elections from our two House

races, it doesn’t look like they’re going to materialize.

Political pundit Charlie Cook, one of Washington’s more respected

prognosticators, this week released his list of “toss up” races for

the House of Representatives.

Not only are Reps. Chris Cox and Dana Rohrabacher not among the

politicians with a weak grasp on reelection, there isn’t a single

California race that Cook thinks will be close.

Texas has five, though.

* S.J. CAHN is the managing editor. He may be reached at (949)

574-4233 or by e-mail at s.j.cahn@latimes.com.