A shared vision for Surf City

Dave Brooks

Don Hansen is on top of the world right now.

The Huntington Beach City Council candidate has just secured the

endorsements of two of the city’s three most powerful employee unions

and has been given the thumbs up from three standing City Council

members. He’s been successful at raising money, revving up his

grass-roots political engine and getting his name out to voters.

Things couldn’t be going better.

“I think he has an excellent chance this year,” Mayor Cathy Green

said. “Not only has he stayed in touch, he’s also gotten more

involved and reached out to more people.”

Hansen came just 273 votes short in his 2002 attempt, taking sixth

place in a race where the top four won. Local heavyweights like green

and returning Councilman Dave Sullivan were stiff competition last

election. This year, incumbent Debbie Cook will be tough to beat. “I

still have my base from last time, and I can only build on that for

this election,” Hansen said.

Hansen is very approachable and sincere, and his ability to

command a conversation makes him an imposing figure, even if most of

his dialogue is a peppering of political catch-phrases and corporate

rhetoric that seems borrowed from a motivational poster.

Hansen wants to improve the business climate of Huntington Beach,

but only promises to “listen to the voice of the customer,” “raise

awareness” and “start picking out projects that matter.”

“Change doesn’t happen overnight,” he said. “It’s a long-term

process.”

Hansen’s reluctance to hammer out details suggests that he has a

vision, rather than a specific plan, for Surf City. It’s a vision

that sees Huntington Beach emerge as the tourism powerhouse it should

be, transformed with high-end developments catered toward the retail

needs of the city’s growing upwardly mobile residents and

increasingly wealthy visitors.

There is no doubt that Hansen loves Surf City. But Hansen has had

an interest in politics for a long time.

A self-proclaimed political junkie, Hansen brags that he was

school president at every level.