Low scores for legislators

Alicia Robinson

Local legislators received failing grades for their environmental

records from the national and state branches of the League of

Conservation Voters.

A report card issued this week by the nonprofit, nonpartisan

League of Conservation Voters gave Rep. Dana Rohrabacher a score of

10% based on how he voted on environmental legislation in the 108th

Congress, and Rep. Chris Cox did even worse, receiving a score of 3%.

The California League of Conservation Voters gave 70th District

Assemblyman John Campbell a 6% score because he voted for one out of

15 bills the league considered good for the environment; 68th

District Assemblyman Ken Maddox, who voted for four of the 15 bills,

got a 24% grade.

Political nastiness has

Lido Isle residents upset

There’s nothing like a political contest to get adults acting like

children. A number of Lido Isle residents who are supporting

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry say they’re victims of

sign theft and vandalism, and some have heard rumors of a cable TV

line being cut and nails in the tires of a car with a Kerry sticker

on it.

“We’ve had three signs taken,” said Mary Cappellini, who lives on

Via Lido Soud. “My daughters just put a little note on the last one

that said, ‘Mommy, why are they stealing our signs?’”

Another Lido Isle resident, Dee Curry, reported similar problems.

After her sign was taken, she put a new one up indoors, she said.

“Now I’ve put it in the window,” Curry said. “Lots of people have

had them disappear, some people multiple times.”

Both women said they haven’t heard of any foul play concerning

signs for President George W. Bush, though there are plenty of those

signs around. Cappellini said the incident has been a learning

experience for her daughters.

“It’s interesting for them as small children to get involved with

the election process and to see that their opinions should be

respected regardless of who they’re voting for,” she said.

Newport Beach Police did hear about some sign thefts, Sgt. Steve

Shulman said. While signs disappearing and being defaced is fairly

common in election season, he said, “I think maybe [there’s] a little

bit more this time because it’s an election that everybody’s paying

attention to.”

Monahans add fifth boy, sixth child to the family

Aside from running his restaurant and bar or worrying about

Tuesday’s election, Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan has a new reason to

be up at night -- one that needs to be fed frequently. Monahan’s

wife, Deborah, gave birth to the couple’s sixth child and fifth son

Friday morning. Gavin Morgan Monahan weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces, and

came home on Sunday.

“It’s always exciting and nerve-racking,” said Monahan, who is by

now an old hand at fatherhood. “Having done it now six times, at

least we know what to expect.”

There’s room for the newest Monahan in the house because the

family added about 700 square feet this year, but Gary said he thinks

this may be the last addition to his family. He’s already contributed

more future voters to the city than his four fellow council members.

“I think I have more [kids] than all of them combined,” he said.

Judge Gray sings new tune after debate snubbing

Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate and Orange County Superior Court

Judge Jim Gray wasn’t included in a debate between his major party

opponents, but now he’s getting exposure before a whole different

audience. Gray, of Newport Beach, wrote a musical called “American’s

All” that is premiering today in three performances at Sierra Vista

Middle School in Irvine.

The Irvine High School Chorale performs the show, which focuses on

encouraging young people to get an education and take responsibility

for their actions, according to a statement from Gray.

Council expected to talk presidential candidates

Costa Mesa City Council candidates are expected to turn out Friday

for the South Coast Metro Alliance Business Roundtable, a luncheon

featuring a discussion of the presidential election and California’s

ballot initiatives by Paul Freeman, community relations director for

C.J. Segerstrom & Sons. The event is scheduled at 11:45 a.m. at the Costa Mesa Hilton, 3050 Bristol St. For more information, call (714)

435-2109.

To see the presidential candidates in a new way, visit the Orange

County Fairgrounds on Sunday to watch pumpkin artist Mike Valladao

carve likenesses of President Bush and Democratic challenger John

Kerry into a 400-pound pumpkin. He’ll be carving between 7 a.m. and 3

p.m. at the Halloween Festival at the Orange County Market Place, 88

Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.