Pilot picks for city councils

most important in generations. There are numerous reasons for people

to get out to vote: American forces are fighting in Iraq and

Afghanistan, the threat of terrorism remains in our daily conscience

and healthcare costs continue to rise.

In Newport-Mesa, the reasons to vote may be less universal, but

they are no less important. What the men and women who win seats on

our city councils do during the next four years -- whether it be

setting water-quality standards, fighting the expansion of John Wayne

Airport, finding solutions for ever-worsening traffic or establishing

the model for redeveloping aging parts of the community -- will

affect our readers’ daily lives as much, if not more, than those

representatives serving in Sacramento or Washington.

In late September, the Daily Pilot printed its endorsements for

the two city councils. As a final encouragement for all our readers

who are registered voters to go to the polls and fulfill their civic

duty, here is a reminder of who we support.

In Costa Mesa: Scheafer, Dixon, Foley

Costa Mesa voters have three council seats to fill. They are

fortunate that of the 12 candidates, many are dedicated, idea-filled

individuals. But the three who rise above the rest are incumbent Mike

Scheafer, former mayor Linda Dixon and Planning Commissioner Katrina

Foley.

Scheafer, who was appointed to the council last year, has a long

history of dedicated service in the city. He has been a member of the

Lions Club and helped establish the city’s Little League program. A

lifelong resident of the city who now raises his family here, he was

instrumental in helping the city finally get a public skate park. He

knows how to build consensus on the dais.

Dixon’s commitment to the city is evident in the 12 years she

served in City Hall, eight as a planning commissioner and four on the

council. During her years on the council, she managed to juggle the

at-times competing interests of residents and business leaders. She

is knowledgeable about the intricacies of city planning and has an

understanding of the importance of the city’s growing arts venues.

She is a dedicated supporter of that growth.

Foley has distinguished herself during five years on the Planning

Commission. An attorney, she is deft at tackling the most complicated

issues. Her desire to build the best community possible for her young

children gives her a solid grounding from which to make decisions.

Scheafer, Dixon and Foley are the right trio for the city.

Together with Mayor Gary Monahan and Councilman Allan Mansoor, they

would create a dynamic council that, we believe, would debate issues

thoroughly and honestly and come to decisions that will make Costa

Mesa a better, more prosperous city in the future.

In Newport: Bromberg, Heffernan, Rosansky

Newport Beach voters also have three seats to fill, though one is

uncontested. Councilman Steve Bromberg is running unopposed. A

straight-shooter who has led the city in its efforts to take more

control at John Wayne Airport and in the harbor, Bromberg’s lack of

an opponent in District 5 illustrates his strength as a politician.

He is well-versed in city issues and decisive, but his tenure has not

been solely focused on mundane city issues. He also was instrumental

in the city adopting Marines from Camp Pendleton, a relationship that

is sure to flourish in the coming years. He deserves Newport Beach

voters’ support.

Also deserving that support are Councilmen John Heffernan and

Steve Rosansky.

Heffernan, voted in as an outsider with backing from the

controlled-growth Greenlight movement, proved himself an outsider by

breaking free of the group and voting his conscience. He is free of

ties to special-interest groups. Heffernan asks tough questions

during council meetings and demands answers. The sole concern about

the councilman was his continued commitment to the job, given he

talked about resigning midway through his term and then debated until

the final moments whether to seek reelection. However, the plethora

of signs about town should be proof that he is very much determined

to hold on to his District 7 seat.

Rosansky, in the year since being appointed to the council, has

taken the lead on several notable issues: the future of the mobile

homes at El Morro and the Army Corps of Engineers’ now-abandoned plan

to place sand dredged from the Santa Ana River onto the beaches of

West Newport, which is part of Rosansky’s District 2. He also has

been a consensus builder, one who can work with all sides of an issue

or debate.

Bromberg, Heffernan and Rosansky will help the city maintain its

high quality of life and high degree of public services, and all

three deserve the voters’ support.

Measure L: Setting aside false arguments

Of course, for Newport Beach voters, the ballot doesn’t end with

the City Council races. There also is Measure L, perhaps the most

anticipated vote in Newport-Mesa.

At its most simple, Measure L would alter the zoning designation

for Marinapark on the Balboa Peninsula to allow for a 110-room hotel

and community center. But nothing has been simple when it comes to

this race. There has been a rash of campaign mailers and TV ads and

corresponding amount of debate, much of it filled with half-truths or

entirely off the salient points.

Although the Daily Pilot has not offered an endorsement on this

issue, we have encouraged voters to find their way through the

personal, smear attacks and make a decision based on the question at

hand: Do you think a hotel is the best use for this land? Whether the

land will ever become a park or remain a mobile-home park, whether

the Girl Scout house and American Legion Hall will be redeveloped,

are ancillary issues that obviously will play into voters’ decisions.

Whatever that decision, the one we do request is: Decide to vote.

If you haven’t mailed in your absentee ballot, go to the polls

Tuesday.