It’s time for officials to get to work

It is difficult to say whether there has been big changes in Costa

Mesa’s City Hall as a result of the November election.

On the surface, it would seem to be unarguable: Three new council

members and two incumbents knocked off the dais signal upheaval and

political flux. But of those three, one already has served as mayor

of the city and the other two have enjoyed successful runs on the

city’s Planning Commission.

So there should not be any learning curve for Costa Mesa’s newest

council members, who were sworn in last week.

Eric Bever, Linda Dixon and Katrina Foley all have the knowledge

and commitment to help lead the city without any missteps.

We wish all three members good luck and remind them that their

charge is to serve the entire community to the best of their

abilities.

We wish the same, and offer the same reminder, to Mayor Gary

Monahan and Councilman Allan Mansoor.

In Newport Beach, there is nothing approaching big changes. The

three incumbents running -- Steve Bromberg, John Heffernan and Steve

Rosansky -- all won.

The member who actually is newest to the council, Leslie Daigle,

has received good marks since being appointed to replace Councilman

Gary Adams earlier this year.

The main result from the election is that Rosansky, who also was

appointed to the council, now has the added legitimacy that comes

with voter approval.

He certainly never hesitated to make a decision or speak his mind

before, but now the small chorus in town that always talked about

Rosansky not having that voter stamp necessarily will have to quiet.

Much work awaits Newport Beach’s leaders. The future of Marinapark

is still unclear. The general plan update, while a nuts-and-bolts

type of procedure, will have lasting effects on development, or the

lack thereof, for years to come.

The seven council members, rounded out by Mayor Tod Ridgeway and

Councilmen Dick Nichols and Don Webb, will need to remain dedicated

to their community. We trust they will.

On the larger stage, state Sen. John Campbell, who served

Newport-Mesa so ably in the Assembly, now has the larger duty of

sitting in the state Senate.

We believe he is more than up to that task and encourage him to

increase his strong voice and consistent convictions for the good of

our two towns and Orange County, as well.

In the Assembly, Newport-Mesa has two new faces: Chuck DeVore and

Van Tran, the first Vietnamese American to be elected to a state

legislature.

Both Republicans survived tough primary battles and, naturally,

breezed to victory on election day.

They now have to make sure they bring their parties together as

well as work to represent all members of their districts.

That is, to be sure, a goal for all our elected leaders.