Council would be wise not to ‘male’ it in

Geoff West

Well, if there had been any doubt about the dynamics on the dais

before last Monday night, they were certainly put to rest in short

order.

The fun began when Allan Mansoor and Gary Monahan swapped chairs

as Mansoor was unanimously elected mayor and Monahan was elected

mayor pro tem by a 4-1 vote. Councilwoman Linda Dixon voted no.

After Mansoor’s poignant, tear-filled acceptance, it became

crystal clear that the men on the council have the power and don’t

seem to be inclined to share much with the women. Even though Mansoor

certainly deserved a shot at being mayor, it sure looked like an

orchestrated deal when the votes were cast.

It became especially obvious when Mansoor and Monahan later

discussed Monahan’s role representing the city in transportation

matters -- standing in for Mansoor due to scheduling issues. I found

myself thinking what a perfect springboard such visibility might give

to a potential future candidate for higher office -- county

supervisor, perhaps. I guess only time will tell whether my cynicism

is justified. While I could certainly understand apprehension by

Katrina Foley and Dixon of being marginalized, the burden will be on

their shoulders to sway votes their way as time passes.

At first blush, it would appear that Foley has a better chance

than Dixon of accomplishing that goal. Her presentations were, as

usual, well thought out and clear, although not without some

frustration. I doubt if Dixon’s petulant whining endeared her to many

in attendance or viewing at home. Had I been one of the more than

12,500 voters who cast their ballot in her favor, I might be shaking

my head right about now at what may have been a wasted vote.

In fact, the way it looks right now, the opinions of the two

highest vote getters in the last election, Foley and Dixon, may be of

little consequence when the council votes on issues. During the next

month, we will see just how effective this group will be. The first

meeting in February will be the date when the new commissioners are

appointed to the Parks and Recreation and Planning Commissions.

Between now and then, council members will vet the candidates and

make some choices.

The pool of candidates for each commission is impressive, the core

of which seems to contain the right mix of veterans and dedicated

newcomers. One can only hope that the male majority on the council

will reach beyond political patronage and select the 10

best-qualified commissioners from this group. An omen of things to

come may have been Monahan’s recommendation, during the debate of the

annexation of the Santa Ana Country Club and West Santa Ana Heights,

that representatives of our city meet with representatives of Newport

Beach on the issue and “play hardball.” That seems like a strange

recommendation to make publicly under any circumstance, but

particularly more so when he had just finished stating that he didn’t

think we had a chance of winning the annexation battle.

Sounds to me a little like playing hardball without a bat. I can

practically see the smirks on the faces of Steve Bromberg, Tod

Ridgeway and the other Newport Beach council members now. I’m keeping

my fingers crossed that this council will find ways to blend the

opinions of all members of the group into decisions that are good for

all residents of this city. It looks to me like this challenge may be

a test of character for some of them. We can only watch and hope.

* GEOFF WEST is a resident of Costa Mesa.