A new life, away from the dais

As the Costa Mesa City Council moves on with a new mayor, new

politics, new alliances and new issues, former City Councilwoman

Libby Cowan is moving on with her own life.

After first being elected to the council in 1996, Cowan, a 26-year

resident of Costa Mesa, did not seek re-election in November.

Now it’s time for more time with her father, and for her domestic

partner, Rebecca Chadwick, she said. As that time goes on, Cowan said

she’ll also look for new ways to be of service, though that does not

include elected office. Time away from the council does not mean she

won’t have an interest in what the council and the city are doing.

She stressed that revitalizing the Westside of the city -- roughly

the area west of Harbor Boulevard and south of Fairview Park --

remains a challenge that needs to be met. The area is sprinkled with

commercial, industrial and residential properties in need of a

revamp. She hoped that the plans set forth by a group of stakeholders

for that area are fairly seen through.

In the meantime, Cowan took some time to reflect on a meaningful

career as a public servant. She answered some questions from the

Pilot’s Ryan Carter.

What’s next for you?

Right now, I have no specific plans. I will be spending time with

family. My dad has several projects he’d like some help on and I look

forward to having time with Rebecca. I have been on the Council or

Commission since very early in our relationship and there is much we

want to do together. I will, however, continue to find ways to be of

service. I’ll just not rush into anything and will wait for something

to come along that speaks to me.

What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of from your tenure on

the council? For that matter, what was most challenging about your

tenure?

There are many things I am proud of: new public right-of-way

landscaping projects, mobile recreation and the mobile skate-park,

the public benefits negotiated with Town Center and Home Ranch, the

Summer Concerts in the Park, the Fairview Park Master Plan. Perhaps

the most important, and most challenging, is the presentation of the

Westside Revitalization Oversight Committee -- WROC --

recommendations for the Westside. The citizens of the Westside rose

to the challenge I presented several years ago to work toward a plan

that could be supported by a consensus of the people. Even with all

the bumps and bruises, I believe we have created the best plan with

the best opportunities for success. The WROC plan is a wonderful

example of community building and community consensus -- people who

care, digging in and creating something doable.

What did you learn about life, people, yourself from being on the

council?

I don’t think I can sum it up in 100 words! My time on the council

has been a wonderful personal journey, I have come to accept people

where they are and to not take things personally. Not everyone thinks

as I do. I have learned to listen and then to find the common ground.

I am grateful for all the people I have met, the friends I have

made, the collaborations created; I will carry a piece of every one

as I move on with my life.

You served for a while. How did Costa Mesa change while you were

on the council?

I would be hard-pressed to identify all the changes. Just as

Orange County has changed over the past eight to 12 years, so has Costa Mesa.

We have become more ethnically diverse, the population continues

to grow, we have very little open or undeveloped land left, demands

for services of all kinds -- as well as housing -- are growing, etc.

I do believe we remain one of the premier towns in Orange County.

How did the City Council change?

Every two years the City Council changes personality. It is

inevitable.

The key is how well do the council members learn to work together

toward a better community -- some are always better at it than

others. Regardless of the council, what is always positive for the

community is that the staff provides a needed continuity in service.

What do you think will be the most significant challenge for the

city in the years to come? What’s the most immediate challenge?

I believe both are the same. It will be to let the WROC

recommendations come into being with very little manipulation and

tweaking.

The city must honor the work of the varied stakeholders. The

committee’s tenacity as well as creativity demands it.

Will you seek elected office again?

I have no plans to.

What do you think of the new council?

Just as each of the councils on which I served, this council will

need to learn to listen, to work together, and to keep entrenched

ideology to a minimum.

Anything else you wanted to add?

I want to thank the citizens of Costa Mesa for the thrill of a

lifetime. I have truly enjoyed working for and with the community to

maintain Costa Mesa as a great place to live, to work, to play. I

also want to thank the tremendously capable city staff, a great group

of professionals dedicated to this community.

All together I think we have done a great job.