Here’s to a newsy 2006 in local politics

Let’s not let the door hit the year 2005 on the way out and jump right into a list of things I hope we’ll see -- thinking strictly of their news value for the Pilot -- in 2006.

The usual wish -- a competitive race to replace Rep. Chris Cox once he gets a new political job -- is off the table.

And it’s probably a little too early to begin hoping that Rep. John Campbell will get a bigger political gig (he just did that, after all), but I’ll still wish that Campbell’s name begins appearing on the short lists of every available opening the way Cox’s did.

U.S. Senator? Commerce Secretary? Transportation Secretary? Let the stories begin.

It would be good to see a substantive race to replace Campbell in the state Senate between Republicans Tom Harman, Huntington Beach’s Assemblyman, and Dana Point City Councilwoman Diane Harkey. The two represent different visions of the Republican Party, and a lengthy battle between the two could make for interesting reading. A Harman victory, at its most dramatic, could suggest that the party in Orange County is moving more toward the center of the political spectrum.

(Again, strictly for the news value, a Harman victory also would be a best-case scenario for our sister paper in Huntington Beach, which then would get to cover the race to fill Harman’s seat.)

Of course, it would be even better to see a no-holds-barred, acres-of-mud-slinging battle between the two Republicans.

Probably, though, we’ll have to be satisfied with mug slinging that’s limited to the Costa Mesa and Newport Beach city council elections.

In Costa Mesa, with Councilman Gary Monahan forced off the dais because of term limits, every conceivable would-be council member will jump into the race. Potential news galore, there, right? Wait, that happens even when there isn’t an open seat.

My wish, though: A decisive battle between candidates who have the support of Councilman Eric Bever on one side and Councilwoman Katrina Foley on the other. And Mayor Allan Mansoor, who’s up for reelection, doesn’t count.

(Also, more meetings like Costa Mesa enjoyed on Tuesday night. Meetings plus arrests equal big news. Again, remember this is a list of stories with great news value, not necessarily morals or ethics.)

Even better than a horse race in Costa Mesa would be several battles during Newport Beach’s council race. Because several seats have been filled via appointment, it will be a busy fall. Councilwoman Leslie Daigle and Councilman Ed Selich both will be in their first elections. For the sake of the news, here’s hoping they have challengers.

Councilman Dick Nichols, who was helped into office into 2002 by being in a three-person race, is up for reelection. He ran as a Greenlight candidate and hasn’t broken with the controlled/slow-growth group, but he’s certainly not a standard-bearer for it, either. His Corona del Mar district could be the next great battle in the Greenlight versus Chamber of Commerce political war.

Mayor Don Webb will be seeking another term, as well. I think the best we can hope for here is that a challenger who always wears hats runs against him. The photos will be newsy enough.

Councilman Tod Ridgeway is termed out, which frees up his peninsula seat. Here’s hoping this is the race in which the city’s plans for a new city hall become the dominant, and driving, issue.

Finally, let’s all hope that someone, anyone, runs against the incumbents who are up for reelection to the Newport-Mesa Unified School Board.

That would make quite a change, for those few who paid attention to the board races last time around.

* S.J. CAHN is the editor. He may be reached at (714) 966-4607 or by e-mail at s.j.cahn@latimes.com.

20060105ipny9okn(LA)