SURFING SOAPBOX:Election surprises and more

Outside my hotel window in Ventura there’s the infamous “California Street” point break. The sun has just popped its blazing head above the hills behind me. The color now is a misty peach with a slight offshore wind blowing.

There is a stack of lines (waves) marching into the point for as far as I can see north, ranging from chest to head high.

In other news making waves this morning, the Laguna Beach City Council votes are in and it looks like incumbent Toni Iseman has won the race for votes, followed closely by Elizabeth Pearson-Schneider, Kelly Boyd and, sadly, my favorite “” Verna Rollinger.

Frankly, I am surprised: One, that Toni Iseman led in balloting and two, that Verna came up just short of being elected.

What I like most about Verna is that she has a very long history in our town, formerly serving as the city clerk, giving her great experience in how this town functions and great insight to what this town really needs.

This includes:

In other words, to stop making our town into some fly-by-night expensive resort town that only caters to the needs of the tourist.

What about the needs of the residents?

But we have heard it all before.

I mean, just driving downtown to the post office has become a menacing task, one that I don’t even consider in the summer time.

What a breath of fresh air it would have been to have two new faces on the City Council.

To me, Verna symbolizes the good, old-fashioned neighborly type smile that Laguna use to have more of, and Toni will once again say how important it is to have the sick sea lions nurtured before returning them back to their home “” the ocean.

Ah, yes, as Laguna Turns.

Peace.