SOUNDING OFF:

Even though I was out of town for the holidays, I did keep in touch with local events via the online version of the Daily Pilot. I read, and posted comments on, the articles dealing with Mayor Allan Mansoor’s decision to abdicate his throne and step down as mayor after three years to, in his words, “give someone else a chance.”

This is the same “kind-hearted” politician who, along with his colleagues, froze out Linda Dixon and Katrina Foley by first ignoring them, then literally shoving them aside by playing musical chairs with the seating arrangement on the dais.

No, Mansoor’s act of largesse is pure political maneuvering to provide Mayor Pro Tem Eric Bever a higher platform from which to launch his run for re-election next November. I won’t be surprised if Bever is elected mayor Wednesday, after which the majority will probably elect Wendy Leece — who rode Mansoor’s coat tails to office last year — as Mayor Pro Tem. If that does happen, don’t be surprised if Bever himself steps aside early to provide Leece the same platform for a re-election run in 2010.

An interesting sidebar to this little ploy is that it may, in fact, come back to bite Bever where he sits.

Since he was elected three years ago, Bever has demonstrated a shoot-from-the-hip style and a propensity to play fast and loose with the rules, coming close to Brown Act violations for his shenanigans.

With the pressure that comes with being mayor (he doesn’t perform well under pressure) there is little doubt Bever will provide us with additional memorable moments in the year ahead. It’s completely likely he will damage his candidacy by continuing to demonstrate his unfitness for the office.

And, as if that wasn’t enough, in the wake of Mansoor’s announcement one local blog operator, a man who wields significant influence over the self-anointed “improvers” who form the core support group for the Mansoor-majority, seems to have taken an uncharacteristic low profile about this extremely noteworthy event. That relative silence only adds fuel to recent speculation circulating that he might join Bever and fellow improver Jim Fisler to make a run for City Council next year.

That, my friends, would be very interesting. Personally, I doubt it will happen; the phrase “light of day” comes to mind as I think of the disclosures required for a campaign for public office.

There’s never a dull moment here in Costa Mesa, so don’t blink. Happy New Year to you all.

GEOFF WEST is a Costa Mesa resident.