RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:

Just when you thought you couldn’t have any more fun with politics this year, the Newport Beach City Council races begin this July. Councilmen Steve Rosansky, Ed Selich and Keith Curry are all up for reelection in November.

Candidates can officially pull papers from July 14 to Aug. 8 with an extension if one of the incumbents doesn’t seek reelection, which is highly unlikely.

Enter Dolores Otting challenging Keith Curry again.

It just wouldn’t feel like campaign season without Dolores. She’s a household name in Newport. My guess is that every resident at some point in time has come in contact with Dolores, whether they realized it or not.

Over the years you’ve probably run into her collecting petition signatures in front of local grocery stores, or tuned into a City Council meeting and seen her leaning into the podium during public comments, reading glasses hovering on the bridge of her nose, quoting and questioning from reams of paper she’s researched as she crusades for transparent government.

This will be Dolores’ fourth attempt at her district seat. I’ve known Dolores a long time. When she told me a few months ago she was getting ready to run again, I could see there was no talking her out of it. She’s more determined than ever.

“I’ve realized this is a part of my life. I have a passion for caring. Not having any children, I have the time it takes to be an advocate.” I asked her, why run again? She told me, “So many people have been calling me asking me to run, and I can’t ignore them.”

So what will be her recipe for success this time? Is having heart and determination all she’ll need? She’s lost by such small margins in the past. Will this be her golden year?

Dolores is her own person and speaks her mind no matter what. She’s not good at playing the political game.

She lost in 2006 mainly because she was a Greenlight candidate, and they did nothing to support her in the end. She’s been a loyal Republican and serves as the president of the Newport Harbor Republican Women, but I doubt the Republican Party and Chairman Scott Baugh will endorse her.

My guess is her unwillingness to play politics, the exact thing that would make her good for this office, is what scares some people even in her own party.

She’s already gotten her first setback. She called Jeff Boyles of the Newport Beach Fire Fighters Assn. to announce her campaign. He told her they’re already endorsing Keith Curry, as are the lifeguards.

I find that odd since they have no idea who the slate of candidates will include until August, but have no problem with the endorsement if they’d include a disclaimer for the public. Maybe something like, “We endorse the incumbent and have no idea if any other candidates would actually do a better job, you see we don’t care. We’re just hedging our bets.”

So let the games begin. Keith will come out swinging with Dave Ellis most likely in the shadows and Dolores doing her thing — could be the interesting race of the season.

BARBARA VENEZIA is the chairman of the Santa Ana Hts. Redevelopment Project Advisor Committee and was the co-creator of the cooking show “At Home on the Range” with John Crean.