ON MOONS THE CITY?THE GAME IS AFOOT
In today's paper, the almost-daily Daily Pilot has a smattering of biographical information on each of the City Council candidates along with a few lines from the candidates themselves about why the candidates think voters should vote for each of them.
Below, from the ADDP article, we've extracted just the answers about why each of the candidates thinks you should vote for him or her. We've put our comments in red. Be sure to read the whole ADDP article for the full details. LINK
Name: Nick Moss
Why should people vote for him: “I’m dedicated to the free market, individual liberty and small government.”
Moss is a complete unknown among the political chattering class in Costa Mesa. His above statement is right out of the Libertarian Party play book. As far as we know, Moss has never spoken before the City Council or the no-Planning Commission or served on any city committees. Just popping up to say you want to run for office is his right, but come on....
Name: Katrina Foley
Why should people vote for her: “I will continue my work to keep crime low, protect our neighborhoods from traffic and encroaching development, improve playing fields and maintain a balanced budget.”
Foley is an ultra liberal. Around the CM PRESS we call her the Snow Bunny or Flopsy because she seems to take a lot of time off to go skiing instead of showing up for City Council meetings.
And, her statement about working to keep crime low is laughable. What has she done? She planted flowers in front of the Mission-Mendoza slum in her Mesa del Mar neighborhood. Give us a break! Don't ever let Foley get away with giving you an answer such as "I will continue my work to keep crime low." Always ask for specifics. Then, when she answers, she'll give you some liberal psychobabble and nonsense.
However, in our opinion, Foley gave the best answer to the question and it'll get her votes. Too bad it isn't true.
Name: Gary Monahan
Why should people vote for him: “With my family and business in Costa Mesa I have a big stake in its future, and I believe I bring common-sense leadership.”
We run hot and cold about Monahan. During his last stint on the Council he seemed to vote more for improvement goals than in the past. If he continues this, he'll be good. His above statement is garbage and says nothing.
Name: Eric Bever
Why should people vote for him: “Over the last four years I’ve initiated projects to: fix our downtown traffic, waive permit fees for home improvements, revitalize the Westside and create a new 10-acre sports complex. With the support of the community I would be honored to continue improving Costa Mesa.”
Bever was one of the first Improvers and impressed us as being a hands on guy who didn't mind doing grunt work to improve the city. Long before he ran for public office, he was working hard to improve the Westside, and he didn't just fall out of bed one day and decide he was going to run for office.
As we wrote before, it was Bever, all by his lonesome, standing in front of Home Depot, way back when, handing out improvement fliers to anyone who would take them. And, this was at a time when no one had heard about the Improvers.
However, Bever needs help in stating what he's done and what he wants to do. His above statement is weak. He didn't even mention working to drive down crime, and this is a top issue.
Name: Jim Righeimer
Occupation: Real estate developer
Why should people vote for him: “I think I bring a skill set to the city that’s needed to bring forward the big visionary things that we need to do.”
Righeimer is a newby to the city but is well connected to county politicians. He's probably using Costa Mesa as a stepping stone to higher office. Nevertheless, if he does some good along the way, that's okay. Does tend to pepper his statements with current cliches such as "skill set." As with Bever, he needs help in stating some specifics that will let voters know what he has in mind.
Name: Chris Bunyan
Why should people vote for him: “I will put forth a bold and audacious plan to cure our overwhelming traffic crisis and remove street gangs once and for all. Costa Mesans deserve the best, and I will provide them with the lifestyle that they deserve.”
Bunyan's main issue is trying to keep Banning Ranch free of homes and strip centers. We've seen the plan he and those of like mind have for Banning Ranch--if they win out over the developers (not likely)--but we aren't impressed and think their plan looks as artificial in its own way as the plan of the developers. In fact, we've written that the "natural" plan for Banning Ranch being pushed by Bunyan and his friends looks to us like an overly manicured miniature golf course made large.
We told Mr. Bunyan that we might get behind a natural approach if his group would come up with a plan to dredge a wide channel from the ocean all the way up to Victoria to let the ocean flow in to mingle with the Santa Ana River and make a small beach or beaches for Costa Mesa. This would make Costa Mesa a true coastal community and improve our home values throughout the city. We're not holding our breath.
We do like Bunyan's first sentence: “I will put forth a bold and audacious plan to cure our overwhelming traffic crisis and remove street gangs once and for all."
We'll judge if it's bold and audacious once we hear the details. We'll also judge whether or not it makes any sense.
Name: Bill Sneen
Why should people vote for him: “If elected I will apply my many years of professional business experience in a non-partisan approach to build consensus with other council members to achieve the expressed goals of Costa Mesa residents.”
Sneen is another unknown like Moss. And, what's this crap about "non-partisan approach to build consensus"? Get out of town. Where the hell has this guy been? Why hasn't he been speaking out over the past years? No one even knows who he is. Don't do us any favors by showing up and trying to be anointed. And, forget these canned and vague cliches. Tell us specifically what you're going to do to make life better for citizens of Costa Mesa. Cut the crap.
Name: Lisa Reedy
Why should people vote for her: “I am a problem solver. It’s time for a change: new faces, fresh ideas and clear perspectives.”
"Fresh idea and clear perspectives"? Give us a break, Reedy. What fresh ideas and clear perspectives do you have? Maybe plant a different variety of flowers in your slum?
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