Costa Mesa Kid Wins --No Ifs, Ands or Butts

Costa Mesa’s new mayor, Peter F. Buffa, has handled his first official duty with kid gloves.

He pardoned the goat.

Barney, a.k.a. BJ, the family pet of Arthur and Angela Raj Kumar and the pygmy goat in question, has been living on Goat Hill in apparent violation of city zoning laws for the last 2 years.

Animal control officers cited BJ’s owners in September and ordered them to remove the little fellow from the city limits. But the Kumars pleaded for leniency, explaining that BJ appeared to be a dog trapped inside a goat’s body.

The couple said that BJ liked to sunbathe near the family swimming pool with Sorijini, their 20-year-old daughter, and romp with his two canine house-mates in the Back Bay.

“So we called the goat in,” Buffa said of BJ’s appearance before the City Council meeting Monday evening. “He marched right down the center aisle. He’s a chubby little fellow.”

But Buffa and the other council members were impressed enough to allow BJ to stay with the Kumars. They noted BJ’s professional demeanor and the petition signed by neighbors in support of the little cud-chewer’s continued residence on Goat Hill.

“He didn’t leave any calling cards whatsoever,” Buffa said. “And I thought, ‘This is a pretty sophisticated guy.’ ”

The council voted 4 to 1 to allow small farm animals to remain in the city as pets if owners apply for and receive a permit.

BJ’s pardon was the second big news Monday. The first was Buffa’s selection as mayor by his council colleagues.

Buffa, a Republican who ran briefly for the 40th Congressional District seat won by C. Christopher Cox, was elected to the council in 1986 after serving as a city planning commissioner. He replaces Donn Hall, who did not run for reelection.

Buffa, 40, an independent television producer who also serves on the San Joaquin Hills corridor agency, describes his top political priority as transportation.