RON DAVIS -- Through My Eyes

It looks like we’re going to have something on the order of 17 or 18

people seeking seats on the Huntington Beach City Council in November. If

this were the Kentucky Derby, we’d have to add another starting gate,

although we won’t know the post positions (ballot order) of the entries

until the secretary of state conducts the drawing.

I won’t use this column to handicap any of the entries, but I will

devote some space to nag you about issues I believe the candidates and

the public should discuss. As you probably know, only those finishing in

the win, place or show categories will win the coveted gavel. The rest of

the field -- the “also-rans” -- will have to look forward to the derby in

2002.

On previous occasions, I’ve trotted out the idea of City Council

districts. This concept has been embraced by the current City Council in

the same way they embrace serious cost cutting.

I just wonder how the good citizens of Huntington Beach are going to

intelligently analyze and consider the positions of 17 candidates. An

effective debate between the candidates is out of the question. Moreover,

most of the candidates will be so strapped for cash that it is unlikely

they will be able to deliver their position through citywide mailers.

Heck, the saddlebags of some candidates will be so empty that it will be

difficult to pollute the city with campaign signs.

Some of the candidates you’ve never heard of -- the longshots --

probably have some pretty good ideas. Unfortunately, their ideas will see

as much daylight as a mushroom in a horse barn.

Given a city of about 200,000 people, I think it’s time to consider

dividing the city into districts. I favor a City Council consisting of

seven members, but I would elect four members from four distinct

districts and elect the remaining members by the city at-large.

If we had such a system in place for this election, two district seats

would be open and one at-large seat.

If we presently had four districts, with two district seats open for

the upcoming election, some candidates would run for one district seat,

some for the other district seat, and another group would run for the

at-large seat.

Since the number of candidates running in any given district would be

smaller, we, the citizens residing in the district, would have a better

opportunity to review the positions and credentials of the candidates.

With regard to the at-large council seat, the number of candidates

running for that office would likewise be smaller, and thus we would have

a better opportunity to analyze and understand their positions and

qualifications.

Furthermore, candidates running for a district seat would deliver

their message to only a quarter of the city, and it would cost less to

campaign for office, not to mention that the residents of a given

district would know who to call to address issues in their area.

I don’t favor a single race with 17 or 18 entries. I favor three

races, with four or five entries in each race. That way, I’d pay

attention to the at-large race and my local district race, if my district

council seal was open this year.

If my local district council seat wasn’t open this year, I’d only have

to focus on the at-large race, with fewer entries. And I’d have a better

chance of picking the best horse for me.

I’m not only asking you what you think of the idea but to ask the

candidates, all 17 or 18 of them, what they think of the idea, and

whether they will support such a concept if elected to the council.

Whether we have districts or not isn’t up to the candidates, but up to

you.

It’s your right to vote for what you want and, like the owner of the

horse says to the jockey just before the race, “Exercise it!”

* RON DAVIS is a private attorney who lives in Huntington Beach. He

can be reached by e-mail at o7 [email protected]