Council must avoid special election

In the bright light of day, after the contentious, lengthy and

motion-filled Costa Mesa City Council meeting Monday, there is much

to be concerned about in City Hall.

Although the council was able to whittle down the applicants to

fill former Mayor Karen Robinson’s seat from 26 to 2 -- Eric Bever

and Mike Scheafer remain -- the four remaining council members were

unable to break a 2-2 vote on either one. Instead, they put off more

debate until the May 5 meeting.

At that meeting, months of potential council inaction ride on the

quartet of city leaders -- Libby Cowan, Allan Mansoor, Gary Monahan

and Chris Steel -- being able to act decisively and pick either Bever

or Scheafer. According to the rules the council is following, those

are the only choices left.

If they fail, the issue will go to a special election in November,

which leaves open the possibility of a string of 2-2 votes until

Robinson’s seat is filled. Anyone who has an issue coming before City

Hall, whether it be about Westside improvement, view ordinances or

construction requirements, should be concerned about facing a

four-person council.

But judging by the lines drawn Monday, that possibility seems all

too likely.

Neither Cowan nor Monahan appears close to changing opinion.

Bever, a Mansoor campaign volunteer who is part of the “improver”

movement on the Westside that presses for the elimination of

charities there and a dedicated focus on creating upscale housing,

has opinions about the city’s future that assuredly are anathema to

Cowan. While Monahan might share more of Bever’s opinions on city

issues, he is too pragmatic -- not to mention politically savvy -- to

vote onto the council a third “improver” who would create a solid

voting block with Mansoor and Steel.

On the other side, it seems Mansoor will stick by a man who shares

his beliefs and keep his support solidly with Bever.

And that leaves Steel, who has already upset his Westside

supporters by voting against their wishes, most notably when he

supported the contentious Home Ranch project. Will he risk their ire

again by voting for Scheafer?

Steel should. He said Monday that he would like to see a

compromise candidate. While Schaefer might not be his candidate of

choice, he is the only one of the two remaining who can fill that

role.

Scheafer is a moderate pick, lacking the hard-line approach to

issues that Bever would bring to the dais. He has a long history

serving this city, as a member and president of the Costa Mesa

Newport Harbor Lions Club and as a former member of the Parks and

Recreation Commission.

Steel could show the leadership worthy of a mayor by backing

Scheafer and ensuring the city avoids the political dead zone that

would exist until the empty seat is occupied.