A piece of advice on ideas

This paper, it’s not a secret, has had a few run-ins with Newport Beach City Councilman Dick Nichols, going back to comments he made early in his political career about Mexicans at Big Corona beach.

Nichols is now at the start of his re-election campaign, and he has a challenger: Nancy Gardner, a longtime member of the Surfrider Foundation as well as various city committees.

As a result, we’re about to head into touchy waters, but we think we’re safe ? still, upfront, we’ll say there’s no endorsement in this race yet, and we aren’t playing favorites.

But we can’t help but give Nichols a piece of advice (and Gardner and any other candidate can take it, too): Test your ideas out before you pitch them broadly.

Nichols seems to have missed this point with a recent plan he has to turn East Coast Highway through Corona del Mar into a six-lane road with higher speed limits and limited parking. He’s also suggested getting rid of one of the toll booths on the San Joaquin Hills tollway and creating an extension of 5th Avenue.

“I have not found one single person besides Mr. Nichols himself who is supporting it,” Corona del Mar Residents Assn. Vice President Debra Allen told the Pilot.

That’s a problem, Mr. Councilman, if you’re looking for votes.

Of course, maybe Nichols really does believe this plan is the best one for the city and Corona del Mar in particular. Maybe he intends to fight for what he believes is right.

If that’s the case, there’s probably no help for him.