Narrowing down the hopefuls

We have just sent the following letter to the four members of the

Costa Mesa City Council, in the hope that they will appoint Linda

Dixon to the seat vacated by Karen Robinson:

It has come to our attention that a vacancy on the Costa Mesa City

Council has occurred and that, after reviewing submitted resumes, you

and your colleagues will be appointing a new member on April 21,

2003. Since time is of the essence in this matter, we are writing

today to urge you to appoint former Mayor Linda Dixon to the vacated

seat.

As longtime Costa Mesa residents, we recognize that holding a

special election for this position would be very costly; therefore,

in lieu of a new election, the legitimate thing to do would be to

appoint the runner up of our November 2002 election.

That individual would be Dixon. Because the current City Council

vacancy is an elected office, we feel strongly that the council

members should adhere to the voter’s wishes. Not only is it the right

thing to do, it is the fair and lawful thing to do.

Further, Dixon served on the City Council for four years and, in

our opinion, is the most qualified person to fill the recently

vacated position.

We will watch with interest to see if the elected members of the

Costa Mesa City Council demonstrate the overall integrity that we

have entrusted you with in preserving the validity and legality of

our political system.

MR. AND MRS. LEE MORITZ

Costa Mesa

We support Linda Dixon to fill the vacancy on the Costa Mesa City

Council seat. She had the most votes of those not elected [in

November] and is eminently qualified.

Her experience as a councilwoman and mayor will avail the council

of many years of experience on the Planning Commission and City

Council.

JEAN AND GORDON PATE

Costa Mesa

If Costa Mesa City Council members want to know who voters want to

fill the vacant spot, they need look no further than the runner-up

with the most votes in last November’s election: Linda Dixon.

If the tables were turned and any of the current council members

found themselves in a similar situation as the next highest vote

getter, I’m sure they’d think this solution is fair.

I urge our City Council to do the right thing.

SUZI BROWN

Costa Mesa

I would like to extend my support for Mike Scheafer to be

nominated as our City Council member.

Scheafer has considerable passion for Costa Mesa and had been

involved at all levels to promote our city. He is well qualified and

always a good listener to the need of the community.

Scheafer, 49, is president of the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions

Club. He has served on the Parks and Recreation Commission and was a

director for the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.

AL MORELLI

Costa Mesa

In a recent letter to the Daily Pilot, Lillian Gorbety suggests

that the City Council appoint the person that had the next number of

votes after Karen Robinson in 2000. This was Heather Somers. I would

like to voice a very loud second to her suggestion. I was most

disappointed when Somers lost by such a small number of votes and

that she didn’t ask for a recount.

Somers was most knowledgeable about the issues facing the council

and did her homework, researching the issues. Her stand on El Toro

was in direct contrast to Robinson, who didn’t know anything about

the debate, and as far as I can tell, never learned how important it

was.

Somers would be ready to serve immediately, as would another

council incumbent recently defeated, former Mayor Linda Dixon.

It would be a service to the entire community to appoint either of

these two capable and experienced women to the council to replace

Robinson. It would also be the most defensible decision that could be

made, while saving the city a considerable amount of money and time

by not having to have a special election.

AGNES DUBBERLY

Costa Mesa

Regarding Costa Mesa’s City Council appointment of replacement for

Karen Robinson:

Costa Mesa is losing a City Council member who is bright,

analytical and able to bring unity in the face of discord. She is

able to remain calm in the face of hostility. She deftly runs council

meetings by maintaining order and settling matters expeditiously. She

is a role model for our daughters, so they understand women are

equally important in government and the decision-making process.

As an added bonus, she gives us free legal advice and analysis in

everything she reviews on behalf of the city. That creates huge

potential savings of tax dollars in our litigious society.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could replace Karen Robinson with

someone with all of her attributes?

We can. That is why I would like our City Council to appoint

Katrina Foley as Karen Robinson’s replacement.

GAY GEISER SANDOVAL

Costa Mesa

To the Costa Mesa City Council members:

I would like to encourage you to consider Katrina Foley to fill

the council seat being vacated by Mayor Karen Robinson.

As the former chairwoman and current member of the Planning

Commission, Foley has demonstrated her leadership abilities and has

her fingers on the pulse of our city. Foley knows Costa Mesa and has

a vested interest in its success. She is the right person to fill the

vacant council seat.

YVONNE ROWDEN

Costa Mesa

Mirna Burciaga is among those who have offered themselves for

consideration to be appointed to the Costa Mesa City Council.

I have known Burciaga for the past year while working with her on

the Costa Mesa Human Relations Committee. Burciaga attends each

meeting with thorough knowledge of the agenda items, asks thoughtful,

well-prepared questions, makes useful arguments on means of

accomplishing goals, makes contacts with others in the community to

achieve our aims and works diligently at our functions.

She offers to do more than anyone else, does what she promised and

she always exceeds expectations.

I’ve talked to my neighbors who know Burciaga from her activities

in neighborhood schools. She is regarded with respect and admiration

for her work as class mother, on school site councils and the Citizen

Oversight Committee.

Burciaga sees things that need to be done and she gets them done.

She uses drive, determination, research into available resources and

laws and she exerts great tact in bringing others -- parents,

teachers, local and state administrators -- into her point of view.

All this, and she runs a business, too.

She is a wonderful choice for our City Council.

ARLENE E. FLANAGAN

Costa Mesa