The mayors in control

There are two familiar faces in the mayor’s seats of Newport Beach

and Costa Mesa. This month, the Costa Mesa City Council voted to keep

Gary Monahan in the top council spot, which he has occupied since

last spring, while the Newport Beach City Council voted Tod Ridgeway

back to the city’s main leadership role.

And make no mistake. Although the mayoral seats are largely

ceremonial, the leadership of those occupying them matters greatly.

Fortunately for residents of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, Ridgeway

and Monahan are familiar with that need. They know that, at times,

the mayor has to be ready to suffer the onslaught of unhappy

residents. They understand the importance of well-run, professional

meetings. They have shown that they are capable and qualified for the

job.

And both bring more than just experience to the council dais.

Ridgeway has worked beyond Newport’s borders, representing Newport

Beach to the Southern California Assn. of Governments, where he plays

an important role in transportation matters such as John Wayne

Airport. The knowledge he has gained from that work, along with the

contacts he has made, will be of great advantage to city leaders,

especially as they move ahead with talks to take possible control

over some county functions that are in the area, not least of all the

airport.

Monahan, now in his third shift as mayor, is a seasoned politician

on the local front who brings business acumen and a solid fiscal

conservatism to the seat. He has institutional knowledge dating back

three terms on the council and should be able to provide a steady

hand to a council that still has relatively new members in Councilmen

Allan Mansoor and Mike Scheafer.

Given the state of California’s budget, both mayors are taking

over the ceremonial reins of their cities at a difficult fiscal

moment. Managing the cities’ finances will be just one of the many --

most probably unforeseen -- issues Monahan and Ridgeway will be

called upon to handle during the next year.

Residents of both cities can sleep well knowing these two men are

in charge.