MAILBAG - Oct. 22, 2006

Union endorsements a definite influence

If I am in doubt as to whom to vote for or how to vote on a particular proposition, I will vote for the opposite of whomever or whatever the unions are endorsing. So I guess you could say I am influenced by their endorsements.

STEPHEN KREISLE

Costa Mesa

Dropping out renders one unfit to serve

Newport Beach residents should vote for the candidate who can handle the job. Unfortunately, Barbara Venezia has learned that politics isn’t for the faint-hearted. Determination, endurance, perseverance and yes, sadly, a thick skin are needed to become a candidate and later a representative of the people.

Withdrawal citing dirty politics is a cop-out. Campaigning is the litmus test to a public servant’s endurance and determination.

As wonderful and as accomplished as Venezia sounds, her decision to drop out of the City Council race reveals her character as one not fit for the arena of City Council politics.

Bottom line, we need to vote for the candidate who wants and who can handle the job.

CAROL CRANE

Newport Beach

Check candidates’ party endorsements

Kudos to Costa Mesa City Councilman Gary Monahan for calling attention to the relevance of endorsements of candidates for office in Costa Mesa (“Check which endorsements people have behind them,” Mailbag, Sept. 27.)

By calling attention to the endorsements of the two major parties and which candidates are endorsed by which, Monahan makes the important point that these endorsements represent registered voters who actually live in Costa Mesa. These are the folks who rightly have the greatest stake in the outcome of the election.

Those registered to vote in Costa Mesa in either of these parties, or as independents, should look closely at the candidates, what their own party’s platform is and discern whether their own beliefs and priorities coincide with their party’s or are perhaps more accurately represented by the other party.

They should also acquaint themselves with the actual position of the candidates on issues, not someone else’s interpretation of those positions — interpretations that are often distorted or misconstrued.

Much information about the candidates and their views on issues can be found on candidates’ websites. If not, I suggest those truly interested in the future of Costa Mesa contact the candidates themselves.

Let’s be informed voters. The right and duty to vote is too important to do otherwise.

ILA JOHNSON

Costa Mesa

Candidates need to be more anti-airport

I read the article in the Oct. 5 Daily Pilot, “The mystery opponent,” regarding write-in candidate and anti-airport growth activist Rick Taylor running against Newport Beach Mayor Don Webb with great interest. The Rick Taylor candidacy brings to light one of the most important issues the Newport Beach council candidates face — what is going to be done to stop the growth of John Wayne Airport? It is the issue of this election, and I agree with the Newport Airport Action Team that we all need to support strong anti-airport-growth leadership candidates.

Although I agree with Webb that the current council is worried about airport growth, I am extremely concerned, as are many residents, that they do not have a clear plan for success. When I attended a recent community candidates forum, the only plan expressed by current council members was to have politicians talk to other politicians about a study. This is not the type of leadership that gives us confidence.

What I found most shocking about Webb’s comments concerned who he believes is to blame. Webb said that the recent added gates and the new terminal expansion are the fault of the former council, the only remaining member of which is former Mayor Tod Ridgeway.

Here Webb reminds us of the critical importance of voting for real anti-airport-growth candidates.

As residents of Newport Beach, we can easily lose our quality of life if our leaders get into office by saying one thing and then doing another. We can’t let another council member get into power who will not fight tooth and nail to stop John Wayne Airport expansion.

Webb has increased my concern over several of the candidates now running for office — candidates who continue to say that they are against expansion of John Wayne Airport but who are unable to express a clear and convincing plan that will work. If elected, how will they lead and how will they vote? While three other cities — Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and Villa Park — have all signed the Air Fair Resolution, the Newport Beach City Council has refused to sign.

Remember that three of the current council members and candidates — Ed Selich, Keith Curry and Leslie Daigle—were appointed by the current council, not elected by the residents of Newport Beach, and were strongly backed and endorsed by Ridgeway. In addition, Ridgeway is endorsing planning commissioner Michael Henn.

If the mayor reminds us that Ridgeway is to blame, then where do these candidates really stand?

ROBERT MORTENSEN

Newport Beach