THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:Slices of election-night life

In the pressure cooker of election night, while waiting for results and then reacting to them with all possible haste, it’s easy for reporters to forget the important things — like what kind of food people served at their parties, and who showed up, with or without clever quips for the media.

In that spirit, here are some tidbits from Newport-Mesa, and the GOP bash in Irvine, from Tuesday night’s festivities.

Newport-Mesa school board hopeful Sandy Asper’s party at a Newport Dunes clubhouse featured Mexican food, a very slow laptop delivering Orange County election results, and a large TV with national results on CNN.

Just before the first results came in after 8 p.m., the crowd of about 40 clapped and chanted “San-dy! San-dy!” Unfortunately, the enthusiasm of supporters didn’t carry the day — Asper placed third among four candidates.

Coming in last has just made Costa Mesa City Council candidate Chris Bunyan hunger for more politics. In a phone interview late Tuesday, he told a reporter he’ll stay involved in politics but might try for a higher office, like a state Assembly seat.

“Some people are better geared for micro-politics. I’m better geared for macro-politics,” he said.

One of Bunyan’s key ideas for Costa Mesa was citywide Wi-Fi, and he touted himself as representing the city’s median age, 32. He also had interest from MTV in a possible reality show about being a young politician.

And although Newport Beach Assemblyman Chuck DeVore turned up late at the Irvine Hyatt for the Orange County GOP party, he spent the first part of his evening with the governor at a Beverly Hills fete. It apparently didn’t turn his head from his favorite topic, policymaking.

DeVore, who easily won reelection Tuesday, said he’s excited about getting to work on his legislative agenda. It includes reducing benefits that draw illegal immigrants to California and introducing a holiday from environmental regulations for low-income housing projects.

NO LAUGHING FOR SIX MONTHS

The Orange County Local Agency Formation Commission, which decides annexation requests, on Wednesday agreed to postpone discussion of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa annexation issues for six months but asked the cities to report back in three months.

Newport Beach had asked to annex West Santa Ana Heights, but the commission was hoping the two cities would be able to resolve several other disputes over unincorporated areas at the same time. Talks between the cities have broken down twice, but now officials want time to adjust to changes on the city councils after Tuesday’s election and pending changes to the makeup of the commission.

The commission is expected to take up the issue again in May 2007.

DONATE TO TROOPS

Costa Mesa is requesting donations of personal care items, snacks and gifts for the Army unit the city recently adopted. The City Council voted in September to adopt D Company, 2-25 Aviation Regiment, a unit that includes Councilwoman Katrina Foley’s brother and is now in Iraq.

Foley suggested the city sponsor the unit, and now she’s hoping residents will step up with contributions for the soldiers. The company has requested items such as dental floss and hand lotion, batteries, candy, CDs and stationery — and of course, letters are always welcome.

A donation box has been placed in the lobby of Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, and Foley said she hopes some gifts will be collected in time to mail for the holidays. For a complete list of requested items or information on how to make a financial donation, visit the city website, www.ci-costa-mesa.ca.us. For other information, call (714)754-5327.

— The Pilot’s Michael Miller and Amanda Pennington contributed to this report.