Harlan: Elect ‘SHARP’ council members
This year’s election for a seat on the Costa Mesa City Council is a stark contrast to the one for the council across the bay.
In Newport Beach, three candidates (two incumbents) are running unopposed for the three available positions.
Apparently, the message from the citizens of Newport Beach is that they are pleased with the council’s leadership and overall management of the city’s affairs.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case here in the coastal tableland. Our relatively flat topography belies the chasm that has developed within our community.
Our council union — the majority who joined together to implement a political ideology — created the initial rift with city’s employees and their associations through a poorly executed outsourcing plan.
The council union widened the gap with subsequent, hasty moves: failing to abide by established processes and policies, litigating poor decisions, and pursuing an ill-conceived charter scheme.
What could have been a meaningful and entrepreneurial effort to institute new policies and reshape our government has become a bleak record of hubris, mistrust and divisiveness.
For many, November’s election represents a decisive moment in our city’s history. Either we continue under the Righeimer regime (presumably armed with an ambiguous charter ripe for mischief) or we infuse our council with new perspectives, ideals, and approaches toward community governance. (I should disclose that I am friends with one candidate, John Stephens).
As a former deputy to a Los Angeles city council member, and a consultant to several public agencies in communities throughout California, I have enjoyed a ringside seat in the policy making process reserved for our local, elected officials. Although the process is not always pretty or effective, it can be done well and yield important results, depending on the policy makers’ mettle.
Over the next three months, the eight council candidates will demonstrate their character and attempt to persuade the voters that they will be worthy public servants. Here’s an initial list of the qualities I’ll look for when evaluating our potential council members. Let’s call it SHARP, for short.
Selflessness: All candidates should recognize that they’re signing up for public service. This demands selflessness, a commitment to think first about the community’s various wants and needs, and to temper one’s individual preferences. In her honest and articulate letter explaining her decision to withdraw from this council race, Sue Lester captured the spirit of selflessness. As she plainly stated, “We need candidates who are running for the sole purpose of serving the community.” Amen.
Humility: I’ve suggested before that humility requires an open mind, respect for others, and a quiet regard for process. Sitting on the dais does not magically confer omnipotence on a public official. Being an elected official is a learning process, and I appreciate a council member who recognizes that it’s okay to not know something.
Ability to collaborate: There’s a wealth of knowledge and good ideas that can be mined in Costa Mesa, and a smart council member will actively solicit input from various sources. More important, however, is the ability to work with those who may offer a competing viewpoint. Having a collaborative approach is critical to successfully address citywide issues (e.g., negotiating employee agreements) and sub-regional topics (e.g., 405 Freeway expansion).
Regional perspective: We are a diverse, urban community within a region that has experienced rapid demographic shifts over the past few decades. Our council members must be able to understand what role Costa Mesa plays not only within the Newport-Mesa area, but also within Orange County and Southern California. I’m looking for big picture thinkers who can figure out how to meet our local needs while strengthening our relationships with our neighbors.
Patience: In legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success,” he offers the following maxim: “Be quick, but don’t hurry.” No one would accuse the government of acting too quickly, but there’s value in conducting due diligence, listening carefully to public comment and professional advice, and then taking calculated action. We are paying dearly for the results of hasty decision-making, and I welcome a council member who understands that building a healthy and vibrant community is a marathon, not a sprint.
As Nov. 6 approaches, I encourage all Costa Mesans to take a hard look at all of the candidates, attend the neighborhood debates, and decide who is best suited to serve our community.
JEFFREY HARLAN is an urban planner who lives on the Eastside of Costa Mesa.