The rules are the rules

There are rules and procedures that potential candidates must adhere

to.

One of those rules is to witness each signature that appears on his or

her petition to pull papers to run for a city council seat. As a

prospective candidate you are required to sign your petition form

acknowledging you have personally witnessed the 20 to 30 signatures that

appear on your papers.

Potential candidates should take this process very seriously. In the

past there have been individuals who have not qualified and were not able

to run for a council seat because they did not follow the rules and

complete the process accurately.

If it is proven that there is an impropriety in Chris Steel’s papers,

I believe action should be taken. To allow or to overlook a dishonest

attempt in the process is a slap in the face to potential candidates who

follow the rules and to citizens in a community.

People who serve as public officials are often criticized, scrutinized

and sometimes unnecessarily placed in a category of not being forthright

and honest. To allow anything improper to go unpunished would further

damage the public’s perception of “politicians” and that would be a slap

in the face for many of us.

LINDA DIXON

Councilwoman

Costa Mesa