“What that means is instead of...

“What that means is instead of having 15 people with independent

minds, you wind up with five three-headed beasts -- a councilperson

who can control absolutely what one planning commissioner and one

parks commissioner says, because if they don’t do it, they can turn

them loose. They don’t need a reason.”

-- Geoff West, Costa Mesa resident, in opposing the City Council’s

approved plan to individually appoint commission members

“In order to get this money, the residents of Costa Mesa are

paying a very high price. I think it’s fair to know how the money

should be spent.”

-- Sandra Genis, Costa Mesa resident and former councilwoman, on

urging the Costa Mesa City Council to require two foundations set up

to divide Home Ranch money

“It’s not all about money. In my race, there was a third candidate

and that’s what did it. If there hadn’t been a third candidate,

Nichols wouldn’t have won.”

-- Bernie Svalstad, the former Newport Beach City Council

candidate who far out raised winner Dick Nichols, on why he still

lost in the fall election

“That’s what I was able to raise, therefore that’s what I spent.

You know when you’re a start-up candidate running for office for the

first time, you usually don’t have as many advantages as other

candidates. Grass roots support really helped me out.”

-- Allan Mansoor, Costa Mesa councilman, on his surprise victory

in the fall Costa Mesa City Council election

“There isn’t a thing I would have done differently except

encourage more people to get out and vote. It’s unfortunate that so

many people are so patriotic and feel so strongly for this country

but they don’t practice voting.”

-- Linda Dixon, former Costa Mesa councilwoman, on losing in the

fall election