No clear mayoral favorites

Lolita Harper

The title of mayor is one that holds more notoriety than power and is

usually passed from council member to council member with the quick

searing pain of tearing a bandage from a wound. Tonight, the council

will vote in its new leader: Let the ripping begin.

Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan will relinquish his seat to the next

director in a process that simply requires a majority of the five

council members to vote a colleague to the largely ceremonial

position. While on paper, the procedure looks black and white, the

politics behind the vote are largely gray.

Which might explain why nobody can answer who will most likely be

the next mayor.

“I don’t know,” Monahan said. “[Councilman] Chris Steel obviously

likes surprises, so we might have a surprise.”

The mayor was referring to last year’s mayoral selection, in which

all conventional guesses put Monahan at the helm of the City Council.

A surprising move by Steel and Councilwomen Libby Cowan and Karen

Robinson invalidated that notion by casting their support for

Robinson, and voting Steel as mayor pro tem.

When Robinson abandoned her council position for a judgeship, the

position was again up for grabs. Monahan regained what was long

thought to be rightfully his, putting an end to the drama.

But it is that time of year again. Steel is the mayor pro tem, who

traditionally steps into the mayor’s spot, but neither he nor Monahan

see that happening.

Steel said he has no idea who will end up in the mayor’s seat and

said he has made no calls or overtures about it.

“It’s up to my colleagues to nominate and elect,” Steel said. “If

they chose me, I will do a good job to improve the schools, lower the

crime rate and resolve the growing unabated conditions in the city.

... But I am only one of four votes. And those four votes have a

history of choosing to continue the status quo, woe, flow. So, I

don’t expect to be mayor.”

Putting politics aside, Monahan said he would not support Steel

because he “is not ready,” leaving a short list of those who are.

“[Councilman] Mike Scheafer is brand new and [Councilman] Allan

Mansoor is a good kid,” Monahan said.

That leaves either Monahan or Cowan to lead the council, both of

whom have already served as mayor. Monahan would not confirm or deny

if he would seek the support of his colleagues for his third term as

mayor.

“I don’t know what will happen,” the mayor said. “Let’s just say I

would be honored to serve another year and I am prepared. But it

would not be the end of the world either way.”

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by e-mail at

[email protected].