The Political Landscape: Planner jumps ship for water

Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner Jim Fisler has resigned his seat on the commission to join the Mesa Consolidated Water District Board of Directors.

He will replace former board member Paul Shoenberger, who resigned his post to become the district’s general manager.

Fisler, a Realtor by trade, will attend his first water board meeting Sept. 8.

Meanwhile, the city will have to replace him on the Planning Commission.

Fisler was first appointed to the Planning Commission by the City Council in 2004 after serving two years on the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Fisler also ran for a position on the Costa Mesa Sanitary District in 2008, but did not get elected.

There is about a year and a half left in his current term on the Planning Commission. The council is expected to talk about filling the position at its meeting Tuesday.

The water board is usually an elected position. Fisler’s appointment to the board only lasts through 2010, when he plans to run for election.

Asked why he chose to make the switch, Fisler said, “The main reason is that delivery of water at competitive rates is going to be quite a challenge going forward.”

TIME TO STOCK UP ON DOUGHNUTS

The staff at U.S. Rep. John Campbell’s district office in Newport Center typically greet protesters with a plate of chocolate and powdered sugar doughnuts laid out on a plate with an American flag motif, but it remains to be seen whether there will be enough boxes of Entenmann’s to go around when a massive march on health-care reform descends on Campbell’s office Monday.

Organizers announced this week the destination of a march slated for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday calling for health care for all will be at Campbell’s office, 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 330. Some are predicting enough people will show up to completely encircle the building.

Campbell has been a vocal opponent of President Obama’s health-care reform package.

March organizers are asking participants to bring letters addressed to Campbell in support of public option health insurance, as well as American flags and photographs of loved ones who don’t have health insurance.

Plans for the march and where it will start are still evolving. For the latest information, visit www.ochealthmarch.com.