Paul's Turn

I wouldn’t call it a “mandate”, but Pacifica voters certainly expect the next City Council to do something about our perilous financial position and long-term structural problems. And that Council will have, for the first time in many years, a decisive majority with an energetic, pragmatic outlook and a clearly expressed desire to tackle those problems. This will be a Council majority that truly understands and encourages sensible economic development. And, perhaps more importantly, a majority unburdened with the ideological baggage of the past.

          Newly-elected councilmember Karen Ervin is a veteran of the Financing City Services Task Force (among many other civic responsibilities) and is well acquainted with our fiscal predicament. This experience, on top of her other impressive credentials, may account for her position as the election’s leading vote-getter.

          Mike O’Neill, the other first-time councilmember, has worked for years to help balance the books and support the development of our public schools. He’s a dynamic, hard-working, and creative problem-solver.

          The new councilmembers share a firm commitment to the improvement of our community, evidenced by years of civic involvement. Both are ready, and deserving, to take a seat on the dais, and they bring with them a fresh perspective, energy and expertise. Pacifica has chosen wisely.

          Mary Ann Nihart, who was returned for another well-earned four-year term, requires no introduction to the readers of this paper. The almost intimidating level of her intelligence is gracefully balanced by the depth of her understanding. Throw in the work ethic of a farm-girl and you’ve got one of the finest and most effective local representatives I’ve ever encountered.

          These three will join Len Stone, the upcoming Mayor, and Sue Digre, the longest-serving councilmember, when the new Council is sworn-in at their first meeting of the New Year.

          Nihart and Ervin out-polled Sue Vellone for the two available full-term, four-year council seats. O’Neill bested Vic Spano, Rich Campbell and quasi-candidate Gary Mondfrans for the single two-year seat. (I’ve been reliably informed that, despite appearances, council positions are not gender-specific; there are no designated “girls” seats and “boys” seats. It just happened to work out that way this time.)

 Sue Vellone and Vic Spano, both worthy candidates, were also committed to a business-friendly, developmental agenda, which seems to be the wave of the future around here, and both had respectable showings in the polls. Rich Campbell, an EPA attorney presently serving on the Planning Commission, came in third, behind both O’Neill and Spano, in the race for the two-year seat. Campbell had received the blessing of the Sierra Club, which would not seem to be as consequential as it has been in the past.

The new Council will take office saddled with high expectations. They have serious, long-standing problems to deal with, and the solutions cannot infringe on those environmental qualities that have made Pacifica the unique coastal community it is today.  A way must be found to pay for the breathtaking beauty we enjoy every day, a workable, equable and sustainable balance between the economy and the environment. Given that prerequisite, all options should be on the table.

Whatever the new Council does, they must do it with more transparency than formerly. Closed-door discussions, while sometimes required by law, always promote suspicion and distrust. I can understand the sensitivity of, for instance, union negotiations, but Council should also understand the public’s vested, and intense, interest in these matters. We’re the ones who are eventually paying the bills. Keep us informed. And there should be no more foolishness like “attorney-client privilege” covering up a publically funded report.

All of the candidates, successful or not, deserve our gratitude and respect for undertaking a long, grueling, disruptive and expensive ordeal. For those whose tallies fell a few votes short of the mark, take heart; we still need your civic contributions, your energy and ideas and experience. And the next election is only two short years away.

Thanks are also due to Ginny Jaquith, who volunteered to serve out a vacated seat, and did so in her eminently classy and competent fashion.

My heartiest congratulations to those candidates who won a seat on the Council, and my commiseration for the difficulties you are sure to face. Remember you have the support of a substantial portion of the community; we want you to succeed. Now it’s time to get to work. There’s a lot to be done.

Submitted by Paul Slavin