The End Of A Memorable Week

CAN IT GET STRANGER?
It what has already been a very strange week here in the land of Newport-Mesa, events of today really finish it off!


LEECE REQUESTS BROWN ACT VIOLATION INVESTIGATION
First, Wendy Leece apparently has asked City Attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow to investigate suspicions of Brown Act violations in the election of Costa Mesa's new mayor and mayor pro tem Tuesday night. There are those who join Leece in her perception that the whole thing seemed orchestrated and that the outcome may have been pre-ordained. While it wouldn't surprise me to find out that there had been some hanky panky, I'm willing to wait to see if Barlow will, in fact, investigate this complaint or just blow it off. You can read the Daily Pilot coverage of this story HERE. Even columnist Bill Lobdell has chimed in on the events of that evening, HERE.

SOUR GRAPES OR REAL CONCERN?
Some may say that this is just sour grapes from Leece, who saw her dreams of being mayor dashed despite broad public support that night. There may, in fact, be some of that, but she's within her rights to question the circumstances that led to her rejection. We'll see how this shakes out.

NMUSD SUPERINTENDENT CHARGED
Then, later this evening, the Superintendent of Schools in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, has been arrested and charged with two felonies dealing with an incident at his prior job in Beverly Hills. The Daily Pilot story is HERE.

LET THE LEGAL SYSTEM PLAY OUT
If true, this would be tragic for the school district at a time when the four candidates for school board seats were just about to be sworn-in for their terms. One of those, Katrina Foley, is the only new person on the board and was looking forward to getting off to a quick start on issues she feels are important. This event will certainly put a dark cloud over next Tuesday's ceremonies and the school district as a whole. It's easy to speculate about this situation, but I join Foley in suggesting we let the legal proceedings play out before rushing to judgment.

HOPING FOR SLOW NEWS DAYS AHEAD
With the Christmas holidays before us and only the Planning Commission meeting ahead of us before City Hall shuts down between Christmas and New Years we might expect news to be a little slow. However, the events that end this week will keep me on my toes, ready to report any more bizarre events for your reading pleasure.