Costa Mesa Communication Director Bails Out

HEADING FOR GREENER PASTURES, FOR SURE

According to an article in the Daily Pilot posted a few minutes ago, HERE, Costa Mesa's Communication Director, Bill Lobdell, is leaving for a position as Vice President of Communications at The Irvine Company.  This sounds like a great move for Lobdell, a man with many talents - a former editor at the Daily Pilot, the Religion reporter for the Los Angeles Times and author of his acclaimed book, "Losing My Religion - How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America - and Found Unexpected Peace".  It is a terrific book and, in my opinion, not so much about religion, but about a fascinating personal journey, told well.  I'm proud to say I own one of the very first copies of the book, which he inscribed thus: "Geoff, Thanks for reading my story - and for all you do as a citizen journalist.  William Lobdell"  I suspect he has regretted those words from time to time over the past four years, but I know he meant them at the time and I treasure them.

THE BEGINNING
Lobdell began his assignment with the City of Costa Mesa as a public relations consultant in the wake of the St. Patrick's Day debacle of 2011, when more than 200 employees received layoff notices,  young Huy Pham leaped to his death from the roof of City Hall and then-mayor Gary Monahan decided to stay at his pub in his kilt and pull beer taps rather than attend to what was likely the worst day in the history of the City.   Lobdell subsequently became an employee several months later.

IMMERSED IN CONTROVERSY NOT OF HIS MAKING
Controversy and turmoil have marked his tenure with the City and he was the point man - the guy holding the nozzle - trying to put out the fires created by the elected leadership.  The St. Patrick's Day situation was just the beginning.  It was followed by so many controversies and law suits that it numbs the mind just trying to recall them all.  Senior staffers across the board left in droves -  retired or resigned or left for other reasons - many seeking relief from the toxic workplace created by the elected leadership.  The relationship was particularly strained between the elected leaders and the Police Department, which saw staffing numbers dwindle to precarious levels and highly-respected police chiefs leave in protest.  And the top two elected leaders sued the men and women of the Costa Mesa Police Department.  There were times when it seemed like Lobdell was a man juggling an armload of unhappy porcupines while running across a bed of hot coals.  This was his first PR gig and one could certainly observe that it was a real baptism by fire for him. 

TARGET FOR CRITICISM
Because of his role as the tip of the PR spear on behalf of the city, Lobdell has been the subject of harsh criticism by folks who were angry about the direction it was being taken by the elected leadership.  Of course, it's normal to attack the messenger.  Personally, I think he did as good a job as he could under the circumstances.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPARENCY
Also during his tenure the communication process improved and the City has received awards for Transparency, in great part due to his efforts.  And, the long-overdue upgrading of the audio-visual infrastructure in City Council chambers and in the control room may finally take place - after he leaves - due to his support.

GOOD-BYE AND GOOD LUCK
While he and I frequently disagreed on issues and tactics, and he disagreed with the way I reported events during his time with the City, I admire Bill Lobdell for his skills and his tenacity and wish him well in this new, very exciting assignment.  There may be no more prestigious communications job in Orange County than the one he begins next month.  Good luck to him in this new assignment.