A Surreal Election - Trump And A Costa Mesa Power Shift
Updated as of 1:30 a.m, Wednesday, November 9, 2016
My head is still spinning following the concession by Hillary Clinton and listening to Donald Trump's speech. I worry about the state of our union, but am willing to move forward with my fingers tightly crossed that we don't end up in WWIII. I'm going to plan a trip to the border to watch the wall being built and I'm probably going to plan a trip to the Canadian border to watch half of Hollywood as they emigrate.
Back to good old Costa Mesa...
A VERY INTERESTING EVENING
I followed the election results from 8 p.m. on and reported the results on my Facebook page as they were updated by the Registrar of Voters. Here are some screen grabs of the latest results - those available at the last report for this night at 1:30 a.m. According to the schedule, there will be no further reports until 5:00 p.m today, Wednesday.
COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL
Now, THIS is very interesting. Although we still have some votes remaining to be counted, if the relationships shown below don't change it looks like Mayor Steve Mensinger is out finishing a distant fourth behind Councilwoman Sandra Genis, Lawyer John Stephens and former mayor Allan Mansoor. Jay Humphrey gave it a good run, but looks like he will finish a close 5th to Mensinger. Lee Ramos finished a distant 6th and Al Melone is dead last although he sucked up more than 3,000 votes.
There is no way to properly estimate the changes this may mean to Costa Mesa governance. Certainly, the balance of power will shift and leave Mansoor and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer on the minority side. I actually expect there to be a more collegial atmosphere on the dais and won't be surprised at all if we see Study Sessions resurrected so issues can now be fully vetted in a public setting. I must say I'm encouraged by this result - if it holds.
GROWTH ISSUES
Again, assuming these numbers hold, Measure Y, the citizen-generated so-called Smart Growth Initiative, will pass overwhelmingly and send a clear message to the new City Council that enough is enough. The counter measure, Measure Z, which was placed on the ballot to confuse the voters, will not receive enough votes to accomplish that goal, even though it looks like it will pass.
Presuming these numbers hold up, once again the citizens prevail. Measure AA, the citizen-generated initiative designed to protect Costa Mesa's Jewel, has passed resoundingly and the city counter measure, BB, appears to be failing.
This is very interesting. It looks like both citizen-generated measures, V and W, are going down to defeat by significant numbers. The City measure, X, looks like it might pass. I expect legal challenges if it does, since it specifically forbids retail sales of marijuana. More lawyers to feed.
Mesasure EE, the hijacked measure placed on the ballot by Righeimer, looks like it's going to pass. Sadly, this will result in 6 voter districts and a directly-elected mayor. It will take two more election cycles to complete this transition. Don't be surprised if Righeimer runs for mayor in 2018, when he's termed-out of his council seat.
If the current numbers hold it appears that incumbents Jim Ferryman and Art Perry will remain on the CMSD board - good news for all of us. They hold commanding leads right now. Gary Monahan and Jim Fitzpatrick have apparently failed to unseat them - again, good news for all of us.
It looks like the meaningless advisory measure foisted upon the voters by the Mesa Water District Board of Directors will pass. This, as we've mentioned many times before, is simply another part of the ploy for Mesa Water to take over the Costa Mesa Sanitary District - most likely to get their hands on the cash in the CMSD coffers as a result of good, forward-thinking management. This will NOT be the last we hear of this issue.
It appears that incumbent Jim Fisler soundly defeated challenger Alex Reich for the seat on the Mesa Water District Board. Too bad - Reich had some fresh ideas.
So, I'm hitting the sack now. I updated this following the 1:30 update. I'm thrashed. I will take a peek at the results in the morning and will likely post another entry following the 5:00 p.m. update. There seems to be much to smile about early this morning.
Labels: 2016 results, Allan Mansoor, CMSD, Fairview Park, Jay Humphrey, John Stephens, Lee Ramos, Medical Marijuana, Mesa Water District, Sandra Genis, Smart Growth Initiative, Steve Mensinger, Vote by District
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 11/09/2016 01:27:00 AM
9 Comments:
Since the ex-Council Majority sent out opposing measures for Y and AA, will they reimburse the taxpayers? We received a bundle!
Our long nightmare in Costa Mesa comes to an end, as our new nightmare in the White House begins. I'm proud to be a Costa Mesan and Californian today. Unlike the US as a whole, we mostly got things right in CA and CM. We need to hunker down locally and not get complacent about the gains we've worked so hard to make. The stupid is strong in America, as we proved in the last few years of Costa Mesa city councils. If we're not vigilant, it will wash over us again.
I'm wondering whether the new Council majority (It feels good to write those 4 words) could derail the 6-districts-and-a-mayor scheme by putting a measure on the next ballot that would repeal the measure that just passed and adopt the 5-district one the public favored during the public input phase. Not just whether the new Council majority could legally do it, but whether they would be politically cohesive enough now that the election is over and governing begins.
What a year for the Costa Mesa activists!
Earlier this year they helped give a possible death blow to the Banning Ranch. What happens next is yet to be seen.
They gathered enough signatures to place two ballot initiatives on the November ballot! Which passed even with massive amounts of outside money and misleading counter initiatives.
Finally being many times outspent they put got 2 seats on the council giving the residents their voice.
Thank you trouble makers, you won and you did so with honor.
Did Mensinger really loose to Mansoor??? What an absolute embarrassment!!!
Great comment, Chris.
I again want to thank our dedicated and diligent Mr. West. Despite all the physical issues you had to deal with recently Geoff, you kept the blog going. This is, and has consistantly been a rallying site for all us trying to fight the good fight. Whether its just to check in for a council update, or to get us all riled and ready to pounce, you have been there. For years. And now we have the council majority and can get this great city back on tract. Please understand we all know and appreciate what you have done for this city for years. Have a nice glass of wine....if your doctor allows...kiss your more than patient lovely wife, and take a moment to pat yourself on the back for the changes you are very much responsible toward. You more than desrve it. Thanks, Geoff.
Bet they wish they left Mercurio in and never brought Mansoor back. Karma is truly a bitch for the Gang That Can't Shoot Straight!
@ Mesa Verde madman, so true, bad call bringing in Mansoor, he literally knocked out the chest-bumping, phone dropping, disrespectful Mayor.
I nominate Geoff for mayor! These have been long are arduous years of attempting to get the voices of our residents heard. There is much to be "joyous" about THEN the EE needs to be addressed. It is a political map and plan for the dilution of the Hispanic vote the exact opposite of the intent f the Voting Act. The five seats give an even handed approach to five districts. The fight is far from over. Someone at a couple of council sessions ago, said, "grassroots will kick your ass in November and you will be so embarrassed.". And so it was and hopefully they will be embarrased for all their arrogant ways and contempt for their constituents. Grassroots, baby!
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