Julie Mercurio Bails Out
As more than a few of you already know, sources tell me that City Council Candidate Julie Mercurio used her platform on the Costa Mesa Public Square to confirm recent rumors that she has withdrawn from the race.
In her announcement she cites her inability to raise campaign funding in sufficient quantities to conduct an effective campaign. That's probably true - it costs a load of money to run a successful campaign, even it little old Costa Mesa. She told those who can read the CMPS that she doesn't hang out in the right social circles to generate enough campaign cash. Interesting, since I suspect there was plenty of cash to be had if those guys running the show really wanted her to stay in the race.
WAS PRESSURE INVOLVED TO HELP MANSOOR?
However, more than a few of us around town wonder if at least part of her decision came from pressure from the "powers-that-be" in town asking her to step aside to make former councilman Allan Mansoor's campaign less complicated. He's told us he's running again - a second bite of the apple. His first tour on the council resulted in a divided city, with Latinos, in particular, feeling unsupported by his regime.
LEADERSHIP? NAH!
Actually, that word - regime - may be too generous. It implies that he was the leader of a movement, but his leadership skills are so marginal that nobody would consider him the leader of anything. And, his tour in the State Assembly was a disaster, where he showed no leadership at all.
BYE-BYE!
So, we bid a fond adieu to Ms. Mercurio as a candidate. She may now return full time to her role as the High Priestess of the Costa Mesa Public Square, where only the anointed are permitted to participate and dissenting voices will continue to feel her wrath. Oh, yes... she closed her announcement with a recruitment plea - gotta run those CMPS numbers up no matter what!
WE'LL BE WATCHING
In the meantime, we get to watch her serve our city on the Parks & Recreation Commission - that high-visibility position to which she was recently appointed to raise her municipal image. We hope she takes her term seriously, even though it will likely be a short stint. Her term expires in February.
Labels: Allan Mansoor, City Council Race, Julie Mercurio, Parks and Recreation Commission