FAIR GAME:To the victors belong the congratulations

If the United States Postal Service were a publicly traded company, Tuesday would have been a good day to sell your stock. Yes, the elections are over, and we can once again carry our mail into the house with just one hand.

In Newport Beach it was Measure V, a major update of the general plan that prevailed, while Measure X, referred to as Greenlight II, failed.

I congratulate the voters on getting this one right. We had the opportunity to vote on six of the seven council seats, in addition to the measures, and get back to representative government. We did so. It’s the way our government should work.

In the future, our course of development as a city is clearly defined. And the great thing about the general plan update is that the people of Newport Beach were involved with its creation.

Phil Arst, the most vocal backer of Measure X, obviously can’t be happy. But look at the bright side, Phil. You were hoping for less traffic and you got it.

But who knew it would be to the ballot box in favor of your measure?

The council races went pretty much the way most insiders predicted. Michael Henn won the most crowded race quite handily, while Keith Curry, Ed Selich and Leslie Daigle, all previously appointed to office, won their respective races.

Many might remember that I took Daigle to task in this column a few weeks back for “dirty politics.” She and I will be meeting for lunch next week to clear the air and move forward.

I’m looking for a very public place for our lunch, just to be safe. Just kidding, Leslie.

I do compliment her, however; following Barbara Venezia’s departure from the race, Daigle continued to work hard, walking precincts trying to win over her constituents. In the end, it worked.

Congratulations also to Nancy Gardner on her win over incumbent Dick Nichols. One piece of advice, Nancy: Don’t get into the “Mexicans taking over the grass” near our beaches and you should be fine. Your dad would be proud!

And what of our mayor, Don Webb? I sent him a congratulatory note Wednesday and he replied, “Thanks, Tom. It was a tough race for me, but the harder they are to win, the more you enjoy victory.”

Webb, remember, ran unopposed.

What about those that didn’t fare so well?

Jack Wu, who lost to Henn, seems like a young up-and-comer. I would expect to see his name to continue to pop up in Republican political circles.

And Dolores Otting. Dolores, Dolores, Dolores. I still think your best role at City Hall is that of the watchdog. Somehow I believe that you’ll continue doing what you do best.

And so we move to Costa Mesa.

Latinos, run!

Come on, I’m just kidding.

Yes, Mayor Allan Mansoor and parks commissioner Wendy Leece did win. But as the mayor reminded me in a telephone conversation yesterday, he believes that illegal immigration has to be dealt with, but that is not the platform on which he campaigned. His campaign was centered on making Costa Mesa safer and dealing properly with illegal immigrant felons. Felons, people.

And although hindsight is 20/20, shame on Return to Reason for backing two candidates. Their platform was to gain back control of the council, and they could have done that with just one seat. It appears that they were A, greedy, B, arrogant, C, stupid or D, all of the above. It’s one of those questions where every one is right.

Mirna Burciaga certainly didn’t help her cause by remaining in a race that took votes away from the Return to Reason candidates, Bruce Garlich and Mike Scheafer.

And Chris Bunyan, he just wanted to put his toes in the water and get the feel of political life. Definitely watch for him in the future.

In the meantime, Mayor Mansoor and Councilwoman-elect Leece, it’s your show. You deserve the spotlight and support; your people have spoken.