Commentary: Dixon should expect to be questioned

Barbara Venezia wrote a column June 19 about Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Diane Dixon, a self-proclaimed reform candidate who voted to increase spending (“Mayor Pro Tem Dixon’s team spirit questioned”).

This vote was contrary to her running mates on “Team Newport” and to her promises during the election cycle. In the column, Dixon referred to me as someone who wants to “make controversy” and “stir things up” and suggested that I have an agenda.

Is holding politicians accountable now considered having an agenda?

When I was weighing running for City Council, Dixon also filed as a potential candidate. I was told by others that she agreed with what I had written about the bad policies of the then-council.

She had moved to Newport full time about six months before declaring her intent to run for council (she had had a vacation house in the city), so I didn’t know her. But she certainly raised a gob of money, and if her views were aligned with mine and the rest of Team Newport’s, why would I waste time and energy fighting someone with the same beliefs?

I decided not to run against her, and she won, using the banner of reform candidate. Everyone thought that was awesome.

But things didn’t get off to a good start. Dixon:

Immediately attacked our historical bars and restaurants by suggesting zoning reforms for the Balboa Peninsula and attempted to shut down our newest harbor business, the jetpack operators.

Voted in support of an attempt to ban dancing at Woody’s Wharf.

Repeatedly voted against restoring fire rings to their full extent.

Pushed for ordinances, such as increased regulations on peninsula businesses, that would strip property rights.

Most recently, after winning as a reform candidate, she wrote a Daily Pilot commentary headlined, “Budget process isn’t perfect, but council has a record of fiscal responsibility” (May 30), which detailed how she agreed with a statement by Councilman Scott Peotter that the city finance committee and City Council had not yet thoroughly vetted the budget, which included increased parking meter fees — I consider this a veiled form of taxation — spending and unfunded pensions. Yet instead of voting with her “reform” colleagues, she voted to pass the budget.

During the election cycle, Dixon claimed she wanted to audit the City Hall project, but the first “audit” merely asked city staff members to review themselves (they gave themselves two thumbs-up). The public saw through this, and when the assistant city manager went under investigation, she helped push through a new audit that was not the forensic audit the public has been asking for.

I called her out — as I have many politicians for many years when they do things like mislead taxpayers, threaten Newport’s historic culture, pass wild spending bills, increase fees (code for taxes) or threaten property rights. I did it with the last council, our current council and our current mayor.

If she thinks holding people accountable is an agenda, well that’s too bad, because I’m here to stay, and I’m going to continue to hold everyone accountable, including her.

MICHAEL GLENN lives in Newport Beach.