The Daily Breeze's op-ed page today has an interesting letter regarding Monday's endorsements for Manhattan Beach City Council election candidates.
In her letter, Bev Morse, a longtime Manhattan resident and one of the nicest ladies you'll ever meet, disagrees with the Breeze's endorsement of Kathleen Paralusz for one of three available City Council seats.
Morse raises an issue that that has popped up in town as the March 3 election nears: Paralusz is the sister-in-law of incumbent Richard Montgomery, who also earned support from the Breeze's editorial board in his re-election bid.
The letter states: "Unfortunately, Kathleen Paralusz, bright and able, is Richard's sister-in-law, and many boards, such as those upon which I've served and presided, frown upon relatives serving together."
Though Montgomery and Paralusz see no problem with their family ties, plenty of people in town have concerns.
So, there had to be someone else who could have written this letter, especially considering that in March 2007, Morse and her husband both ran for City Council before she dropped out of the race, fearing that two Morses on the ballot would split votes.
Elsewhere in the South Bay that year, Redondo Beach saw a husband and wife run for council and City Clerk, respectively. Also, a husband-and-wife team ran for two council seats in Carson.
In a story we wrote about the sudden crop of hitched political candidates, Raphael Sonenshein, a political science professor at Cal State Fullerton said, "Voters tend to apply common sense to things. The voters will probably have to decide -- are they comfortable with this."
And all three pairs lost.
In her letter, Bev Morse, a longtime Manhattan resident and one of the nicest ladies you'll ever meet, disagrees with the Breeze's endorsement of Kathleen Paralusz for one of three available City Council seats.
Morse raises an issue that that has popped up in town as the March 3 election nears: Paralusz is the sister-in-law of incumbent Richard Montgomery, who also earned support from the Breeze's editorial board in his re-election bid.
The letter states: "Unfortunately, Kathleen Paralusz, bright and able, is Richard's sister-in-law, and many boards, such as those upon which I've served and presided, frown upon relatives serving together."
Though Montgomery and Paralusz see no problem with their family ties, plenty of people in town have concerns.
So, there had to be someone else who could have written this letter, especially considering that in March 2007, Morse and her husband both ran for City Council before she dropped out of the race, fearing that two Morses on the ballot would split votes.
Elsewhere in the South Bay that year, Redondo Beach saw a husband and wife run for council and City Clerk, respectively. Also, a husband-and-wife team ran for two council seats in Carson.
In a story we wrote about the sudden crop of hitched political candidates, Raphael Sonenshein, a political science professor at Cal State Fullerton said, "Voters tend to apply common sense to things. The voters will probably have to decide -- are they comfortable with this."
And all three pairs lost.
Andrea Woodhouse (Feb. 26) is also one of the coolest reporters - ok, ok, lady, too - you'll ever want to meet, and it speaks to astute in her picking up on what seems a contradictory opinion appearing in the Breeze today.
Yup, Steve and I ran together for MB Council in 2007 - but never intended to win - but ran to publicize the hardships of utilities undergrounding for so many in our city. At $500 a filing fee, it was cheaper than paid advertising against undergrounding. Or our lawsuit. A survivor of the Great Depression (the other one), the founder of the Friends of the Library left her home of 60 years, her friends and the community she spent a lifetime building. She would not go into debt again. Her son came from somewhere way up north to take her back with him. It was her protest, maybe her last, for her friends, of limited means, without sons of their own. aOur city did that. Manhattan Beach. Over aesthetics.
Recently, friends and incumbents Nick and Richard have said that undergrounding is dead, that the city won't front the costs any more. (A campaign promises caution: we haven't seen that in writing yet, or even agendized for a city council meeting... ) Truth is, the July 2008 Supreme Court ruling on Prop 218 and special benefits and assessments put a big damper on it. For now, anyway.
I haven't met Paralusz personally, but I like what I've read and heard from her. But bright and capable, Manhattan Beach already has two attorneys on council - and, in this economy, Wayne Powell IS, after all, the only magna cum laude in finance and accounting, and with 20 years or so city committees and commissions under his belt. Another attorney isn't actually 'needed' to complement paid staff, but I hope Kathleen runs in the future, when her incumbent brother-in-law does not.
PS: There were a couple of other letters to editors decrying the politics of relatives serving together, and on the Breeze website as well. It wasn't just me.
But it was very good to 'see' ya, gal. Ta, and be well!
"Though Montgomery and Paralusz see no problem with their family ties, plenty of people in town have concerns." There are many more people in MB who see no problem with their family ties. The entire school board, knowing of their in-law relationship, not only did not see a problem but endorsed both candidates. All members of the current city council not seeking reelection also know of the relationship and not only do they not see a problem with it but also endorsed both candidates. There are countless others but I will not bore you :)
Bev, looks like you have a strong case against undergrounding. If this is true, why would you even consider voting for Powell??
This is taken from a flyer passed around for a party celebrating undergrounding being passed in #1 and #3:
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
Tuesday, MAY 3, 2005-4PM
26th and Ocean
We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for the countless hours involved in bringing about the undergrounding of our poles.
TOGETHER WE ACHIEVED OUR GOAL!
District #1 District #3
*Suzanne and Larry Amberg
*Rosalie and Michael Devine
*Ned Momary
John Marcello
Kevin Droke
*Veronica McLaughlin
*Jerry Saunders
Dan Byers
Suzanne Ascher
Bob Heintz
*Hope and Mark Greenberg
Wayne Powell
*In memory of Katrine Smithson
Recognize any names?
The Manhattan Beach voters have spoken and they chose Powell as their new City Councilmember. Congrats, you earned it!
Paralusz lost because she wasn't honest with the voters. She withheld information that the voters learned about. Shame on her!