Misetich, Campbell win Rancho Palos Verdes seats; Measure TOT d...

3 days now and Tom has nothing to say. Pathetic that he can't come out of the hole and say congratulations to the new council members. Maybe he has privately but then nobody would know about that would they. Being so vocal before the elections to now zilch on the blogs. I wait with great anticipation for that 1st Council Meeting when Brian and Anthony take their seats. I know I won't be shocked at Tom's attitude but I pray that he can rise above and except the fact that he lost (dead last with one of his choices)and move on with a positive attitude with the cities issues.

I don't think most of the commenters above really watched the campaign much or they wouldn't characterize things the way they do. Of course I am disappointed that candidates I supported did not succeed. But many voters (indeed a majority) feel this way I am sure. But the message of the voters that they want new and independent jugment by councilmembers who have little past history in city government was clear. I am also disappointed that the leading vote getter ran a misleading campaign and I think Mr. Misetich will need to work hard to earn trust. On the other hand Brian Campbell ran an excellent and honest campaign and, if the debates are any sign, is a good listener and deliberate thinker. He will bring enthusiasm and energy to the council and I suspect will be a quick learner.

If my comments during the campaign cause any animosity that would be a sad comment on a new councilmember and I don't think it will happen. After all--all I did was express a preference for others and call candidates to task for misleading mailers.(Mr. Misetich is not a progressive Democrat so why did he campaign as one? Many of us, including Mr. Campbell, have refused to pay for these misleading slate mailers.)

The two winners gor a plurality and won with among the smallest vote totals ever in an RPV election. As scattered as the outcome was, all of the candidates publicly supported two important prineiples of the current council--preserving open space and repairing and maintaining infrastructure. I think Campbell's support of these important issues is long lived since I enjoyed his support in a prior campaign of my own.

Many partisan voices (and many from outside RPV)make comments above. But they are voices that aren't really discussing the issues facing the city and represent a very different agenda. Let's hear instead the new ideas of the new councilmembers and let's evaluate them. That would be far more interesting and potentially far more constructive for the city than the irrelevant comments above.

I suspect in the end the new council will not undo the major accomplishments of the current council. They will not sell off open space. They will not reject the Annenberg proposal. They will not end the user fee or the utility users tax and allow our infrastructure to decay and property values to decline. I suspect they will expand my initiative to modernize the sheriff's equipment with the ASAP program.

Of course if the commenters above were really paying attention they would express disappointment at the council's selection of the second lowest bidder for a new 7 year waste hauling contract at an added cost of about $1 million per year. That was a 3-2 vote too and the dividing lines were not the "liberal vs. conservative" lines that the divisive commenters above (especially those from outside our city) would focuc on. Go watch the meeting of Wednesday November 4th and tell us what you think by e-mailing cc@rpv.com And indeed suggest to the councilmembers elect that they too should be concerned.

Tom Long
Councilmember, Rancho Palos Verdes

M Richards wrote:

While I am pleased that Brian Campbell has been elected, I think the problems having Mr. Misetich represent residents of Rancho Palos Verdes has already begun.
According to the Los Angeles County Recorder, there are "18" precincts that voters voted in, in Rancho Palos Verdes' council election.
Mr. Misetich claims he walked in "30 of 37" precincts. I guess he may have walked the precincts for candidates of the Library District, too.
Oh well, at least Democrats won in the N.Y. 23rd and most likely in the California 10th. Those two House seats were open due to Republicans giving them up.
But it is still quite disgusting that fewer than about 21% of eligible voters bothered to vote in Rancho Palos Verdes' election.

There is a difference between "established precincts" and "consolidated prectincts." Precinct sheets and maps are set up for full established precincts which the registrar then consolidates for the sake of polling places.

Also, this turnout is typical of local city council elections in the South Bay.