MAILBAG - Nov. 13, 2006

Tough to vote, but still worth the wait

In response to Bill Hodges’ letter on Thursday, “Voting lines too long, machines too complex,” I too experienced a nearly two-hour wait before my vote could be cast. Inconvenient? Yes. A horror or catastrophe? No.

I learned from the overseers that I could have voted absentee. In fact, had I completely read the voting guide mailed to me weeks earlier, I would have learned that I could have voted in advance in several locations, mailed my ballot ahead of Election Day or hand-carried my completed ballot to the polls on Nov. 7 and deposited it into the cardboard ballot box at check-in.

Perhaps I’ll do that in the future: vote absentee or carry my ballot in hand. Perhaps not.

I too had misgivings over the long wait. There were discussions (some crabbing too) with fellow voters about the length of the ballot, the shut-down of two booths and the crowded conditions. I wondered if dinner would be cold when I got home.

By the time I was at the head of the line, the next person to vote, an hour and 50 minutes spent, I discovered that the volunteers at my polling place (Whittier School) had been working for more than 12 hours, with at least an hour and a half to go. I thank the poll volunteers.

Yes, I guess I prefer pencils and fill-in ovals or punch cards (now that I know to pull a hanging chad).Yes, it’s a learning curve for me too, with the new machines (and importantly — these machines have a printed ballot recorded as well).

Is there a better way? Maybe.

Maybe it’s merely a different attitude or interpretation. Maybe an appreciation for the right to vote, a thanks to those in our community who give their time that I can vote, the privilege to stand with others in my community lawfully and peacefully, without fear of reprisal. And vote the American way.

CAROL HUNDERE

Costa Mesa

Mayor’s car has about two years of gas

The campaign is over. Although Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor got enough votes to keep his position, and his partner in the ballot, Wendy Leece, received enough to be the other council member, the math is clear: 50.3% of Costa Mesans voted for the other four candidates. It means that more than half of the voters in Costa Mesa are not in line with Mansoor’s points of view. Besides, I believe that within the entire community, the “not voters majority,” the numbers for the mayor are lower.

At this point, Mansoor’s best decision would be to listen to the community before taking any action and to develop an integral program to make Costa Mesa a better city.

It is kind of funny that before the election Mansoor repeated hundreds of times that his campaign was not just about immigration, but in his first interview with the Daily Pilot he said that he sees the election as a sign that voters support his immigration agenda.

Right now Mansoor’s political car has enough gasoline for the next two years, but if his only effort goes to continuing to push his divisive agenda, believe me, in the long term he is not going to go too far.

JORGE DELGADO

Irvine

Mayor, Leece deserve their victories

Congratulations to Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor and Wendy Leece on their victories. Their winning was one of the bright lights of the evening.

Over the months we have grown close to Mansoor and gotten to know Leece. Both are good, quality people who love Costa Mesa and have the people’s best interest in mind. Their win was well deserved.

Good job!

GEORGE RIVIERE and

EILEEN GARCIA

Laguna Beach

Voters spoke; nothing stays that

The people have spoken. Allan Mansoor and Wendy Leece will sit on the Costa Mesa City Council dais for the next four years. And it never was all about immigration as many wished to frame it. It was about making Costa Mesa a better place to live in many ways.

That message resonated with a majority of those showing up at the polls on Tuesday, and neither Councilwoman Linda Dixon, nor Councilwoman Katrina Foley, nor former Police Chief Dave Snowden, nor Orange County Sheriff Mike Corona, nor the Daily Pilot nor any other of the naysayers, nor “gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

ILA JOHNSON

Costa Mesa

Council members need to cooperate

In the Thursday article, “Vote sets tone,” Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley disparaged the Allan Mansoor-Wendy Leece win by saying “that’s not even close to a mandate,” citing Mansoor’s support of nearly 8,500, according to the Registrar of Voters website on Saturday, out of 54,000 registered voters participating.

Would she have made the same observation had her candidates won? I don’t think so. Her attitude appears to set a tone of hostility and noncooperation with at least two of the council members and does not bode well for a council that should be working together to solve the many problems facing Costa Mesa. A more constructive comment would have been to congratulate Mansoor and Leece on their wins, with a pledge to work together on the council.

BILL JOHNSON

Costa Mesa