Elections. We Don't Need No Stinking Elections!

Elections are not coronations. We live in a republican democracy. That means we elect people to do our work for us. We use our vote to express our choice of people to represent us. Or do we really have that power?

After the November elections in Costa Mesa, Jim Righiemer (with a little help from Gary Monahan and Eric Bever) appointed Steve Mensinger to the Costa Mesa city council. There was a 'dog and pony show' at the Tuesday night city council meeting. The outcome was published in the Daily Pilot two weeks prior. Long before the city council meeting.

On that Tuesday night Jim Righiemer chose to ignore 10,876 voters in Costa Mesa. Those were the citizens that voted for Chris McEvoy. Jim appointed Steve Mensinger to the city council. Steve hasn't run for dog catcher, let alone city council. When one makes the statement "Look at this resume!", one should actually look at it.

The city council is elected and not appointed. That means to get on the city council it is expected that candidates will register, campaign, and answer questions and meet every Tom, Dick, and Harriet that wants to know who is decides how to spend the tax dollars they supply. Jim R. shouldn't be making that decision. We the voters have that right.

That night Jim Righeimer told the citizens who vote in Costa Mesa that their votes don't count.