Dana Point: A Lesson in Tyranny of the Majority

PROLOGUE

Two cities, both recently districted,
In Costa Mesa and Dana Point, where we compare our theme.
From government true democracy reigns,
When all voices are equal and residents reign supreme.
Where uncivil politics makes civil division keen,
In one, a colleague betrayal, the other by PAC mens’ spleen.
Each City’s Council, now by a pair of new Mayors led,
One chosen directly by voters,
The other selected by politics to be head.
And it is here the two diverge, following paths of opposite ends,
Fairness and democracy for Costa Mesa,
Tyranny of the majority is the message Dana Point sends.

SCENE I. Districting.

This November, both Costa Mesa and Dana Point elected their first City Councils by district. The residents of both cities believed they had no choice. Costa Mesa directly elected its Mayor, Katrina Foley. Her victory was all the more sweet, having been unduly removed as Mayor after her colleague and two other Council members ousted Foley from her Mayoral position.

Dana Point’s Council majority, on the other hand, ignored its voters’ preference for a directly elected mayor. The City Council majority still selects the Mayor. The majority sowed further division in the already divided city when it selected the one map that split apart the unified, separate zip code community of Capistrano Beach.

SCENE II. Election.

Costa Mesa’s election stirred no controversy. Its Mayor and Council were seated without rancor. Representative government and fairness won the day.

Not so in Dana Point. $70,000 of outside PAC money invaded the city. Smearing opposition candidates with lies, money rather than fairness and representative government won the day. Outside money ensured its friendly Council majority. As expected, the three person winning slate selected one of their own, Joe Muller, as Mayor. They make policy decisions in lock step.

SCENE III. The all powerful Planning Commission

The Council majority paid off further for the PACs Tuesday night. Councilwoman Debra Lewis sought to change the selection method for planning commissioners from Council majority vote. Let each Council member nominate someone from the applicant pool. Citing Costa Mesa, Councilwoman Lewis asserted the change would ensure fairness and equal representation for each district.

Costa Mesa’s Council approved the same change in planning commissioner selection. Each district now has an equal voice. Fairness and representation serve as the guiding principles in Costa Mesa under Mayor Foley’s leadership.

Not so in Dana Point. Muller’s led Council voted 3-2 NOT to make the planning commission fair and representative, NOT to give an equal voice to each district. Their reasoning: “It has always been the policy.” The hypocrisy of Mayor Muller’s attempted change just two weeks earlier to a 30 year old policy that allowed any Council member the right to put an item on the Council’s agenda was lost on the majority.

On Tuesday, Muller, Viczorek and Federico voted 3-2 to ensure the Tyranny of the Majority reigns in Dana Point.