Lolita Harper
The ghost of Home Ranch past may have played a crucial role in the
City Council campaign, as precinct numbers from the November election
indicate Mesa Verde residents put their support behind the only
candidate who opposed the contentious development.
Councilman Allan Mansoor was the only City Council candidate who
spoke against the Home Ranch project during candidate forums and,
before the election, worked closely with a community organization to
try and stop it.
Mansoor's highest numbers came from the Gisler and Dakota avenues
polling spot, in the heart of Mesa Verde, according to final precinct
tallies from the Orange County registrar of voters.
Out of 422 who cast ballots at that location, 205 -- or about 49%
-- voted for the new councilman. The councilman also posted high
totals at Adams Avenue and Mesa Verde Street and Adams and Placentia
avenues, garnering 43% of the votes cast at both locations.
Mansoor's most vocal supporters were a group of mostly Westside
residents who call themselves "improvers." Precinct tallies, however,
show Mansoor's greatest support did not come from that side of town.
Mansoor said Thursday he was not surprised by the numbers.
"My support was not necessarily just the Westside. I had a lot of
support from other parts of the city, too" Mansoor said. "I think its
because I spoke up on all the issues and people realized I wanted all
parts of the city to go in the right direction."
Mesa Verde resident and vocal Home Ranch opponent Robin Leffler
said Mansoor's resistance to the 93-acre development most likely won
him the Mesa Verde vote.
"I bet that counted for a lot with people around here," Leffler
said Thursday.
Former Mayor Linda Dixon, Planning Commission Chairwoman Katrina
Foley and Planning Commissioner Bill Perkins each endorsed the
project and each lost their bid for a council seat in November's
elections.
Incumbent Gary Monahan, who garnered overwhelming support at the
polls, retained his seat despite his vocal support for Home Ranch.
SITTING WITH THE VOTERS
While that quartet of candidates sat in their official seats and
listened to various public hearings on the Segerstrom development,
Mansoor spoke from the audience podium -- alongside Mesa Verde and
Westside activists -- against the anticipated traffic, crowds and
problems the project was feared to bring.
Mesa Verde residents did not forget his efforts when it came to
the November elections, Leffler said.
Although there was no organized effort to endorse Mansoor, Leffler
