Readers Respond

Yes, I will still vote for Barbara Venezia for City Council and will also encourage my friends and neighbors to write her name in on the ballot.

Venezia is just what the City Council needs — a breath of fresh air. She is intelligent, articulate, passionate about bettering our city and not afraid to speak her mind to make sure the right thing is accomplished. Barbara deserves our vote of confidence.

LISA WINTER

Balboa Island

Thank you for keeping us informed about the 4th District race for City Council.

Oh, OK, now I get it. Small-town politics is vicious. They [candidates] look for any angle to malign character; if this didn't work they would have gone even deeper and lower. This is what I foresaw; it would only get worse as the election drew nearer.

The only reason they sunk their teeth in this early is because Barbara Venezia had a good chance of winning. I say early, because when a friend of mine ran several years ago, they waited until the night before the election to hand out fliers that maligned his character.

The Newport Beach City Council is the "old boys' club," and its members will make sure no one gets in but their own. One can only guess why they guard their territory so viciously and unscrupulously.

Venezia has the desire to do good, and the right doors will open for her to effectively do so. She was brave to run and brave to pull out. She is to be commended.

LOREN BLACKWOOD

Newport Beach

Politics is a tough business, not for the weak or faint of heart, and I really don't blame Barbara Venezia for quitting; I'm just glad she quit now rather than leaving the council if elected. Newport Beach City Councilwoman Leslie Daigle has done a fine job so far and she wants to continue — more power to her. We are fortunate to have people in the city who are willing to run for these positions.

BOB KOOP

Newport Beach