Scheafer sworn in as fifth councilman

Lolita Harper

Mike Schaefer was sworn onto the City Council Monday night after

candidate Eric Bever, in a surprise move, broke another deadlock by

taking his name out of the running.

Bever formally withdrew his name from the applicant pool after it

became clear the council’s stalemate between himself and Schafer

could not be resolved.

“I will step aside for the good of the city,” Bever said. “I don’t

think it is worth beating this dead horse any longer. It will save us

a lot of grief and time and money.”

Bever’s move stunned many in the audience, as well as his most

loyal supporter and friend, Councilman Allan Mansoor, who asked Bever

to confirm he was formally withdrawing.

With the pool narrowed to one applicant, the council voted

unanimously to appoint Schaefer to the position left empty by former

Mayor Karen Robinson, who resigned after being appointed to a

judgeship.

Schaefer said Bever’s move was “totally unexpected.”

“I look forward to being part of the team that will benefit the

city of Costa Mesa,” Schaefer said just after taking his seat on the

dais.

Schaefer will serve the remainder of Robinson’s term, which is up

in November 2004. Robinson said a tearful goodbye to the Costa Mesa

City Council at the April 7 meeting and formally resigned April 15.

Her seat has been empty since.

An appointment of any sort seemed a far way off, after repeated

deadlocks.

The council initially decided to appoint a replacement and

received 26 applications for consideration. The council first

deadlocked April 21 after hours of public comment and political

deliberation.

The council narrowed the field to two candidates, Bever and

Schaefer, and decided to continue the process at the next meeting.

Two weeks later, the council was still unable to break a 2-2

stalemate, with Mansoor and Councilman Chris Steel supporting Bever

and new Mayor Gary Monahan and Councilwoman Libby Cowan supporting

Schaefer.

The council postponed the decision for Monday, including it as a

special item to be discussed after the regular Redevelopment Agency

meeting, which is the City Council meeting as a separate entity.

Again on Monday, the council was deadlocked on the two candidates

and nearly called for a vote to proceed to a special election to be

held in November, in which any candidate would be considered by the

electorate.

The special election suggested by Cowan would have cost about

$95,000 and would have left the fifth council seat empty for another

six months.

Steel held firm to the idea of a special election, saying it was a

decision for the voters to decide.

“This is so crucial as to what direction and where [the city is]

going here,” Steel said.

While Steel wanted an election, he cast his vote for Schaefer to

show consensus.

“He’ll have no problems with me up here,” Steel said.

After being sworn in, Schaefer took his seat to the right of

Steel, which was pulled out for him by his new neighbor.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.