A Maverick’s Return Puts Her Critics on Guard

She’s brilliant. She’s intelligent. She’s capable.

Fans and foes alike of Melba Bishop shower such praise upon the woman who recently waged a successful comeback campaign to regain the Oceanside City Council seat she lost four years ago.

If Bishop possesses the attributes that shape the body and soul of strong civic leaders, one would imagine that Oceanside’s leadership community would welcome her back as a fine addition.

But that is hardly the case.

Agenda Questioned

Former political colleagues, among others, question the ambitious woman’s agenda and say they view the return of Melba Bishop--a name many say is synonymous with controversy in Oceanside--with trepidation.

Although Bishop broke open the political elite’s chamber doors and allowed the common citizen to take part in the city’s decision-making process, critics recall that she also earned a reputation as a manipulative “power broker” who does not understand the art of compromise.

During her rookie year on the council in 1980, Bishop’s blunt, outspoken ways often led to clashes with her colleagues. In one instance that is now part of City Hall lore, Mayor Larry Bagley donned a black-and-white referee’s shirt to quell an acrimonious debate involving Bishop, and threatened to throw a yellow penalty flag for “mouths illegally in motion.”

After an unsuccessful campaign to unseat Bagley in the 1984 mayoral race, Bishop exited from the political stage. Since then, few have seen or heard from the woman who once basked in the Oceanside limelight.

As she begins her second tour of duty Dec. 6, critics advise Bishop that for the sake of the city and her own political career, she must learn to temper her style and work within the system.

But Bishop, 46, who said in an interview Friday that she has no intention of compromising in her council voting, made it clear that some things never change.

“Of course I would very much like to get along with my fellow council members,” she said. “I don’t intend to backbite, I don’t intend to be confrontational. I don’t consider myself a politician. I believe I’m a representative of the people who elected me. And I never forget who I work for.

“If there is an issue important to the people of Oceanside and they feel one way about it and the council disagrees with them, I will be polite but I will be outspoken to advance the people’s concerns,” Bishop said. “I will never cast a vote solely to get along with the rest of the council.”

Bishop’s fierce independence--she was often and is once again expected to be the lone dissenter on many votes--is both respected and feared by her critics. Many say that during the past few years, the council has accomplished many goals, primarily in redevelopment, and gained a certain stability. They express hope that Bishop will not rock the boat.

“During the last four years we have made some great, great strides forward,” said Nancy Jakovac, who has been a member of the Oceanside Planning Commission since 1982. “We’ve achieved a great sense of stability. Now, our current council members don’t always agree, but they have tried to be cooperative. Nobody knows what she’s planning to do. I just think it’s important for all of them to put the good of the city ahead of their own political aspirations.”

Despite some apprehension, Jakovac said she believes Bishop is entering her tenure with harmony in mind.

“I believe she’s become a mature politician,” Jakovac said. “She says she’s coming in with a spirit of cooperation. I’m taking her at her word.”

Mayor Bagley declined to comment about Bishop’s return to the council. But Councilman Walter Gilbert, who was ousted by Bishop on Nov. 8, envisions a turbulent council in the years ahead.

“I’m skeptical about her ability to change,” Gilbert said. “She has a reputation for never compromising. Everybody doesn’t always get what they want, but I don’t think she’s learned that lesson yet. If she goes in and tries to set the city’s agenda by herself, the way she did in 1980, she’s going to get herself in trouble.”

Critics such as Gilbert say they have good reason to be skeptical.

If there’s controversy in Oceanside, they say, Melba Bishop can’t be far away. She has been in the city’s spotlight ever since 1976, the year she stormed City Hall in an attempt to have a left-hand turn lane installed near her home.

Later, Bishop led a campaign to provide Oceanside’s “average Joe” with a voice in city politics, helped unify the city’s neighborhoods into a potent voting bloc and rode a crest of popular support to a seat on the council in 1980. Bishop says she was so popular in 1982, she could have “beat Ronald Reagan in a race for the White House.”

In her rookie campaign, she became the single but ever-so-loud slow-growth voice in the midst of an otherwise conservative, pro-growth council. In 1981 she led a movement to oust two council members over allegations of improper use of city credit cards. Bishop is widely perceived to have brought in political allies, Ted Marioncelli and Gilbert, to replace them.

While on the council, Bishop was known for speaking her mind and for refusing to compromise on issues near and dear to her heart. As former Councilman Marioncelli said: “When you’re dealing with Melba, there’s no such thing as compromise. You’re either with her or against her.”

Then, four years ago, the controversial Bishop challenged Bagley for his mayoral throne. The hard-fought race ended in a disappointing loss for Bishop.

After two years of silence, she was up and running again for a council seat in 1986, but again lost.

But no one has ever accused Bishop of lacking persistence. And 13 days ago today she emerged from a pack of candidates to regain the title Councilwoman Bishop.

Marioncelli and others have questioned what role she can play in the city’s future. Indeed, they’re puzzled as to why she ever ran.

“When she ran for council the first time, she had a meaningful agenda,” said Marioncelli, who served on the council with Bishop from 1982 to 1984 and is now an aide to county Supervisor John MacDonald. “She was an advocate for opening up City Hall, and she did that. She supported slow growth and she wrote Prop. A. She was an important catalyst during a very critical time in the city’s growth. She had a lot of courage.

“But those things are now on their way to being resolved. What else does she has to offer the city? There’s nothing more dangerous than a politician without an agenda,” he said.

Marioncelli further speculated that Bishop’s candidacy has more to do with ego than a desire to improve life in Oceanside.

“Two defeats in a row and I’d pack my bags and leave,” Marioncelli said. “You start scratching your head and you say: ‘Gee, what is she up to? What is she trying to prove?’ Let’s face it. There is a lot of ego involved in winning elections.”

Although Bishop doesn’t deny that statement, she assures people that her return isn’t a result of an ego run rampant.

“Of course I have an ego,” she said. “I think anybody who runs for public service has an ego. It’s difficult to stand up and ask people to vote for you. But you can’t be a public After losing to Bagley, Bishop said, her father called to console her.

‘Squished in a Hurry’

“When you lose two elections in a row like I did, your ego gets squished in a hurry,” she said. “But, after losing in ‘84, my father told me, ‘Melba, you can build a lot of confidence winning elections, but losing helps you build character.’ He was right.”

During her four years away from city politics, Bishop said, she returned to her role as housewife, mother of four sons and grandmother of three toddlers. In addition, Bishop says her interim work as a medical administrator allows her to return to the council with a business perspective.

“I learned how to run a business, hire staff, balance the budget,” she said. “Now when people come before the council, they won’t be able to say, “Hey, you’re only a housewife, how can you understand?’ ”

And as to the mystery of what her agenda is, Bishop says she ran again for council to make sure the doors of the political process stay open for the “average Joe.”

“While I’ve been away from City Hall, I’ve driven around town and have seen how things aren’t working right,” she said. “People aren’t interested in reports, they want to see a cop on their street. I intend to respond to those needs.”

Although Bishop says there are several issues she plans to tackle, such as continuing the redevelopment effort and fighting crime, she says the most important asset she offers is her ability to bring a project to fruition. Even her critics praise her for her talent to see projects through.

“The current council has adopted a recent consultant’s report indicating we need to hire more police officers and revitalize our department,” Bishop said. “But they haven’t established any benchmarks, any point where we can evaluate what’s being done.

“You just can’t sit and vote,” she said. “You’ve got to follow through.”

Bishop says she realizes that there are few, if any, political allies to be found on the council. And she has repeatedly said she’s not looking for a confrontation, although she promises there will be debates.

“I don’t understand why people always view debates as being negative,” Bishop said. “They’re not meant to be confrontational. They’re meant to be used to arrive at the best decision.

“There needs to be discussion . . . The people of Oceanside deserve to hear our thought process and understand how and why we made our decision,” she said.

As an afterthought, Bishop added, “Besides, don’t you get tired of seeing the council members come in, salute the flag and vote 5-0?”

Melba’s back.