Mayor Lost for a Good Reason

In the Commentary section (June 18) under the headline “Is Pioneering Spirit History in Irvine?” Cameron Cosgrove reflected on the Irvine city election in which he and Mayor Larry Agran lost their seats on the City Council.

He points out the good achievements of the Agran regime. There is no doubt about the value of curbside recycling, the high quality of the Irvine school and child-care systems. One can only praise the efforts made for the care of the local environment, the tree planting, the planning for mass transit and similar items.

Why, then, did the majority of voters opt for a new mayor and for council members opposing Agran? I cannot accept Cosgrove’s explanation that most voters voted against Agran because they are Republicans or because they were overwhelmed by last-minute mailers sent by wealthy contractors. It was not a clean campaign; I received many ugly mailings from both sides. Nevertheless, Cosgrove overestimates their influence.

It may be worthwhile to point out some of the criticisms made of Agran and his associates. The first item is the intrusion of the council in the business of the state and federal government. Agran sought out issues on which Republicans and Democrats tend to differ, such as policy toward Central America, civil rights, protection of the global environment. Thus he invited partisanship into what was supposed to be a nonpartisan race.

And as for Cosgrove’s “good guys versus bad guys,” a spirit of class warfare had been created in which the city administration represented the good guys, while the business community represented the bad ones. The public-comment period of the council meeting was made available to activists who provided lengthy and often offensive tirades.

As far as the new mayor, Sally Anne Sheridan, and the new council is concerned, I trust that they will continue the recycling, the excellent schools and child care, outstanding protective services and some of the other good things that Cosgrove mentioned in his article.

At the same time, I believe that Sheridan will leave foreign affairs to the secretary of state, civil rights to the attorney general and that she will ask for the approval of new bonds only when they are really necessary. I hope that she will seek cooperation, not confrontation, with the Irvine business community and with the officials of the neighboring communities.

BELA A. LENGYEL

Irvine