Mayor O’Connor’s Easter Promotion Lays an Egg in One Household

Public affairs.

* Hard-boiled.

The father of a 2-year-old girl who found a large plastic egg donated by Mayor Maureen O’Connor to the La Jolla Easter Egg Hunt has angrily returned the egg’s contents.

Along with a letter upbraiding the mayor for her personal water use and allegedly “exploiting a child’s Easter joy for political propaganda.”

University of San Diego graduate student Reinhart Koehler, whose daughter, Camila, found the bright green egg, also wrote:

“The symbolism of the Mayor’s egg was not lost on me. It stands for a politician’s big promise which again turns out to be rather hollow.”

The egg was among 136--each stuffed with candy, city trinkets and the mayor’s business card--donated to 42 hunts around San Diego.

This is the second controversy over mayoral Easter eggs. In 1989, there was a protocol flap involving City Council members.

“The only problem I’ve ever had with these eggs has come from adults, not children,” O’Connor said.

* Salty stuff.

While in Yuma to watch the Padres, San Diego Councilman Ron Roberts decided to inspect the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District desalination plant (does this guy know how to have fun or what?).

Using filters made by San Diego firms, the plant is supposed to desalinate farm water. But, after 15 years, the process is still not perfected.

One tip-off: plant employees drink only bottled water.

* Dishonor among golfers.

The honor system for golfers using the driving range at Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course is no more. Golfers used to pay based on how much time they consumed whacking balls.

But too many were sneaking off without paying.

As of Monday, golfers were back to paying for each bucket. In advance.

Pet Lovers at the Polls

Here and there.

* A 56-year-old Escondido man facing felony charges for drowning his neighbor’s cats says the prosecution is “politically motivated.”

As you know, cat-lovers are heavy voters.

* Ad for the campus health clinic in the student newspaper at San Diego State University: “It’s No Joke. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Exist. How Was Spring Break?”

Would it help if you knew that April is Sexually Transmitted Diseases Month?

* The Public Utilities Commission next week will delay its decision on The Merger for at least two weeks. Merger opponents think this is a bad sign.

* Chula Vista hypnotist Paul Kincade is teaching self-hypnosis to San Diego cops as a way to pass promotional exams. The idea is supported by Chief Bob Burgreen.

* Chris Coetzee, a San Diego transplant from South Africa, is advertising his availability as a motivational speaker.

Among his credentials: He ran a “behavior modification” program for black political prisoners in his homeland’s prison system.

Pardon Sought on Goof

Mea culpa. Mea goofa.

Mark Winston, the pen-pal-seeking inmate at the County Jail in downtown San Diego, is awaiting trial on forgery, bad check and burglary charges, not awaiting sentencing, as reported here Wednesday.

He says a larcenous look-alike committed some of the crimes, and the district attorney’s office will soon realize its error.

Winston, 34, was bound over after a preliminary hearing and is set for felony arraignment next week.

For the record: He’s got convictions for burglary, auto theft, drug possession, robbery and mail fraud. He just spent a year in federal prison and is still on parole.

His pen-pal ad in Sunday’s Times has yet to reap any promising correspondents. But he says he has had offers to work for local telemarketing firms.

He’s got to decline: Inmates can only make collect calls.