City Asks, What Will Nichols Do Next?

After officially censuring one of its members for making racially insensitive remarks, the Newport Beach City Council would like to think the matter is history.

But if history is any judge, it’s not.

Mayor Steve Bromberg said that “it’s only a matter of time” before Councilman Richard Nichols steps into controversy again. Residents plan to meet today to plan a recall. And Saturday, a fiesta is planned at Corona del Mar State Beach, where Nichols said he opposed putting in grass because he feared it would attract too many Mexicans.

After his comment was published in a local newspaper, council members repeatedly asked for Nichols’ resignation. But at their meeting Tuesday, they stopped short of pulling him from committees and passed a weaker version of a resolution asking for his resignation if he can’t abide by his City Council oath to make decisions free of racial, religious or ethnic influences.

Only Nichols and Councilman John Heffernan cast dissenting votes. Heffernan, who does not support Nichols, said he voted against the resolution because “it’s not my role to judge if he is a bigot.”

The council’s decision, which even members agreed was toothless, may ultimately fan the controversy.

“I think the council has gone as far as it can. It is up to the community to get rid of him,” said resident Lloyd Ikerd, who is spearheading the recall effort.

About 150 people jammed City Hall for Tuesday’s acrimonious, six-hour meeting.

Most of the nearly 50 speakers -- 68% of them by Bromberg’s count -- live outside Newport Beach and offered support for Nichols. One man waved a U.S. flag; another wore a “Buchanan for President” T-shirt.

“Do not censure Mr. Nichols,” said Carol Lee of Glendale. “He is a courageous man who spoke truth.”

But more than two-thirds of the speakers from Newport Beach chastised the councilman.

Nichols did not return calls Wednesday, but said at the meeting that he would comply with the resolution because his policy decisions are not clouded by racism. He has apologized to those he offended but has never backed down from his statements.

“I am not a racist,” Nichols told the audience. “For the record, I have never made a council decision based on nationality, ethnicity or religion. I will also not make any future decisions based on nationality, ethnicity or religion.”

In May, Nichols accused a member of the Planning Commission of taking a bribe. After a reprimand from his colleagues, Nichols apologized.

Months ago, the city’s firefighters union withheld its support for Nichols’ candidacy after members heard him make questionable comments about Mexicans.

As a result, some residents wondered whether Nichols could be an effective council member. Nichols agreed that his position is tenuous: “Right now I’m very compromised because these guys [council members] don’t want to talk to me. I’m going to do the best I can.”