• The Publisher’s Notebook •

Malibu’s March Machinations

BY ANNE SOBLE

College basketball fans aren’t the only ones getting ready for March Madness. The city is starting to shift into council campaign gear, and the fun of Malibu-style politics is already under way. What is Malibu-style? First, it seems that at least two of the campaigns have “moles” who are sending opponents’ private communications to the media in the hope of causing mischief. Other not-so-malice-oriented types may be doing the same thing, but they will probably learn very quickly that this is not appreciated by the candidate. Second, the attack letters-to-the-editor are trickling in, so I’ll repeat my policy about refusing to enable the undercurrent of mean-spiritedness that has prevailed in city elections for too long. Civil discourse is not as difficult as might appear to be the case from past political behavior during council races. Third, supporters have to cease trying to package blatant political advertising in letter form, especially when that form appears to be mass produced. In 2006, seven people sent in the same exact letter. Coincidence, right? However, letter-writers are openly invited, nay enthusiastically encouraged, to explore local public policy issues in their missives without promoting a specific candidate’s views on those issues. Give the well-educated, politically-savvy Malibu voter enough credit for putting two and two together to get four. If there’s support for environmental constraints, and a candidate stands for those constraints, the electorate will get the message.
One form of election communication that I not only will disseminate, but I also will encourage, is public candidate forums. While some of them occasionally may lack the luster of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, forums offer up-front-and-personal exposure to the people who want to be elected to the city council. Although final schedules may still be subject to change, a tentative list of forums is now available, starting on Saturday, March 1, with an event hosted by the Paradise Cove Association and the POINT DUME CLUB from 1 to 3 p.m. in the PC community room. Next on the calendar is the forum of the POINT DUME COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, which is slated for Wednesday, March 12, at 6:45 p.m. This is also the group’s annual membership meeting. It will take place in the Point Dume Marine Science School auditorium. Third is the MALIBU TOWNSHIP COUNCIL’s forum on Saturday, March 15, at 10 a.m. in the Webster Elementary School cafetorium. The MALIBU PARK HOA program is set for Saturday, March 29, from 3 to 4 p.m. at Malibu United Methodist Church. Lastly, the MALIBU ROTARY CLUB is hosting a breakfast forum on Wednesday, April 2, at 7:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room at Pepperdine. Other groups that have traditionally hosted public forums have not yet announced their plans. Residents are encouraged to try to attend at least two events to assess candidate consistency and steadfastness. Moreover, they’re often the best show in town.