A recent opinion piece published Sept. 6 titled Concerning City Council raised important concerns about the current state of governance in our city. It highlighted troubling examples of power concentration, such as Councilman Bob Whalen’s lengthy tenure and repeated leadership roles, as well as School Board President Jan Vickers’ decades-long service without rotation. The piece makes a strong case for why term limits are essential to preventing entrenched authority and ensuring more democratic representation.
As someone whose family has been part of Laguna Beach for over 100 years, I agree wholeheartedly. My grandkids now attend Laguna Beach schools, and I feel a growing responsibility to ensure that the governance we pass down to the next generation is open, transparent, and truly serves the community. Unfortunately, what we see today in both the city council and the school board is leadership that either serves special interests or avoids accountability by delegating too much authority to staff. This not only distances them from the difficult decisions they were elected to make but also erodes the trust that residents should have in their leaders.
When decisions are made behind closed doors, and the will of the people is overshadowed by special interests, it creates a dangerous disconnect between the community and those in power. Residents feel unheard, marginalized, and some end up leaving. This culture fosters disengagement and leads to a diminished sense of community, as described in the recent article.
What makes this situation even more alarming is that once leaders manipulate democratic processes to retain control, they often take further steps to tighten their grip. As public dissent grows, leadership may resort to more exclusionary practices—such as banning Zoom participation—to silence opposition and avoid scrutiny. These actions, as pointed out in the recent piece, are symptomatic of a leadership culture that leans toward authoritarianism.
If we allow these patterns to continue, we risk handing down a legacy of distrust, disengagement, and authoritarian-leaning leadership to future generations. My grandkids—and all of Laguna Beach’s children—deserve better. They deserve a government that listens, that is accountable, and that represents the diverse needs of the entire community.
The November election offers us a chance to restore good governance. We can elect leaders who prioritize transparency and accountability, not just maintaining power. Implementing term limits, as suggested in the recent opinion piece, would be a crucial first step toward achieving this. Let’s also ensure that we support candidates who serve the people, not special interests.
By taking these actions, we can heal the political divide in Laguna Beach and set a positive example for future generations.
Mike Marriner Sr., Laguna Beach
