Malibu's Election As A Serial Melodrama

The recent earthquakes rattling Malibu could not be better timed, coming as they did at the launching of the local election which has five candidates, including three incumbents, vying for three City Council seats.

But if there was no reported damage from the quake, there was discernible detritus from the first weeks of the campaign that included an all-candidates forum, and much political maneuverings reminiscent of high school.

To be sure, at the forum, candidates Bruce Silverstein and Steve Uhring, were the stalwart straight shooters as they are on the Council, while incumbent Paul Grisanti attempted without a blush of shame to defend his blatant support on Council for yet more bloated development.

Then there were the two women candidates, neophytes Channing Frykman, who declared her candidacy at the last moment to endorse her neighbor Grisanti, flogging one issue, PCH safety, though not knowing exactly what the city could do. Her naivete belittled her smile.

The other smiling neophyte, Haylynn Conrad, was at first winsome, but that wore off quickly as the candidates were asked how they stood on specific issues. She equivocated, answering with cliches, which drew agreeing nods from Frykman, who had been equally vague. They face steep learning curves.

It is hard to fathom why they are running, but you hope one will prevail to claim the third council seat and shut out the duplicitous Grisanti, who has been embarrassment for the city in his self-promotions and appointments, particularly to the critical Planning Commission.

Then beyond the forum, dashing around Malibu, was Conrad at first posing as a progressive, aligning herself with Silverstein and Uhring, only to back away and declare she was an independent, and then back up further, trolling for votes, to stand with Grisanti and Frykman at a planned greet and meet function.

But not any greet and meet, but one hosted by Malibu’s "eminence gries," Sharon Barovsky, to be attended by a hall of shame of past pro development, self-serving mayors.

This might not tie the irresolute Conrad to Grisanti, but to this seasoned political observer she is being weaved into a tangled web no doubt spun by the cunning Barovsky, while her credibility as a candidate flutters away.

As for Grisanti, the apparent scenario is for the sincere but innocent Conrad and Frykman to split their votes and allow him to slip into a seat on the Council for four more dissolute years.

It’s a serial melodrama that runs until Nov.5, so keep tuned.