My late father, a longtime resident of Ventura, would automatically vote for anyone male, of Irish descent and Republican (i.e., not McGovern or the Kennedys). And I'm sure he's smiling down from heaven knowing that I am in support of Maureen O'Hara for City Council. However, I'm doing so because I admire her strong, pragmatic approach to the issues this city has on the front burner and because I am thoroughly impressed by the content of her character.
When I moved to Ventura a few years ago, Maureen and her husband, Sean, were among the first to welcome me. No, not over a pint of Guinness, but, as Maureen preferred, a well-balanced Syrah. I learned she was a labor attorney going to bat for workers' rights. As a longtime member of the Writers Guild, that resonated with me. I also was struck by how passionate she was about Ventura and how engaged she was in all that it had to offer. Any criticisms she had about the status quo were always followed by a litany of rational solutions, including re-engineering downtown traffic flow and instigating police foot patrols; creating new sources of revenue; defending property rights; and instigating improvements that can only make our city a "go-to destination."
Maureen is someone who speaks in active voice, not passive voice. She's a grin-a-minute and someone with the intellect and persona to motivate, to cut through any bureaucratic malaise. Passion, pragmatic, knowledgeable, a worthy advocate wrapped in a blend of warmth and humor, that's Maureeno O'Hara. As welcoming as a glass of well-balanced Syrah.
-- John Whelpley, Ventura