First in a series
Re “When Gourley Presided, Truth Was in Style”
For a journalist, six years without Steve Gourley in public life is like six years without oxygen.
Or orange juice.
The boldest, most colorful politician in Culver City annals, he only is the co-most unique politician, contrary to what we reported last week.
Before Mr. Gourley twice won Council seats in the 20th century and a School Board election in the 21st, Paul Netzel sat on the Council and the School Board in separate years in the 1980s.
So there.
No other man, woman or transgender has matched their intertwined achievements, a tale that will be related later in this series.
Owner of perhaps the most impressive credentials in the community, Mr. Gourley briefly returned to the limelight this month.
At a Council meeting, he spoke with characteristic – and appealing – firmness against the consolidation of state-local-national elections to fatten voter turnout numbers.
The swiftness and sureness of Mr. Gourley’s well-basted logic has not lost a syllable since his first victory in 1988.
He enunciates with the raw force and the thumping impact of an ancient bell in a faraway tower.
The attorney’s friends know he does not do anything offhandedly.
He did not wander into Council Chambers two weeks ago because he was bored watching the Dodgers’ playoff game.
Mr. Gourley’s feelings against consolidation of elections – an attention-chasing stunt from Atty. Gen. Xavy Becerra – are so firm that he has implored City Hall to let him officially participate as an opponent.
In the next 48 hours, the Council subcommittee of Meghan Sahli-Wells and Jim Clarke is to start brainstorming over a Charter amendment in favor of consolidated elections. This proposition will be presented to Culver City voters in April.
Not alone, perhaps.
On his way out the door, Mr. Gourley looked over his shoulder and said:
“Tell your readers that Gourley has asked to write the opposition to the Charter amendment they have proposed.”
His frequent grin widened. “Tell them he has not ever been offered the opportunity to do that before because apparently he is not important enough. So now they are thinking it over.
“Tell them I am still powerful enough, still in-the-know enough that they should be begging me to write the opposition to the Charter amendment.”
Mr. Gourley smiled, laughed and closed the door, hopefully not for the final time.
(To be continued)
One Comment on ““Gourley Being Gourley. Let the Fun Begin””
Too bad Mr Gourley didn’t close the door more quickly when he was leaving the interview, Then, his self-inflicting ego would have remained caged.