HUNTINGTON BEACH Central Library as seen from the Central Park. One of the best libraries in the county, it’s become the center of controversy (OC Tribune photo).

A while ago I wrote in this space about a certain disappointment with some of the speakers at a recent candidates forum.

Some of them confused the city government with the school district but – frankly – that’s par for the course for election time. There’s always a certain number of people who seek public office for the “prize,” and not because they intend to do much more than Have A Title and get lot of free lunches.

The other issue I raised was the degree of generality in their remarks I noticed. The standard speech went something like this: “I have lived here for XX number of years. If elected I will keep taxes down and provide more services.” 

Nothing wrong with any of that. But what I was looking for was something more.

I would like a candidate to aspire toward Great Things.

Garden Grove didn’t always have a community meeting center, SteelCraft, a row of huge hotels.

Huntington Beach didn’t always always have its stellar Central Library or its gorgeous Senior Center.

Westminster didn’t always have … well … Westminster Mall’s story isn’t finished yet.

There are lots of needs. Garden Grove, for instance, could use a third library on the east side, and a properly developed park there. The main library in downtown needs expansion.

Huntington Beach has great facilities. The Great Thing it needs is to find its way home from the deep division that have torn the city into two camps and tarnished its reputation as a stellar community.

That would be a greater monument than anything an architect could devise. But first someone has to lead the way.