Last May, when then-School Board President Steve Gourley was steadily tangling with Supt. Dr. Myrna Rivera Coté over her performance, he feared the School District would be sunk if she were fired and her most logical successor seemingly had been eliminated.
One worry was that she had alienated longtime teacher/administrator Patti Jaffe, and another concern was that Ms. Jaffe would proceed apace with her announced retirement plans.
The crackling tension between the Board and the Super never was leaked, even though by Mr. Gourley’s description it was galloping toward the intolerable stage.
But the melodrama never reached the showdown stage because of an unanticipated event.
“Myrna resigned — without warning,” Mr. Gourley said.
His reaction?
“I said ‘Okay, I don’t have to write this damned evaluation,’” and he threw back his head and laughed heartily.
Mr. Gourley also was relieved of the need to find two more votes needed to fire Dr. Coté.
Question: Was your experience with Dr. Coté so sour that it led to your decision not to run for re-election this year?
“Yes, among other things,” the 61-year-old attorney and longtime politician said.
“That took the 2 ½ years I spent with her and I won’t say it aged me, but it seemed like six years.”
What other factors are responsible for your decision to leave?
“I didn’t need any more than that. It’s not like I am chained to this job.
“I have done my best for the people of Culver City, on the Board, on the City Council, off the Council, the Charter Committee. You name it, I have done it.”
As a practitioner of moderation, said Mr. Gourley, it should be no surprise that he is ending his political comeback after one term on the School Board.
“Whom do you think wrote the two-term limit (for Council members)?” he asked puckishly. “I did.”
Do you regret it?
“No, not at all. It is a great idea.
“We did not do this hamhandedly. We did this with surgical precision. After serving eight years, you have to stand down two years, and then you can run again for no more than two consecutive terms.
“The idea was not for somebody to become so identified, so attached to the Council that they thought that was their job, and they were entitled to it.
“The idea behind the standdown for two years was so they would not have the incumbent’s advantage and would be treated like every other resident of Culver City. Then maybe they would realize how they would do it different the next time.”
