Hardly anyone has enjoyed being on the City Council more than now former Mayor Mehaul O’Leary.
As a gentleman in public office, his externals were so vivid even a corpse would have noticed and sat up.
With verve, the 50-year-old currently single Irish pub owner plunged into his Council/mayoral responsibilities every morning. It was as if he were diving into a vast pool of gold coins and had 20 seconds to gather his share.
Upon winning elected office in his adopted land eight years ago, Mr. O’Leary immediately signed up for satellite committees and ancillary organizations.
In important channels, Mr. O’Leary’s approach to public office parallels that of new Mayor Jim Clarke. Both single, they are married to their work in ways that colleagues admire.
When Mr. O’Leary was term-limited thus week, Mayor Clarke paid a revelatory tribute to him in front of as large of a crowd as there ever has been in Council Chambers, 250.
Mr. Clarke said:
Mayor O’Leary, I have described you as an Irish mensch. You do so many kind and charitable acts that most folks are not aware of.
I have seen you in action these past two years in coordinating the annual Holiday meal at the Senior Center.
I look forward to continuing the tradition you started. Thank you on behalf of the community for you generosity.
You are our most enthusiastic Council member. You have a great love for the city and for our country. You have been a leader with the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission.
You have taught us to call it urban runoff rather than stormwater runoff.
You have been active outside Culver City through leadership positions in the Independent Cities Assn. and the California League of Cities.
Whenever I attend a conference in some other part of California or in another state I always am asked about that crazy Irishman from Culver City.
You have helped put Culver City on the map . . . in a positive way.
You have taught us to not be afraid to tackle tough issues and reminded us to take action lest we move at the” speed of government.”
I wish you Godspeed in your future endeavors.
