Community Corner

Too Big for His Britches? Mayor Has Quite A Day

A day of traveling goes from bad to worse for Rancho Santa Margarita's mayor.

By Martin Henderson

Winning election to city government by a landslide, being the city's first mayor to serve three consecutive terms, having a year's budget in the bank—none of that means a thing when it comes to the stitching in one's pants.

Tony Beall, mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita, was traveling to San Francisco on Monday to close a real estate deal (his day job is a real estate attorney). But Beall's day took a turn for the worse almost from the outset. 

According to his posts on Facebook, Beall had his early flight canceled because of poor weather and he was put on another flight scheduled to depart at 12:30 p.m.

Then his slacks ripped, a wheel fell off his rolling bag and the alternate flight got pushed back another two hours. 

About those slacks. According to Beall, the entire backside headed east and west, leaving him with a full southerly draft.

"Not sure, but I think someone is trying to send me a message," Beall wrote. "At the rate things are going, my return flight to John Wayne will depart before I ever arrive in S.F."

Beall's wife, Jennifer, saved the day and brought him a pair of replacement slacks, and it was clear the backside of his trip was going to be better than the frontside. Still, he wasn't taking any chances. 

Crista Hicken wrote the mayor telling him that during his down time, he was more than welcome to mosey down to Gate 4 to "visit the Hickens ... waiting for a flight to Georgia." 

Beall was grateful but declined the invitation from the Dove Canyon family.

"I would walk down from Gate 20," Beall said, "but I'm afraid of what might happen next if I move."

About five hours after his original post, Beall said goodbye—and with his luck, possibly for good. 

"Just boarded...every seat taken...doors just closed," he said. "Keeping my fingers crossed there will be no more drama today. Just in case, It's been great knowing all of you."

Beall finally returned home about 11 p.m., after cramming a day's worth of work into a half-day. He is scheduled to drop the gavel on the next City Council meeting Wednesday, provided he gets there safely and his pants hold out.


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