Adjusting to 'democracy' Adjusting to 'democracy' (July 09, 2004)

Former judge LaDoris Cordell learns to work within the Palo Alto process

by Bill D'Agostino

"It took a good while to get used to being called 'lower than pond scum,'" Councilwoman LaDoris Cordell admitted.

Cordell is one of the most unique freshman council members in the city's history, having served in a high profile public capacity, as Superior Court judge, prior to her election. She finished her first six months on the Palo Alto City Council last week, and afterward sat down with the Weekly for a freewheeling account of that time.

It's been an extremely hectic six months for the City Council, and Cordell has been at the center of many dramas. Her campaign slogan was "Another Way with Cordell," and she has lived up to that promise by serving as an independent voice -- albeit one that has often ruffled feathers with her forthrightness.

Cordell said the trickiest part of being on the council has been adjusting to the messy stew of democracy as it compares to the clean "dictatorship" of a courtroom.

For instance, the heavy criticism leveled against council members during meetings, and afterward via e-mail, is in stark contrast to the utter lack of dissent faced by a judge, Cordell said. "Of course, I had a deputy sheriff in there to make sure everybody behaved."

Cordell has also had to adjust to Palo Alto's famously slow deliberations for making public policy.

"In the court I said, 'Just do this. Just do it. If you don't do it, the next time you see me, you're going in -- bring your toothbrush because you're going in, OK?' That's how we got things done. It's a very effective way of getting things done," Cordell said. "Here, you obviously cannot do that. I'm working with eight other people. We're working by majority rules."

It was Cordell's motion that brought closure to one of the most divisive debates in the city in years -- the removal of traffic barriers in the neighborhood north of downtown. The barriers had to be removed, Cordell said, partially it was because the city's process for installing them was not right and also because of the barriers' symbolism.

"They (the barriers) said to a lot of people, including me, you're really not wanted here -- this is our part of town and stay out," Cordell said.

Hard feelings still linger in the neighborhood, but Cordell argues it's better than the alternative.

"All I can say is 'The proof is in the pudding,'" she said. "We'll see how things are going. From what I've been able to see and from what I've been able to hear, everything is OK. It just feels better. I haven't heard reports of people speeding through and running down little children, or anything like that. That was the nightmare. That was what was envisioned."

Cordell also made headlines when she argued that Human Relations Commissioner Lakiba Pittman, who abstained from voting on a resolution opposing a U.S. constitutional amendment forbidding same-sex marriage, should step down from her post.

As for the controversy surrounding Pittman, Cordell said the two women have moved on. Some day her view will be mainstream, Cordell argued. Society isn't there yet and it "takes people like me" to speak up for change, she said.

Also during the six months, the council hired a new city attorney, created new rules for renaming parks, approved new rules to clean up the city's planning process, and placed restrictions on a bar popular with graduate students.

"It feels like more than six months," Cordell said.

Staff writer Bill D'Agostino can be e-mailed at bdagostino@paweekly.com

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