Political Landscape: Costa Mesa hires new chief of staff and 3 aides to City Council

Costa Mesa has hired four new employees to assist the City Council.

Connor Lock — currently a legislative analyst for the Long Beach City Council — will come aboard as chief of staff, a full-time role in which he will help conduct legislative research and analysis and ensure council members are properly prepared for meetings and community events.

He previously was a political analyst for Long Beach Vice Mayor Dee Andrews and was an intern for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank).

Joining Lock will be three part-time council aides — Hadassa Jakher, Alberto Ruiz and Ivis Torres — each of whom will work up to 20 hours a week and help council members with outreach, providing services, responding to requests and related duties.

The council last month authorized creating the positions at an annual cost of $222,000. All four employees will start with the city this month.

“With a population of about 115,000 and a budget of more than $160 million, the amount of work expected of the Costa Mesa City Council continues to expand,” Mayor Katrina Foley said in a statement. “Add to this the addition of two new council members, and the timing was right to increase the resources and support for the council to better serve the community. I look forward to working closely with the new chief of staff and council aides.”

Bartlett is named chairwoman of county Board of Supervisors; Steel is vice chairwoman

Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett took the gavel Tuesday after her colleagues unanimously selected her as Board of Supervisors chairwoman for 2019.

Supervisor Michelle Steel was chosen as the board’s vice chairwoman.

“I’m looking forward to a productive year,” Bartlett said in a statement. “We have been able to accomplish so much these past few years, and it is imperative we keep with that momentum moving forward to ensure that constituents of Orange County are well-represented.”

Bartlett represents the county’s 5th District, which encompasses Laguna Beach, Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, as well as the unincorporated areas of Coto de Caza and Ladera Ranch.

“I look forward to working with Chairwoman Bartlett and our colleagues to ensure a higher quality of life on behalf of all our Orange County residents,” said Steel, whose 2nd District includes Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Cypress, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Stanton, parts of Fountain Valley and Buena Park and the unincorporated area of Rossmoor.

Ex-congresswoman among guest speakers at Newport Democratic Women’s Club meeting

The Newport Beach Women’s Democratic Club will host former Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez as a guest speaker during its meeting Tuesday.

Also scheduled to speak is Erin Spivey, the Orange County group lead for Moms Demand Action, a gun control advocacy group.

Club officers will provide information about the OC Women’s March set for Jan. 19 in Santa Ana.

Tuesday’s meeting will start at 6 p.m. in Room 1 of the Oasis Senior Center, 801 Narcissus Ave., Corona del Mar.

RSVPs are required. For more information or to register, visit NBWDC.org or call (949) 423-6468.

Speaker scheduled for Jewish Republican Alliance meeting

Rabbi Dov Fischer — an attorney and senior rabbinic fellow at the Coalition for Jewish Values — will be the featured speaker during next week’s meeting of the Jewish Republican Alliance in Newport Beach.

The Jan. 17 meeting, which also will feature a question-and-answer period with Fischer, will start at 6:30 p.m. at 1903 Yacht Truant.

Admission is $15 for alliance members and $20 for non-members. Coffee and dessert will be served.

For more information or to RSVP, visit JewishRepublicanAlliance.org or email Stefanie@JewishRepublicanAlliance.org.