Council votes to shorten mayor’s term

Andrew Glazer

Costa Mesa’s next mayor will serve only a one-year term, the

council decided Monday.

City Councilwoman Libby Cowan proposed shortening the two-year term

after seeing how much time previous mayor Joe Erickson and Mayor Gary

Monahan spent at City Hall.

She also said shortening the term would allow more council members the

opportunity to serve as mayor, which is largely a ceremonial position.

“It would allow the responsibility of running the city to be shared

more equitably among everyone on the council,” she said. “I don’t doubt

mayors become more effective over time. But I think if I were mayor, I

would involve more council members.”

Monahan, who cast the only dissenting vote, said a mayor should be

prepared to work hard.

“You have to remember that no one is forced to take on this position,”

he said. “I understood the responsibility when I took it on. I knew it

was going to be two years.”

But Monahan admitted that spending two years in office, while having a

family and a full-time job, can be trying.

“At the end of my term, it’s dragging a bit. But it’s that way when

you’re at the end of any job.”