The race for Costa Mesa City Council

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- Whether he wins the race in November or not, City

Council candidate Michael Clifford vows not to attribute the result to

luck.

The result, he said, will be God’s will.

“I have everything in my life as long as I can live to please God,

which is to serve others,” Clifford said. “I want to do what I can, but

it is up to God. If enough people think I should serve them, then I will.

If I’m not elected, I’m not going to worry.”

Clifford, who has lived in Costa Mesa since 1966 except for when he

was stationed abroad in the Marine Corp. service, said he even

discourages people from praying for his victory at the polls.

He said he only wants to win if he is, in God’s eye, the right man for

the job.

Clifford said his motivation to run for office has stemmed from love

for his neighbors, encouraged by the Bible.

“The Bible talks about taking care of your family, looking after your

neighbor and not looking down on someone just because they are

different,” he said. “Not that I wouldn’t have loved my neighbors without

the Bible, but the Bible has increased my love and my commitment to my

neighbors. It’s not just an emotional, gushy kind of love, either. I want

to do something about it.”

However, Clifford said he wasn’t always so intent on serving others.

Before he was married in 1975, Clifford said he was self-centered. His

whole attitude changed, he said, when he began going to church regularly

and studying the Bible.

But Clifford said he has always been compassionate.

During the Vietnam War, Clifford said, he saw the living conditions of

Vietnamese civilians and has felt sympathetic to immigrants ever since.

“The Bible teaches that each person is a special creation and nobody

is better than anyone else in God’s eyes,” he said.

Clifford said that interacting with people of all ages and races is

the best thing about working at the Pocket Change Arcade in Orange, where

he has worked for six years as a manager and technician.

The job was a big change from his previous job of 17 years as an

electronic technician at Rascal-Dana Instruments. That job ended when he

was laid off due to budget cuts.

Because of Clifford’s reduced income, he and his wife decided two

years ago to move to Bethel Towers, a Costa Mesa senior citizens’ home

where Clifford’s parents also live.

Throughout everything, Clifford said he has had only one regret.

“I only wish I had dedicated my life to God sooner,” he said. “Ever

since I did -- throughout the job change and moving out of out

condominium -- I’m not asking why when something happens to me. I just

ask, ‘Well, God, what do you want me to do next?”’