EDITORIAL -- Our Costa Mesa choices

With 11 Costa Mesa City Council candidates -- including two incumbents

-- vying for three seats, this is the kind of race that could go in any

number of directions.

There are important projects, such as the West Side revitalization

effort and Fairview Park, that are at hand. There is the question of how

to unite the community, which grows ever more diverse. There is the issue

of whether to widen 17th Street.

To guide the city through, the right route to take is voting for Libby

Cowan, Thomas Sutro and Heather Somers.

Cowan, who has been on the council for four years, has been both a

leader and a team player. She sees the larger picture, understanding that

every local issue can ultimately have a regional effect. Also, she looks

at all sides before making a decision -- a good quality in a person, a

crucial one in a council member.

She knows the ins and outs of city government as an elected official

-- she also served on the Planning Commission -- and as a city official

in Irvine, where she works as the community services superintendent.

Sutro is also someone who knows city government. He has served for

four years on the Planning Commission and has demonstrated that he does

not just rubber-stamp development projects. He would bring to the council

a necessary business perspective -- something that often gets lost.

One concern is, however, that Sutro may hold business interests a bit

higher than residents’ issues. But he has vowed to weigh the benefits to

commerce against the quality of life for residents. The Daily Pilot --

and very likely Costa Mesa voters too -- will hold Sutro accountable,

making sure he keeps his promise to maintain a balance.

The third endorsement was most difficult. Before Somers was first

elected four years ago, she was a fiery force to be reckoned with. During

her term, there have only been sparks of the former Somers. It was there

in the way she has fought against small-lot developments. It was there in

her opposition to the Harbor Center because of her concern for area

residents.

But she was originally voted in four years ago because of the

outspoken, strong-minded candidate -- and community activist -- she was

then. Somers still has that in her, and perhaps she will show it in the

coming four years.

Someone who does have that fire is Karen Robinson. She definitely has

the motivation and passion for protecting residents’ interests, and she

should stay involved in the community. Perhaps after a couple of years of

getting to know all of Costa Mesa, she would be a perfect fit on the

council.

Another candidate who impressed us was Joel Faris. Faris has no

previous experience in city government, but he seems to genuinely have

the city’s best interest at heart.

We hope Faris will continue to be a strong voice for the West Side and

the Latino community. If he continues on that path, he could very well

develop into someone Costa Mesa would be lucky to have on the City

Council.