The final word

Jennifer Kho

Costa Mesa City Council hopefuls on Wednesday got their last words in

before Tuesday’s election at the final candidates forum.

The candidates restated their positions on some issues -- the West

Side Plan, 17th Street and the budget -- and also broached new subjects

-- Measure O, which proposes to raise the hotel tax; John Wayne Airport;

and the proposed IKEA store.

Here are their opinions on some of those issues:

* Measure O:

Ronald Channels, Libby Cowan, Thomas Sutro, Joel Faris, Heather Somers

and Karen Robinson support the measure, which would increase the hotel

tax from 6% to 8%. The extra funds would be used for the purchase and

development of new parks.

Dan Worthington, Michael Clifford, William Perkins, Rick Rodgers and

Chris Steel are against the measure.

* Proposed IKEA store:

Clifford, Steel, Robinson and Channels are against the store while

Perkins, Sutro, Rodgers and Worthington support it.

Cowan, Faris and Somers declined to answer.

* 17th Street widening:

All candidates said they are against widening the street, but in favor

of beautification, bus turnouts and left-turn lanes and signals.

* John Wayne Airport:

All candidates are opposed to any expansion of the airport.

* City budget:

Cowan, Sutro, Somers and Perkins don’t support making cuts to the

budget.

Steel wants to cut the job center, Rodgers wants to cut the skateboard

park project and Faris, Robinson, Worthington and Channels support

freezing salaries or gradually reducing payroll spending.

Clifford said he would study the issue and ask department leaders for

advice.