Two Westside activists hint at council run

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- A second Westside resident and activist announced this

week he is strongly considering running for one of the two seats that

will be open in the November election.

Council members Linda Dixon and Gary Monahan are both up for

reelection, and while Dixon said she will fight to keep her seat, Monahan

has decided to bow out of politics, leaving one seat up for grabs.

Allan Mansoor, who has emerged lately as an outspoken council critic,

and past council candidate Joel Faris have both indicated an interest in

securing a seat on the dais but have not yet begun a full-fledged

campaign.”I’m keeping it low key because I haven’t officially announced

it yet,” said Mansoor, who along with Faris is a frequent contributor to

a local Internet e-mail chat group and bulletin board where residents

discuss Westside issues.

The two men say they share similar ideas about improving the city and

are entertaining the idea of running together.

“Allan and I just seem to click,” Faris said. “We work well together,

which is needed on the council.”

While Faris and Mansoor may not agree on everything, Faris said they

share a “common sense” outlook on certain Costa Mesa issues.

Faris said one example of proceeding with common sense is Mansoor’s

opinion on the Job Center -- the center of recent citywide controversy.

“I don’t believe it should be closed cold turkey,” Mansoor said. “I

want a sensible approach to the [Job Center]. If we just close it today,

we will only bring more problems.”

Mansoor said he realizes his views may not be exactly in line with

many people who have already expressed support for his possible

candidacy, namely those aligned with the Citizens for Improvement of

Costa Mesa.

Mansoor said he has no official affiliation with any community group

but is in close contact with many members of the Citizens for Improvement

of Costa Mesa, a group run by Westside activist Janice Davidson. On the

community e-mail group -- also run in part by Davidson -- many of the

residents who call themselves “improvers” have voiced support for

Mansoor.

“I don’t want to assume I have the support of an entire group because

each person has their own individual opinions, but you can definitely

call me an ‘improver,”’ Mansoor said.

The “improvers” are, in large part, supporters of Councilman Chris

Steel. Davidson and other Westside activist were instrumental in Steel’s

landslide victory last November.

On recent e-mail postings, chat group members have called for Westside

residents to consider running to help Steel gain majority votes on issues

such as the Job Center, vending trucks and local charities.

While Mansoor may share some of the same concerns, he said his goal is

not to help Steel gain the two council votes he has been lacking.

“I am not in any way agreeing with everything Chris Steel says or how

he does things,” Mansoor said. “I have my own ideas.”

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .