Costa Mesa election race narrows

Lolita Harper

A City Council race once thick with prospective politicians

thinned out Friday as two candidates officially withdrew from the

race by not filing formal campaign reports due that day.

Bill Turpit and Heather Somers, who had both previously announced

formal candidacies, each said the timing just wasn’t right as they

opted against filing final candidate paperwork.

Turpit, a lawyer and well-known Westside activist, said his busy

work schedule has prevented him from launching the campaign he had

planned.

Somers, a former councilwoman who lost her seat in 2000 to Karen

Robinson by a few dozen votes, said she was waiting for pending

lawsuits regarding that election to validate her rightful seat on the

dais. In the meantime, she would rather pursue an elected position on

the Mesa Consolidated Water District Board of Supervisors.

Both campaign dropouts said Councilman Gary Monahan’s decision to

run again also weighed heavily in their decisions.

Mayor Linda Dixon and Monahan are both up for reelection in

November, and the councilman had announced months ago he would hang

up his political hat to devote more time to his family and business

-- a move that essentially left his council seat wide open.

As a result, at least a dozen would-be candidates expressed

interest in a council position.

But with Monahan recently announcing he would run again, and Dixon

filing her final paper’s well before Friday’s deadline, suddenly

newcomers are facing the daunting task of running against two

incumbents, who traditionally have the political advantage of name

recognition, experience and funding.

Somers said she was surprised by Monahan’s decision to run again

but could not ignore it.

“I don’t really have any reason to run against Linda or Gary,”

Somers said. “It’s just not the right timing.”

Turpit also recognized the uphill battle, saying Monahan’s

decision to seek reelection makes it much more difficult for even

well-qualified candidates to be successful.

He also worried that the voter pool would be diluted.

“With Gary’s reelection likely, and several qualified council

candidates competing for essentially one seat, the split vote may

allow a poorly qualified or extreme candidate to be elected,” Turpit

said.

In addition to Dixon and Monahan, Planning Commission Chairwoman

Katrina Foley and Planning Commissioner Bill Perkins turned in

papers.

As of press time, Julie Folcik, deputy city clerk, said she is

still waiting for signature verification from the county regarding

Human Relations Committee member Allan Mansoor’s paperwork.

Former candidates James Fisler and Joel Faris, who had discussed a

run, did not file papers before the 5 p.m. deadline, nor did former

Councilman Jay Humphrey.

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

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