Future of city’s ideology hinges on voters

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor has been coy for months about whether he’s running for a second council term in November, but he may have to speak up soon if he wants to keep a majority on the council.

As long-serving Councilman Gary Monahan leaves this year because of term limits, a fierce battle is expected for the open seat. To some, this year’s election is about the ideological future of Costa Mesa in a way few other elections have been.

Mansoor has moved ahead with an aggressive agenda since 2005. He led the charge to abolish the city’s human relations committee in July, he voted to close the job center ? one of his campaign platforms in 2000 ? and he spearheaded the plan to train city police for immigration enforcement.

Now that he’s losing Monahan, who played a pivotal role in reaching his policy goals, Mansoor will need a third vote or he could see some of his achievements reversed.

Although Mansoor will only say he’s “seriously considering” a run for council, the city clerk’s records show he filed papers in November 2005 to become a candidate, and he raised more than $11,000 last year.

Others who have filed papers to run for the council are restaurant owner Mirna Burciaga, parks commissioner Wendy Leece, and planning commissioners Jim Fisler, Bruce Garlich and Bill Perkins.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley has been on the short end of a number of 3-2 votes. To her, the November election will set city priorities for the next several years.

“I think we need to get back to basics, back to a council that is concerned about the community and local issues that impact our residents and not spend so much time on issues that our City Council has no jurisdiction over,” Foley said.

To Foley, that means illegal immigration. In a split vote in December, the council approved the controversial immigration enforcement plan, which would make Costa Mesa the first city to perform immigration checks.

The actual plan, under which police would check the immigration status of felony suspects, has not yet been created. But many voters, whichever side they’re on, will use the plan as a litmus test for candidates.

City parks commissioner Byron De Arakal has said the votes of the recreation community may be swayed by whether council members support more athletic facilities, but immigration will be the dominant issue in this election.

“I would imagine the first question out of anybody’s mouth for any candidate is where do you stand on the ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] issue,” he said.

The national attention that issue has gained makes it likely that groups from outside Costa Mesa will get involved in the council election.

Amin David of Los Amigos of Orange County, a loose organization of community leaders that focuses on Latino issues, said the group will work to register voters and devote resources to Burciaga’s campaign. Burciaga has been active in business, school and Latino groups, and she opposes the immigration plan.

“Costa Mesa, I think, is of the size that can be handled by a conscientious voter registration drive,” David said.

On the other side of the immigration issue, groups such as the Minuteman Project already have put their considerable energies into Costa Mesa politics. Minuteman Project co-founder Jim Gilchrist has praised Mansoor at council meetings, and the group made Mansoor an honorary member earlier this year.

A spokesman for the Minuteman project did not return calls for comment Friday.

After being asked several times whether he would accept support if the Minutemen offered it, Mansoor said, “I haven’t even announced yet. These are all things I’m looking at. You’re assuming I’m running.”

Assuming Mansoor runs, Leece might be his best chance to keep Costa Mesa going the direction he began steering it last year.

She describes herself as “fiscally conservative and socially conservative as well,” and she has some name recognition from serving on the Newport-Mesa school board for eight years.

Asked about the immigration proposal, Leece said, “I think that’s a very reasonable approach, and I don’t see anything wrong with following the law, following the rules and having our police officers trained to help with that little piece to make our homes safer.”

Mansoor said that the council needs “elected officials who will put Costa Mesa first” when deciding on issues such as Westside revitalization, the immigration proposal and whether a pipeline from the seawater desalination plant proposed in Huntington Beach can come through the city.

“I have not endorsed anyone yet, and I’ve heard of several people who are interested in running, but certainly Wendy Leece is the type of person who will put Costa Mesa first,” Mansoor said.

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