Firefighters endorse two for race

The Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn. on Wednesday endorsed Planning Commissioner Bruce Garlich and former Councilman Mike Scheafer in November’s City Council election.

The association is the first public safety union in the city to endorse candidates for the Nov. 7 election. Public safety and illegal immigration are expected to be among the most prominent issues.

The other candidates for the two open seats are Mayor Allan Mansoor, who is running for reelection, parks and recreation Commissioner Wendy Leece, business owner Mirna Burciaga, and businessman and author Chris Bunyan.

Steve Savage, a member of the association’s political action committee, said the endorsement went to Garlich and Scheafer because they share the union’s concerns on public safety, specifically children’s safety, parks, increasing traffic, and planned construction projects.

Savage also said Garlich and Scheafer have more experience than the other candidates.

“We’re looking for candidates who can hit the ground running. They are very well-rounded candidates we can stand behind and endorse,” Savage said. The union has endorsed the pair before in previous unsuccessful bids for the council.

“Firefighters “live in the city between 10 and 15 days a month and care deeply how the city is run,” Savage said.

Although Savage would not comment on Mansoor’s plan to train police to enforce immigration laws in the city, he did say union leaders felt “Garlich and Scheafer will be able to represent our city and the issues that we feel are very important to our city.”

As for the other candidates, Savage said Burciaga has good ideas for the city, but is politically inexperienced.

He did not comment on Leece and Bunyan because they did not meet with the association on Sept. 2, the day the union interviewed candidates.

Bunyan said he did not actively seek the union’s endorsement but did meet with Jeff Janzen, the association president.

Leece welcomed a meeting with the firefighters, but she said she did not receive an invitation. By the time she found out about the meeting it was too late.

Garlich and Scheafer were both thankful for the endorsement.

“I’m honored and delighted,” Garlich said. “I think their job is one of the most important jobs in the city.”

“I’m very proud to have their endorsement,” Scheafer said. “I think they share some of the same vision I have to improve the ability to handle safety matters in Costa Mesa, and they should be local.”

Leece and Bunyan are first-time candidates. Burciaga, Garlich and Scheafer have run for office before.

Burciaga’s endorsements include the National Women Political Caucus of Orange County and the Orange County Democratic Party.

Mansoor and Leece are being endorsed by 46th District Congressman Dana Rohrabacher and 68th District Assemblyman Van Tran, both Republicans.

Local businesses, including RVCA Clothing, Roma Cuccina restaurant, Vestal Watches and Sobeca association members, endorsed Bunyan.