AFL-CIO endorses Burciaga

The Orange County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, which represents 125,000 union members, has announced its endorsement of business owner Mirna Burciaga in November’s Costa Mesa City Council election.

Al Ybarra, the executive secretary treasurer for the labor council, said Burciaga was the only candidate who asked for its endorsement.

“These endorsements that we give, we don’t give them very lightly,” Ybarra said. “We feel very confident that she will win and she will make a very good council person in Costa Mesa.”

Burciaga said she was very proud to have the union’s endorsement.

“I am very happy to be representing public workers. I have a record for looking for their best interest,” Burciaga said. “I think the labor unions are powerful groups, and I think any candidate would want the unions’ support.”

Last week, the Costa Mesa Police Assn. joined the Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn. and endorsed planning commissioner Bruce Garlich and former Councilman Mike Scheafer for the Nov. 7 election.

The other candidates for the two open seats are Mayor Allan Mansoor, parks and recreation commissioner Wendy Leece, and business owner and author Chris Bunyan.

Public safety and illegal immigration are expected to be among the most prominent issues in the election. Much of the discussion on both topics was started by Mansoor’s plan to train police officers to check the immigration status of suspected felons.

Patrick Kelly, the secretary treasurer for Local 952, a labor council affiliate, said the unions decided to endorse Burciaga on Sept. 14, but did not officially announce it until last week.

“We believe she’s a good candidate and she’s not beholden to any group,” Kelly said. “We believe she would be an independent candidate. She has a proven record of being a businesswoman. Also, she speaks her own mind and she speaks the truth, and we place a value on that.”

“We don’t agree with the sentiment others have that it is not the right time for a Latina” council member, Kelly added.

With the election a little more than a month away, work on Burciaga’s campaign has already begun, Ybarra said.

This week, the labor council began phoning union members who live in Costa Mesa. Plans for walking the city’s neighborhoods to ask for votes for Burciaga is also in the works.

In the race, Mansoor and Leece are being endorsed by 46th District U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, 68th District state Assemblyman Van Tran, as well as the Republican Party of Orange County.

Local businesses, including RVCA Clothing, Roman Cucina restaurant, Vestal Watches and Sobeca association members, are endorsing Bunyan.