BEHIND THE HEADLINES:’It’s important to get involved’

If not for term limits, Gary Monahan would be running for a fourth term on the Costa Mesa City Council.

He wouldn’t even mind the intense spotlight that has fallen on the community since Mayor Allan Mansoor started promoting a plan to train the city’s police officers to check the immigration status of suspected felons.

“As controversial as things are, I would have probably run again,” said Monahan, who was elected in 1994.

After 12 years, Monahan is leaving the council, but not politics. He is running for a seat on the Costa Mesa Sanitary District board in the Nov. 7 election.

In the council race, Monahan endorses Parks and Recreation Commissioner Wendy Leece. There are two open seats on the council. Mansoor is running for reelection.

The restaurant owner and father of six strongly believes in community involvement. Monahan serves on several boards, including the Orange County Transportation Authority and the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

Q. How have you juggled family, business and politics for 12 years?

A. I do the best I can. It just comes down to priorities. My business is only open for dinner, leaving the day free to spend with my family.

Q. What changes have you seen in the city since you began serving on the council 12 years ago?

A. I’ve seen major improvements to all the freeways and Harbor Boulevard; the opening of Home Depot, the art center and the farm site; and the rise of the city’s Web site and the web-cast of the [council] meetings. The population has grown a good amount, too. I’ve just seen a modernizing of the community.

Q. What council achievements make you feel proudest?

A. There are so many. The farm soccer complex and Harbor Center. I think the most heartwarming are the personal ones, like the preschool openings. It’s the things that really affect people in their daily lives.

I’m proud of the relationship we’ve had with the Fairgrounds and community groups such as the Fairview Development Center and the Conference and Visitor Bureau that was founded while I was on the council.

Something else to be proud of is that we streamlined the permitting system, making our planning department one of the easiest and friendliest in the county.

Another accomplishment is that we have black-and-white patrol cars. When I suggested it, I was criticized.

I was also the founder of the Mayor’s Award.

Q. How has your support for Mayor Allan Mansoor’s plan to have Costa Mesa police enforce immigration laws affected you?

A. I’ve had no physical threats, but lots of nasty vocal comments. It’s brought more publicity to myself and my business. If this had been my first year on the council, I’m sure I would have been more uptight about the whole situation. But after 12 years, I’ve seen a lot and have been able to handle what goes with the job, and I’m able to go with the flow.

Q. Do you regret supporting Mansoor’s immigration plan?

A. No regrets. I firmly believe the council majority made the right decision, that if a felony gang crime is committed, legal status should be checked.

The one regret I have is that after 12 years of an awful lot work on the council I’m ending with this issue. It’s one issue out of thousands. The [illegal immigration] issue is way beyond Costa Mesa — it’s nationwide. It has come to the forefront here because it’s been ignored for so long. We’ve allowed it to get out of hand.

Q. Do you have any other regrets?

A. One of my biggest regrets is that when we had the opportunity to relocate City Hall and the police department to downtown, we failed to do that. Another regret is that we were unable to eradicate the gang problem when it was smaller, and now we’re having to deal with a large gang problem.

Q. What are you looking forward to when you leave the council?

A. I’m looking forward to less meetings and more free time to run my business and help raise my kids.

Q. Why did you run for council more than 12 years ago?

A. Originally, I ran after the city tried to close the Goat Hill Tavern, my employer at the time. I felt the city council had an anti-business bias, and I believe that has changed for the better continually with my time in office.

Q. Why was it important for you to become involved with your city?

A. I think it’s important to get involved. When I worked for the Goat Hill Tavern, I learned that city government can severely affect your everyday life. I believe it’s imperative for people to get involved and keep city government responsive to the individuals who make up the city.