BREAKING NEWS

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor will step down in January, a year into his second two-year term as mayor, officials said Thursday.

“The position does carry with it additional demands on an individual. It takes a lot of time and energy and Allan is one of those people who puts in the extra time and effort to do the best job possible,” Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder said.

Mansoor, who will remain on the council, contacted Roeder recently and asked him to put the selection of a new mayor and possibly a new mayor pro tem on the Jan. 2 council meeting agenda.

“He simply said he felt that serving as mayor for three years was plenty of time for him to be mayor and he would like to give some else the opportunity,” Roeder said.

Mansoor gained national media attention in 2005 when he advocated having local police enforce immigration laws.

“It’s a surprise to me,” Councilwoman Katrina Foley said. “I can’t imagine why he would want to step down — he seems to enjoy being the mayor.”

The council will pick a new mayor from among their ranks, and the appointment is usually based on seniority.