Leece, Mansoor back conservative candidates

The two Costa Mesa City Council members who aren’t up for reelection this year have picked the three candidates they want to serve with in the next two years.

Councilwoman Wendy Leece and Mayor Pro Tem Allan Mansoor, whose seats are safe until 2010, support incumbent Mayor Eric Bever, former Mayor Gary Monahan and Planning Commissioner Jim Righeimer. Mansoor and Leece have given the men their endorsement for the three seats that will be vacated.

Mansoor, who recently won a seat on the Republican Central Committee, ran a tandem campaign with Leece in 2006 when they won both seats up for grabs.

Each has been heavily involved in the Republican Party and both cited strong ties to the party as influences in their decision to support Bever, Monahan and Righeimer.

— Alan Blank