8 + 1 = 9-way council race

A late addition to the field of candidates for Costa Mesa’s three open City Council seats put his name on the ballot with no time to spare Wednesday.

High school math teacher Christopher McEvoy, 29, grew up in Costa Mesa and decided to be the ninth contender in the field when he found himself at City Hall to pay a parking fine Tuesday.

“I’ve wanted to run for a while, but I had to work on my teaching credential,” McEvoy said.

McEvoy, who is known by his friends as Flowbee because of the home haircutting device by that name that he owns, opted not to pay the almost $2,000 fee to put a candidate statement on the ballot, saying he will attempt a grassroots campaign.

He does not plan to raise funds at all, but he said his friends and relatives in many neighborhoods around the city will help him make signs and spread the word.

“I’m going to do a word-of-mouth type thing. Go door to door and get my friends to talk to their friends. It’s going to be a pretty organic campaign,” McEvoy said.

McEvoy has taught high school math in Downey for four years. He graduated with a math degree from Cal State Long Beach.

“I am young, but at the same time the city will be mine for much longer. I intend on living out my life here,” McEvoy said.

Although McEvoy took advantage of the three-day extension of the filing deadline provided by outgoing Councilwoman Linda Dixon’s decision not to run, he said that Dixon’s departure did not play a part in his decision to give it a shot. According to McEvoy, it was just a fortunate coincidence that allowed him to do what had been on his mind for years.

He will face stiff competition from a field that boasts decades of combined City Council experience and community involvement.

All nine candidates, including McEvoy, have had the 20 signatures that they are required to get from registered Costa Mesa voters verified by the Orange County Registrar of Voters. Now the field is officially finalized, and the filing deadline will be extended no further.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.