Candidates who provide fresh perspectives in race

First of all, our hats go off to anyone with the guts and gumption — not to mention the sense of civic duty — to run for a city council seat.

So congratulations Ed Selich, Steve Rosansky, Keith Curry, Dolores Otting, Gloria Alkire, Katrina Foley, Eric Bever, Gary Monahan, Jim Righeimer, Chris Bunyan, Chris McEvoy, Bill Sneen, Lisa Reedy and Nick Moss.

Campaigns well run, all.

After interviewing all of the candidates with the exception of Bever, who didn’t respond to our invitation, we feel that a few stars — up and comers, if you will — stood out, and may be on the road to future office.

They didn’t quite make the cut this time, endorsement-wise, but they provoked spirited debate among our editorial board members and are worth watching in future elections.

And worth mentioning.

Here they are:

 Chris Bunyan. Where to start? Focused, knowledgeable, intelligent, well-spoken and passionate about issues affecting Costa Mesa (particularly Banning Ranch). If he can pull off his vision of the 400-acre property — preservation, at a buyout of about $30 million to $40 million — more power to him. A noble mission and a tall order, we’re predicting.

Bunyan is concerned about the negative impacts, quality-of-life-wise, that a large-scale development on Banning Ranch would bring, in addition to believing that one of the last open areas along our coastline should be preserved for environmental reasons.

Bunyan, who ran for this office once before and has since more actively involved himself in city groups, also is a proponent of preserving the essence of the Westside while making it safer, and resurrecting the job center issue.

 Chris McEvoy. This guy grew up in and loves Costa Mesa. A school teacher by trade, he has immersed himself in critical matters facing the city, and sees Banning Ranch and the Westside as critical components in preserving the culture of his hometown. More specifically, he sees Banning Ranch as a gateway to developing “South County” style homes on the Westside, which he considers disastrous.

He cherishes the Latino flavor of the Westside and wants to concentrate on improving it, not overhauling it. McEvoy is young, and it would do him well to get on some city commissions or make a play for the Planning Commission as stepping stones to greater things. He certainly has the vision, persistence and intelligence to be a leader in Costa Mesa.

 Gloria Alkire. Everything about this Newport Beach candidate says “leadership.” She comes across as passionate, ethical and a consensus builder. Considering the fact that she’s a former principal and superintendent of schools, and that she holds a doctor of education in educational leadership, this should come as no surprise. With a little more attention to specifics and depth on critical issues in Newport Beach, she could be someone to watch in the future.

 Bill Sneen. As a senior business manager for a major food company, Sneen has experience dealing with budgets, and in his campaign he’s shown a keen eye for financial issues affecting Costa Mesa. “In times like this there is a need for our City Council to be more vigilant when making decisions that impact our budget,” he said. Indeed.

On top of his business experience, Sneen, who spent three years in Mexico, speaks Spanish fluently. That can’t hurt in a city with so many Spanish-speaking residents.

To see all the candidates speak on the issues, visit our Election Coverage page.