New Issues Surface in Council Race

Many past political hot potatoes, such as improvement guidelines for Newport Boulevard, are cooling in this year’s City Council election in favor of such issues as crime, property values and illegal immigration.

With two veteran councilwomen, Mary Hornbuckle and Sandra L. Genis, not seeking reelection, Mayor Joe Erickson is the only incumbent among nine candidates for three seats. He said he will continue to support business development, a west-side police substation and bicycle patrols.

Candidates Chris Steel and James A. Fisler want to keep undocumented workers from using city services.

Council hopefuls Mel Fleener and Lawrence Jones want to hire more police officers, while Caroline Butler wants to expand what she says already works: bicycle patrols and community policing.

Responding to growing complaints about bumps in city roads, candidates Heather K. Somers and Elizabeth “Libby” Cowan are calling for improvements to streets, alleys and sidewalks.

Robert E. Graham suggests improvements to parks and aging neighborhoods.

Though there are plenty of candidates, the ranks are thinning. Orange Coast College student and waitress Casey E. Evans said Tuesday that she plans to withdraw from the race.

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Costa Mesa Candidates

Nine candidates, including one incumbent, are seeking three open City Council seats in Costa Mesa. A quick look at the nine:

Caroline Butler

Age: 49

Occupation: Marketing manager

Background: Board member, Costa Mesa Senior Corp. and ReLeaf Costa Mesa; member of East Side Traffic Management Study Committee

Major issues: Expand community policing, Neighborhood Watch and bicycle patrols; encourage new business, broaden code enforcement

Elizabeth “Libby” Cowan

Age: 43

Occupation: Community services superintendent

Background: Chairwoman, city Planning Commission; secretary, Orange County Human Relations Commission; member, Orange County Together; co-chair, Elections Committee of the County of Orange

Major issues: Establish youth commission and advisory board with middle and high school students; develop long-term strategic plan for city; improve streets, sidewalks and other infrastructure

Joe Erickson

Age: 39

Occupation: Businessman

Background: Incumbent mayor; appointed to City Council in 1991, elected in 1992; six years as planning commissioner; a Save Our Youth director; Orange County Airport Land Use Commission member

Major issues: Keep reducing crime; balance municipal budget without new taxes; improve resident services; keep city staff “streamlined”

James A. Fisler

Age: 45

Occupation: Regional landscape manager for department store chain

Background: Member, Voice of Citizens Together, which opposes illegal immigration; charter member, Buchanan Brigades; participant, Neighbor to Neighbor cleanup program

Major issues: Fight illegal immigration’s effects on city; replace raises for city employees with performance-based bonuses; build more recreational facilities for senior citizens

Mel Fleener

Age: 49

Occupation: Building inspector

Background: Costa Mesa Republican Assembly member; active in GOP causes; former general contractor; former youth soccer coach

Major issues: Drive down retail vacancy; hire 25 police officers; make city services more friendly; improve building safety

Robert E. Graham

Age: 58

Occupation: Mortgage broker

Background: Former city traffic commissioner; high school sports booster; youth sports volunteer

Major issues: Increase value of aging homes and neighborhoods; public safety; develop parks and athletic fields; improve business climate

Lawrence Jones

Age: 29

Occupation: District representative for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach)

Background: California Republican Party and Republican National Committee member

Major issues: Oppose fee and tax increases; safeguard property rights; reverse decline in property values; improve emergency services; hire more police

Heather K. Somers

Age: 40

Occupation: Freelance interior decorator

Background: President, East Side Neighborhood Assn.; member, Parent Teacher Organizations and Parent Faculty Organizations at Kaiser Elementary School and Newport Harbor High School; co-founder, Coalition for Clean Water

Major issues: Reduce crime through awareness, education and neighborhood watch; improve traffic flow and roads; improve city’s image

Chris Steel

Age: 55

Occupation: Investor

Background: charter member, Costa Mesa Republican Assembly; member, Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce; youth sports coach; former member, Newport-Mesa Unified School District Advisory Committee

Major issues: Curb illegal immigration; create City Council districts; require citywide campaign ethics code

Source: Individual candidates