Candidates for District 5
Kelly Brown
Kelly Brown, 49, is the Director of Media Relations and Communications for the UC Irvine School of Humanities and serves as the Chair of the Costa Mesa Parks and Community Services Commission. She highlights her experience in public policy, strategic planning, budgeting, and communications, including work with government agencies at multiple levels, management of multimillion-dollar budgets, and service as a city commissioner.
Brown holds a Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz and is communications director for UC Irvine's School of Humanities. Outside of work, she is active in the Costa Mesa community and enjoys reading, live music, camping, baking, and astronomy.
Brown's campaign focuses on affordability, quality of life, public safety, environmental sustainability, and government transparency. She advocates for expanding housing opportunities while maintaining design standards, supporting small businesses through streamlined city processes, and investing in parks, open space, and community amenities.
Brown emphasizes arts and culture as an economic and community asset, and supports investments in safe streets, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and traffic-calming measures. Her public safety platform includes support for fully staffed police and fire departments, improved emergency facilities, neighborhood-based community building, and protections for vulnerable residents.
She also supports implementation of Costa Mesa's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, including initiatives related to clean energy, green jobs, and environmental resilience.
On governance, Brown calls for greater fiscal transparency, public engagement, and process improvements at City Hall, arguing that government should be more accessible, responsive, and accountable to residents.
Learn more about Kelly Brown at https://kellyforcostamesa.com/
Stephen M Smith III
Steve Smith, 38, should not be confused with the Steve Smith who previously ran for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board and served on the former Fairview Park Advisory Committee. This Steve Smith appears to have family ties to the East Coast and works as a technology consultant. He has been a member of the City's Animal Services Committee since April 2025. His Statement of Economic Interests discloses multiple sources of income, including a family trust.
Smith's campaign centers on preserving public access to Fairview Park, strengthening public safety, maintaining fiscal discipline, supporting local businesses, and improving government transparency.
He opposes revisions to the Fairview Park Master Plan that he believes could limit long-standing recreational activities, including RC glider flying, arguing that the park should remain accessible to local families. On public safety, Smith advocates increased investment in crime prevention and law enforcement, citing concerns about property crime.
Smith also calls for addressing Costa Mesa's structural budget deficit while maintaining core city services. He supports reducing regulatory barriers for businesses and promoting economic growth, while emphasizing transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to District 5 residents.
More information about him is available on his website: https://www.smithforcostamesa.com/
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