Candidates for District 3
Daniel Thomas Morgan
Daniel Thomas Morgan, 43, is the owner of Marterra Properties, a Costa Mesa-based real estate brokerage and property management company located on the City's Eastside. Since 2025, he has served on Costa Mesa's Finance and Pension Advisory Committee.
Morgan is running for City Council on a platform centered around public safety, affordability, infrastructure investment, and fiscally responsible economic growth. His stated goal is to keep Costa Mesa a safe, vibrant, and financially sound city where families, small businesses, and neighborhoods can thrive.
On his website, Morgan advocates for reducing property crime, strengthening community policing, and improving traffic and pedestrian safety. On affordability, he supports responsible budgeting, reducing unnecessary regulations and fees, and making local government decisions that help keep Costa Mesa affordable while maintaining neighborhood quality of life.
He also emphasizes investing in parks, sports fields, public spaces, streets, and lighting, arguing that the City should develop a long-term plan to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure. Economically, Morgan supports attracting and retaining businesses that fit Costa Mesa's character while streamlining the permitting process to reduce delays for new businesses. He argues that a stronger local economy and more efficient government processes will generate revenue, create jobs, and support essential City services without compromising fiscal responsibility.
He has been vocal in his opposition to the draft Specific Plan for Fairview Developmental Center, citing traffic and heightened response time of police and fire personnel as two reasons.
Additional information can be found on his website: https://www.morganforcostamesa.com/
Cara Stewart
Cara Stewart, 52, is the founder and CEO of WunderMarx, a strategic communications consulting firm. An entrepreneur, former journalist, nonprofit leader, and public servant, she brings more than 30 years of experience working across government, business, media, and community organizations. Her campaign platform emphasizes transparency, fiscal responsibility, community engagement, and long-term planning.
Stewart currently serves as Chair of Costa Mesa's Animal Services Committee, where she has advocated for proactive planning and the development of a sustainable, city-operated animal services model. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Someone Cares Soup Kitchen and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Golden West College Foundation.
Stewart began her career as a reporter for the Orange County Register, covering local government, schools, and community issues. She has cited her experience reporting about Orange County's 1994 bankruptcy as a formative lesson in the importance of responsible budgeting, financial stewardship, and public accountability.
According to her campaign website, Stewart's priorities include maintaining safe neighborhoods, supporting local businesses, investing in infrastructure and public spaces, improving government transparency and community engagement, planning responsibly for housing and growth, modernizing city communications, and ensuring fiscally responsible decision-making. She emphasizes collaboration, consensus-building, and long-term planning as essential components of effective local government.
Additional information can be found on her website: https://www.caraforcostamesa.com/