October 4, 2024
John Stephens, Costa Mesa Mayor candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Michael Slaten, Orange County Register
Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: John Stephens
Current job title: Mayor, Attorney at FBFK Law
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: Costa Mesa City Council (2016-2020), Mayor (2021 to present)
City where you reside: Costa Mesa
Campaign website or social media: www.stephensforcostamesa.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
More supply is needed. Costa Mesa has a 2% vacancy rate, which puts upward pressure on housing costs. In Costa Mesa, we have two projects underway north of the 405 for rental housing (approximately 2,000 homes), and at Fairview Development Center, planning is ongoing for at least 2,300 homes (rental to ownership ratio TBD). An ownership project is planned for Trinity Broadcasting Network. The FDC development will be mixed-use, capturing car trips within the development. Rental housing projects will have an affordable component under our affordable housing ordinance. We have allocated $2.5 million in an affordable housing trust fund and part of our cannabis tax revenue to a first-time homebuyers’ fund.
We must preserve existing residential neighborhoods while developing housing opportunity sites that are near jobs and transportation hubs and improve our infrastructure with the developer fees from specific projects.
California is working toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? How, if at all, would you address this as a councilmember? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Environmental sustainability is a high-priority council goal. Costa Mesa is a LEED Gold City and a Tree City. Costa Mesa has hired a full-time energy and sustainability services manager who heads up our efforts in this area.
When we make facility improvements and maintenance, we always consider environmental impacts. We have encouraged travel mode shifts from cars to biking and walking by adding protected and marked bike lanes, crosswalks and implementing Lead Pedestrian Intervals at crosswalks to improve bike and pedestrian safety. When possible, we have sifted our fleet to electric vehicles and have numerous EV chargers at City Hall, which are open to the public. We are committed to continuing to improve parks and open space. We are developing a climate action plan to coordinate all of our efforts and collaborate with our regional partners. We have also started a Green Business Program through the California Green Business Network to help our private sector businesses reduce their emissions.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Strong fiscal health is critical to Costa Mesa as it is any city. Costa Mesa has a balanced budget and has built its reserves to $59 million, which is $4 million more than our goal set by ordinance. We were one of the only cities in OC to increase reserves during the pandemic. Costa Mesa’s highest source of revenue by percentage is sales tax. We are blessed to have approximately 12,000 businesses in Costa Mesa, creating a strong sales tax base. Property taxes have increased with the increased housing prices, and our hotel tax has rebounded since the pandemic. Travel Costa Mesa promotes our city very well. I sit on the TCM board.
We have also added new city revenue streams, such as ambulance transport and our cannabis tax. Our golf course revenue has increased and enhancements to the course are in the works. Our primary expense is our city workers, including our police and fire departments. We have worked well with the employee associations on collective bargaining agreements that promote recruiting and retention while being fiscally responsible. As for pensions, we pay our annual pension bill in advance, saving $1 million annually, and we have contributed to a 115 Pension Trust that can be used to cover pension expenses.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Public safety is always the most important priority. Of course, an important aspect of public safety is fully funding our police and fire departments with sufficient staff compensation, state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. For instance, we just remodeled our indoor firing range, and on Sept. 6, we are breaking ground on a new fire Department training facility. We invested in a Mobil Command Unit for our police department, an armored rescue vehicle and fire engines. We deployed Flock cameras at entry points to the city to recover stolen vehicles and solve (and prevent) crimes.
In addition to our police and fire departments, we have one of the best pavement condition indexes in California. Smooth roads, crosswalks, well marked and protected bike lanes and traffic calming keep those in transit safe.
We have also aggressively addressed homelessness. We have a 100-bed shelter with 15 beds for substance and mental health treatment and a street medicine program through CalOptima. We have found permanent housing for 380 people in five years. We aggressively enforce our anti-camping ordinance to restore parks to the public.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
My leadership has been proven through my years of service. I started serving on City Council in 2016, and have been mayor since 2021. In all these years, I have never missed a City Council meeting. Our meetings, over which I preside, start on time. We debate and decide issues in a civil, respectful tone. We have been through a lot during my time in office, including a pandemic. Through it all, I have provided thoughtful, reliable leadership. I’m recognized for strong leadership regionally as a board member of the Orange County Transportation Authority and the Transpiration Corridor Agency (toll roads). My network of connections through these boards and elsewhere benefits my constituents. I am also accessible. Everyone has my cell phone number, and I answer my phone. This allows me to help constituents with specific issues they encounter as well as address policy issues with my council colleagues. In my 35 years living in Costa Mesa, I’ve met thousands of residents and business owners. I adopted a servant-leader mentality to my work as mayor and will continue to do so throughout my next term.
October 4, 2024
Adam C Ereth, Costa Mesa District 1 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Michael Slaten, Orange County Register
Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Adam C. Ereth
Current job title: Owner, Ereth Environmental; Chair, Costa Mesa Planning Commission
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: OC Board of Supervisors, Sustainability and Transportation Policy Advisor / Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Citizens’ Advisory Committee / City of Costa Mesa, Finance and Pension Advisory Committee / City of Costa Mesa, Planning Commission
City where you reside: Costa Mesa
Campaign website or social media: Adam4CostaMesa.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
As anyone knows, housing costs have skyrocketed, and with it the cost of living. I support rezoning commercial corridors to make space for our county’s growing housing needs. I support home ownership requirements for new developments, particularly middle-class starter homes for those currently being priced out of the market. I strongly believe that conscious, smart-growth planning will help alleviate the pressures our community has faced in recent years.
Also, I had the privilege of serving as planning commissioner for Costa Mesa during the most recent sixth cycle Housing Element. I made recommendations to meet state housing requirements for new construction while preserving existing communities. I count this as a great achievement, as this entails producing housing that meets residents’ needs while ensuring that developers are contributing to public infrastructure improvements.
California is working toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? How, if at all, would you address this as a councilmember? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I served as the South Carolina Environmental Health Manager for Air Quality Programs while I earned my doctorate in public health. I managed EPA programs on emissions reductions, co-authored and was subsequently awarded a $2 million grant for emissions reduction in Charleston Harbor, and directed the effort of the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools Program in the state.
I served as Sustainability and Transportation Policy Advisor for the O.C. Board of Supervisors, focused primarily on the County Climate Action Plan and emissions reductions at the John Wayne Airport. I am the past Director of Sustainability and Engagement for the PGA, and I am the owner of Ereth Environmental. As a business owner, I am currently co-developing the national environmental training standards for the industry’s workforce, with a special focus on creating sustainable productions in film and TV, music and sports.
With the above in mind, climate change and sustainable practice is my professional background, including energy efficiency and emissions reductions. It is my goal to play a key role in directing staff on win-win scenarios in our Climate Action Plan. This includes coordinating with the city and its residents on climate-resilient projects and partnering with small and commercial businesses.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
As a past member of the city’s Finance and Pension Advisory Committee, it was an honor to engage with my colleagues to contemplate and provide advice on how our city will meet our debt in a thoughtful manner, including our city’s pension obligations.
Overall, Costa Mesa is in really good shape. We are meeting our financial obligations while supporting the departments that serve and protect our city. Over the past several years, a forward-thinking council with an eye for strategic spending (and saving) has maintained a balanced budget, met obligations and continued to support small businesses. No doubt, we’re trending in the right direction.
We have a varied stream of income, a solid tax base, and companies are attracted to the area to invest into the city and our residents. The city has no need to raise taxes on property or on sales. Ideally, forthcoming budget reviews will allow us to consider areas where we can streamline operations further, make additional contributions to our employees’ pensions and make ongoing investments into our public infrastructure, such as parks, roads and safety programs.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
In just about any way you look at it, Costa Mesa is leading the county in homeless prevention. Costa Mesa instituted the Bridge Shelter on Airway (next to John Wayne Airport) with the support of new community improvement managers whose primary goals include keeping our streets safe, free and clear of public nuisances; organizing the Network for Homeless Solutions (of which I am a part); and providing the type of services that get people off the street and back on their feet.
Our homeless shelter maintains 70 beds for those making the transition from the streets to permanent supportive housing and has wrap-around services. We serve folks who not only need a bed, but the resources and referrals to get ID cards, resumes, job interviews, back in touch with family and much more. I am proud to continue supporting this service to our community, including those like the Lighthouse Church on 19th Street that take a supportive religious approach to getting men back on their feet after they stumble. I am particularly proud of my vote on this.
Programs like these make for a strong city, and I enthusiastically support these programs.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
My family, the Perrys, moved to Westside Costa Mesa in the mid-1950s and served as district teachers, coaches and strong community supporters. I grew up in the Wimbledon neighborhood, attended Calvary Chapel and NHHS, and I’ve been a proud Mesa Verde homeowner since 2005.
As a homegrown Costa Mesan for 40 years, I’ve had the privilege to serve our community in various capacities:
– Chair, Costa Mesa Planning Commission- Costa Mesa Finance and Pension Advisory Committee- Chair, NMUSD Surplus Land Committee- Costa Mesa Sanitary District Citizens’ Advisory Committee- Costa Mesa Non-Profit Programs Director- County of Orange, Sustainability and Transportation Policy Advisor
I’m a proud, local business owner, and as chair of our Planning Commission, I have a deep, professional understanding of our city as I advocate for our residents and successfully fight to cut red tape.
As your councilmember my goals will be:
– Alleviating traffic congestion by rezoning commercial corridors- Supporting housing ownership opportunities- Championing senior and youth programs- Supporting small business innovation- Restricting cannabis shops and sober living homes- Bolstering homeless prevention programs and police/fire services
I love our great city, and it will be my honor to continue serving you as your councilmember.
October 4, 2024
Jeffrey Harlan, Costa Mesa District 6 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Michael Slaten, Orange County Register
Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Jeffrey Harlan
Current job title: City Councilmember – District 6, Mayor Pro Tem, Attorney
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: City of Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner
City where you reside: Costa Mesa
Campaign website or social media: www.harlanforcostamesa.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
After serving four years on the Planning Commission, and nearly as long on the City Council, I have heard a constant refrain from Costa Mesa residents — housing is just too expensive. Rising housing costs have significantly outpaced wages, not enough new homes have been built and people who are fortunate enough to own homes are staying put, which reduces the supply for new homebuyers. It is an unstable situation and a crisis for many in our community.
Over the last four years, the council has made a concerted effort to increase housing supply and incentivize new investment here through:
– The passage by Costa Mesa voters of Measure K, which preserved traditional neighborhoods while creating opportunities to revitalize our major commercial corridors and north of the 405 freeway, and directed new growth near transportation and employment centers;
– Working with partners such as Jamboree Housing on a 70-unit affordable senior housing project near our Senior Center;
– Approving One Metro West, which will provide 1,057 units, including 106 affordable units;
– Preparing a community-driven master plan for reimagining the 100-acre Fairview Developmental Center as a new neighborhood guided by smart growth principles; and
– Appropriating $2.5 million for an affordable housing trust fund.
California is working toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? How, if at all, would you address this as a councilmember? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Costa Mesa is preparing a climate action and resiliency plan to better integrate resource efficiency and conservation practices in city operations. This plan will focus on making sure our policies and procedures balance environmental, social and economic considerations. Doing good for our built and natural environments should also make fiscal sense over the long term.
As a LEED Gold City — the only one in Orange County to achieve this designation by the U.S. Green Building Council — Costa Mesa has already taken several steps to institutionalize sustainability in our city operations. This includes expanding our fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles, installing EV charging stations at City Hall for public use with plans for more chargers underway and dedicating an electric shuttle bus to serve our Senior Center. In partnership with Southern California Edison, the City Council voted to upgrade over 6,000 streetlights citywide to LEDs to achieve greater energy efficiency and cost savings.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
During my tenure on the council, we have carefully balanced high levels of service and delivery of new infrastructure projects with a manageable plan to pay for future liabilities. Using a prudent approach to deploying federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, we ensured that one-time expenditures do not become long-term obligations or backfill operating expenses. We continue to make annual payments toward our pension liabilities, evaluate investments and be vigilant about increasing staff resources. Due to our fiscal discipline, Costa Mesa continues to see consistent revenue growth, and I’m proud to have voted for a balanced budget with surplus and healthy reserves each of the last four years.
And while we have relied primarily on retail sales tax to fund city services, I’ve championed our new economic development strategic plan to enable the city to be more enterprising and nimble in developing a diverse economy with new revenue streams. We’ve already seen success, as new restaurants have opened on 17th Street in a booming and vibrant corridor, the unique Mercado Gonzalez Northgate Market has become a regional destination and the city-owned Costa Mesa Country Club has seen record increases in revenue (over $3.5 million).
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
The lack of sufficient housing is an existential threat to Costa Mesa’s growth and prosperity. With little building activity over the last eight years, we have seen and felt the impacts — skyrocketing home prices and rental rates, overcrowding and housing instability. This is why our council has focused on making sure people remain housed and do not slip into homelessness. In 2020, we opened our bridge shelter near the airport, which provides 100 beds, including 15 through a county grant providing mental health treatment services. Since 2019, we’ve housed over 375 people, getting them off the streets and into clean, safe and affordable homes.
As always, public safety remains one of our top priorities. We’ve significantly increased the staffing of our police and fire departments, updated their equipment and technology and funded new facilities, such as our police firing range and fire department training facility. As a planning commissioner, I voted to deny sober living home applications that did not comply with our regulations, and as a councilmember, I have supported enforcement of our ordinance. I am the only candidate in District 6 supported by the Costa Mesa Firefighters Association and the Costa Mesa Police Association.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
For the past eight years, I’ve held leadership roles in the city — serving as the mayor pro cem on the City Council for the last two years and previously as the vice chair of our Planning Commission. I also served eight years on the board of the Costa Mesa Community Foundation. Working inside City Hall and directly in the community has provided me a unique perspective to address the myriad challenges we face. Whether it’s helping a resident address a neighborhood concern, assisting a business to navigate a permit process or deliberating with my council colleagues on a major policy initiative, I have the experience and expertise to deliver results for my constituents and the Costa Mesa community.
Having raised my two daughters in Costa Mesa for the past 18 years, I am always thinking about how our community can meet their future needs. As a land use attorney and former urban planner, I understand how cities grow and develop over time. This is why I take a thoughtful and moderated approach to our policy decisions, making sure my district (the Eastside) and the city as a whole thrives.
October 4, 2024
James Peters, Costa Mesa Mayor candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Michael Slaten, Orange County Register
Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: James Peters
Current job title: Business Owner
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Costa Mesa
Campaign website or social media: www.petersformayor2024.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Costa Mesa must promote sustainable development practices, protect green spaces and maintain the character of our city’s neighborhoods. Costa Mesa voters overwhelmingly passed Measure Y in 2016 to require most major development projects to be approved by the voters. Measure K in 2022 passed by just 22 votes, showing how divided our city’s residents are on development projects. While Measure Y has an exemption for “affordable housing proposals required by state or federal law,” we should still ensure any such proposals are compatible with the general spirit of Measure Y as intended by the voters. Therefore, any housing development in Costa Mesa needs to be compatible with existing neighborhoods.
The city should ensure any impacts of new housing upon existing residents should include offsets, such as mitigation fees to pay for new parks, wider roads and other infrastructure/service needs. Workforce housing aimed at the middle class, veterans housing and senior housing should be prioritized. Mixed-used projects to place housing in commercial areas can help meet the demand and mandates for more housing while minimizing its impact on existing neighborhoods and residents. Even if a project is exempt from voter approval, the city should still ensure these projects meet resident concerns.
California is working toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? How, if at all, would you address this as a councilmember? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
There are many things the city can do, such as improving traffic, expanding parks and green spaces and improving electric infrastructure. Street light optimization would help reduce the amount of time people are stuck in traffic. By keeping vehicles moving instead of idling in traffic, motorists would use less gas and carbon emissions would be produced. The city should find ways to increase parks and other green spaces, as these serve to provide additional recreational areas for residents while also helping to reduce carbon dioxide.
The city government has several electric vehicles in its fleet, but the city government should seek to have its entire vehicle fleet be electric. For example, Yorba Linda approved a plan to have all vehicles owned by the city government to be electric, and Anaheim has added electric vehicles for its police department. While City Hall has charging stations where electric vehicle owners can pay to charge their cars, the city should add these charging stations to other publicly owned parking locations to enable electric vehicle owners to be able to pay to charge their cars. The city government must set an example by doing all it can before asking residents to do the same.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
The city must trim the budget. In just the past three years, the city’s operating budget grew by 22% and added 66 bureaucratic positions. These are 66 civilian positions — these are not police officers or firefighters.
In June, when the mayor and City Council approved this year’s city budget, they included a 21% increase for the mayor/City Council office’s budget for salaries and benefits. Costa Mesa’s city government has the second-highest budget deficit per capita in Orange County.
The city should not engage in wasteful litigation such as the lawsuit against the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to stop construction of a school building — when the city sues the school district, taxpayer dollars end up paying for both the plaintiff’s and defendant’s legal bills and court costs. Reducing this excess spending will enable the city to pay more of its pension liabilities and other city debts while also building up reserves and meeting residents’ needs. To pay down pension liabilities and other city debts, build up reserves and meet resident needs in the long term, additional revenue can be generated by growing the economy. We should incentivize Costa Mesa’s existing businesses to expand and recruit small businesses to come to Costa Mesa.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
The biggest need facing Costa Mesa is public safety. Over the past three years, our city has seen murder, arson, larceny and sex offender crimes increase. We need to provide Costa Mesa Police with more resources, giving them the ability to strengthen their focus on preventing these crimes and arresting the perpetrators.
We should also strengthen community policing strategies. Community policing encourages residents to partner with police officers, builds trust between neighborhoods and police and helps residents work with police to prevent/report crime. Unfortunately, issues related to homelessness also contribute to crime. City government must develop comprehensive support programs and collaborate with local organizations to provide housing solutions. These services will help homeless individuals get back on their feet, provide the mentally ill the treatment they need and rehabilitate those with drug addictions. For those who refuse services, then city ordinances must be enforced to remove them from our streets, parks and neighborhoods, shopping centers and office complexes.
Costa Mesa has a unique problem not faced by other OC cities: we have an overconcentration of marijuana dispensaries (“”pot shops””) near our parks, schools and neighborhoods. We must reevaluate zoning laws and regulations to ensure a balanced approach that considers community concerns.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
As a licensed financial planner and small business owner in Costa Mesa, I know what it takes to balance a budget, prioritize needs and plan for the future. There needs to be greater focus on balancing the city budget, determining what priorities need to be funded and planning for Costa Mesa’s future. Raising my family here, I understand the needs and concerns of both residents in our city. Like all parents, I worry about my children’s safety in Costa Mesa, and I understand the challenges of the cost of living for residents in our city. I am a consensus builder who seeks to build agreement and move people forward.
As mayor, I would listen to the concerns of all residents, businesses, organizations and stakeholders, as well as the expertise of city staff. I do this already in my business, where I need to evaluate information from financial experts and balance that with the needs and goals of my customers. I have a diverse base of customers with different requirements and priorities, and as mayor, I would have to similarly serve the people of Costa Mesa who all seek diverse services and have diverse objectives from our city government.
October 4, 2024
Mike Buley, Costa Mesa District 1 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Michael Slaten, Orange County Register
Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Mike Buley
Current job title: Attorney
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Costa Mesa
Campaign website or social media: www.buley4costamesa.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
This is a complex issue. Cities must consider compliance with Sacramento’s housing element mandate against overburdening already strained infrastructure. In Costa Mesa, which is already over 95% built out, any new development should prioritize ownership units over rentals and locate them in places that are best suited to minimize increases on traffic congestion and public services.
California is working toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? How, if at all, would you address this as a councilmember? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I, along with most people, have an interest in clean air, water and the environment in general. I have faith that new technologies being developed are the best answer to addressing these needs but that setting arbitrary deadlines to transition to currently available technologies can be counterproductive and negatively impact the quality of life without providing proportionate benefits. I’ll review each net zero-driven matter that comes before the council on its own merits item by item.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I’m opposed to living beyond our means, which means I will not support more taxes or bonds to pay for budget items. I will look to find ways for the city to generate additional revenue and to reduce the budget by cutting discretionary expenses and seeking to enter contracts that are bid at arm’s length and provide the city the best value for the services needed.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I do not see one single issue as the biggest facing the city. There are several.
I think the combined homelessness and crime issues need to be addressed by giving law enforcement clear direction and resources to enforce our laws against repetitive and habitual petty criminals engaged in drug possession, theft and vagrancy. Our homelessness policy should be more than simply building expensive housing. For those unwilling or unable to use the housing provided, our laws should be enforced to get them the help and services they need. It is not empathetic to leave people with mental or addictive challenges on the street.
In the realm of development, we need to be smart so that the city is vibrant and attracts development while at the same time protecting the residential and family-friendly character of Costa Mesa.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I’ve lived in Costa Mesa for over 20 years with my wife and three children. It has been an amazing place to raise our family and spend our free time. I’ve volunteered at my local church, youth basketball and baseball. I’ve watched rampant overdevelopment, an increase in the number of cannabis shops beyond what is reasonable and noticeable homelessness and crime shoot up to the point there is a sense the city is less safe.
Dealing with these problems is complex and requires the council to navigate local, state and federal mandates via regulations and court rulings. I’ve been a successful civil litigation trial attorney for over 30 years and know how to research and understand these types of things as well as negotiate with those who have different viewpoints and interests.
A brief comment on “representing diverse communities,” I think a lot of our national discord stems from focusing too much on identity. I met my wife while I was traveling/working in South America 25 years ago; my three children are bilingual. We focus on the character of the people we meet and less on how they identify. It seems to work for us in our home.
October 4, 2024
Jeff Pettis, Costa Mesa District 6 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire
Michael Slaten, Orange County Register
Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Jeff Pettis
Current job title: Veterans Health Administrator (Deputy Chief Nurse of Mental Health)
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Costa Mesa
Campaign website or social media: www.jeffpettisforcostamesa.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Costa Mesa can best meet housing demands and mandates by prioritizing smart growth policies that balance development with the preservation of existing neighborhoods. This can be achieved by focusing on underused or vacant land within the city’s current boundaries, rather than expanding into new areas. Incentivizing developers to build affordable housing through tax breaks or streamlined permitting processes can encourage the construction of lower-priced units without compromising quality.
California is working toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? How, if at all, would you address this as a councilmember? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
In Costa Mesa, while climate change is a significant issue, my priority as a councilmember would be to focus on immediate local concerns such as public safety, economic growth and quality of life. California’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2045 is ambitious, but it’s essential that any local action on climate change be practical, cost-effective and not disruptive to our community.
How should the city balance paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I believe that balancing Costa Mesa’s financial obligations, such as pension liabilities, while building reserves and meeting residents’ needs, requires a fiscally conservative approach. Our first priority should be cutting unnecessary spending and improving efficiency before even considering new revenue sources.
I would advocate for a thorough audit of all city departments to identify wasteful spending and find opportunities to reduce costs without compromising essential services. Funding must be prioritized for critical areas like public safety and infrastructure, while non-essential projects should be carefully evaluated or postponed.
Addressing pension liabilities is vital for ensuring long-term financial stability. This might include negotiating more sustainable pension plans with city employees and exploring reform options that align with Costa Mesa’s financial realities.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Costa Mesa is currently struggling with a significant public safety crisis, characterized by alarmingly high crime rates that surpass those of 95% of communities nationwide. With one in 227 residents becoming victims of violent crime, and rates of assaults, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts well above national averages, the safety and security of our community are at stake.
To address this pressing issue, I will prioritize enhancing public safety through a multi-faceted approach. First, I will advocate for increased funding for our police department to ensure it is adequately staffed and equipped to respond effectively to crime. This includes providing officers with modern technology and training to improve their ability to prevent and respond to incidents.
I will also promote community policing initiatives that foster stronger relationships between law enforcement and residents, encouraging collaboration to address safety concerns. Engaging neighborhood watch programs and local organizations can further empower residents to take an active role in their safety.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I believe I will make a good leader in Costa Mesa by drawing on my diverse experience and deep commitment to our community. As a deputy chief registered nurse of mental health at the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, I’ve developed strong management and problem-solving skills that are essential for effective governance. My background allows me to make informed decisions and efficiently manage resources, which is vital for addressing our city’s challenges.
I am dedicated to tackling local issues like homelessness and public safety. My approach emphasizes collaboration with local organizations to implement a case-management strategy that provides support to those in need while ensuring our neighborhoods remain safe and welcoming.
Additionally, my experience as a leader in the private sector gave me valuable insight into economic development and job creation. I am committed to fostering a business-friendly environment that promotes growth and prosperity for all residents.
By prioritizing transparency, actively engaging with the community and implementing fiscally responsible policies, I aim to ensure that Costa Mesa remains a vibrant and thriving city. I am excited about the opportunity to serve and lead our community toward a better future.