Column: Elections could shift the balance of power in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach

It’s going to be an interesting year for local elections.

Who will be Costa Mesa’s first elected mayor?

How will district voting change the dynamic of that city’s election?

Will Newport voters clean house and vote in a political shift in ideology on the council, as Costa Mesans did in 2016?

These are just the tip of the political icebergs we’ll be navigating as election season unfolds.

This week I’ve decided to focus on Newport, as several candidates say they are ready to rumble. Mayor Marshall Duffield, and council members Diane Dixon, Scott Peotter and Kevin Muldoon — up for re-election.

The first name emerging is a 40-year resident, boxing promotor Roy Englebrecht. He’s back after his 2014 council loss to Muldoon in District 4.

The last go around Englebrecht raised no money, had no yard signs or mailers, and only spent $100 on campaign T-shirts.

“I got 2,882 votes, losing by about 7,000,” he joked. “I certainly got the best return on my money of any candidate in 2014.”

This year will be different.

After selling his business last year to Alliance MMA, Englebrecht says he’ll “transition out” by this summer, making the City Council his only professional obligation.

His says his campaign website will be up in less than 10 days, ready to raise money, garner endorsements and outline his platform issues and potential solutions. He’s already busy organizing supporters and advisors.

In 2014 Englebrecht was the only candidate who came out strongly against Measure Y, which sought to allow increased density at Newport Center. Though that didn’t get him the endorsement of the powerful political action committee Line in the Sand, he met with members again over the summer in hopes of receiving their support in 2018, which, if granted, could be a game changer. .

Among his campaign issues will be high-density development, election reform and addressing the city’s unfunded pension liabilities.

Englebrecht likes what Costa Mesa is doing regarding district elections, as successfully campaigning throughout an entire city is a cost-prohibitive $100,000-plus.

I asked Englebrecht for his campaign philosophy.

“I don’t complain, I compete,” he said.

Another returning name is 51-year Corona del Mar resident Joy Brenner.

She was in, out, then in again during the failed Peotter recall effort.

Now she’s committed to win the District 6 seat come November.

Though Brenner is nursing a broken wrist, injured after falling while taking down Christmas decorations, I found her in amazing spirits.

She’s busy planning her Jan. 25 campaign kick-off party at C Dobbs Boutique in Corona del Mar, launching a website, Joyfornewport.com, and organizing events like “Walk With Joy.”

Brenner says her campaign will be “full of joy” and “cheerful spirit.”

With her long history of community involvement, she’s a familiar name and a strong contender for a Line in the Sand endorsement over former planning commissioner and expected candidate Mike Toerge.

Toerge was ready to challenge Brenner in the failed Peotter recall, but running in a short recall election is certainly different than running a full race in 2018.

Though I wondered if he’d put himself through the rigors of campaigning after his defeat in 2014, he said this week, “I’m still in the mix and working on a strategy to bring resident-first leadership to my district.”

No doubt Line in the Sand’s endorsement and grass-roots support will move the needle for candidates it supports in 2018.

And now it seems a candidate may be emerging from within their ranks.

Line in the Sand board member Tim Stoaks says he’s ready to make a play for Duffield’s District 3 seat.

Stoaks is a friend and neighbor, so I understandably have mixed feelings. I have no doubt his experience as a former Santa Ana Heights Redevelopment Agency Project Advisory Committee member and chair, current AirFair board member, involvement with Still Protecting Our Newport (SPON), the Newport Beach Animal Shelter and and Newport Harbor Educational foundation, will serve him well.

But when it comes to this column and the Feet to the Fire Forums, I call them like I see them, regardless of friendships.

“Bring it on, I’m ready for a lively debate of the issues with you and anyone else,” Stoaks told me.

Folks enter these races knowing full well how ugly Newport campaign season gets but say they’ll stick to the issues and look forward to Feet to the Fire and other community forums.

As Brenner said, “I’m not running against anyone, I’m running for Newport.”

Candidates can pull official papers starting July 16 so there’s plenty of time for more candidates to emerge until the nomination period closes Aug. 10.

BARBARA VENEZIA lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at bvontv1@gmail.com.