Ex-Police Captain Installed as School Board Member
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District installed its newest board member Tuesday night.
David L. Brooks, a former Costa Mesa police captain who retired in January, was chosen over seven other candidates and won unanimous approval.
He takes the seat vacated by Edward H. Decker, who resigned after he announced his intention to seek the job of district superintendent. Decker abstained during board discussions of the superintendent search. But when residents of his district complained they were left without a voice in the discussions, he agreed to step down.
Brooks has been a Costa Mesa resident since 1961. He and his wife have three daughters who graduated from Estancia High School.
“I’m a fan of the public school system,” he said Wednesday. “I saw the opening and I saw the need, and I thought I could do the job.”
From his 28 years with a police department, he says he’s used to dealing with a large, publicly funded bureaucracy and is aware of the limitations.
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