Costa Mesa swears in 3 new council members, bids farewell to Allan Mansoor, Sandy Genis, John Stephens
Having certified results from the Nov. 3 election, the Costa Mesa City Council Tuesday bid farewell to departing members Sandy Genis, Allan Mansoor and John Stephens and welcomed the newly elected Don Harper, Loren Gameros and Jeff Harlan.
With the completion of an outdoor, physically distanced swearing-in ceremony held before Tuesday’s regular meeting, a bit of local history was made — for the first time since voters approved creating council districts in 2016, all six districts now have their own representatives.
Additionally, Gameros’ arrival to the dais means four of seven council members, a majority, are Latino.
In a presentation to the outgoing officials, City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison recognized the time, work and tenacity the trio of outgoing council members brought to the city and thanked them for lending a diversity of opinions on important city issues.
“The most complicated issues any public elected officials have had to deal with really in our lifetimes — a period of pandemic, civil unrest, earthquakes, wildfires — just about every calamity we can think of has come our way,” Farrell Harrison said. “And you have handled it with such grace, poise and availability. We’re sad to see you go.”
The city manager shared some parting gifts, including ceramic tiles bearing the city’s seal, individualized street signs with each council member’s name and commemorative photo books.
Mansoor, a three-term mayor who served on the council from 2002 to 2010 and was elected twice to the state Assembly before returning to the council in 2016, said politics can be a greedy mistress and warned incoming members to balance their civic duties with personal obligations.
He commended city staff for their hard work and recognized how much had changed since he began campaigning for office nearly 20 years ago.
“It’s a bittersweet time for me,” Mansoor said. “There are a lot of great memories that I cling to. Thanks to all my supporters and thank you to everyone who has ever voted for me — I wish everyone the best.”
Mayor Katrina Foley walks away with a second term and 53% of the vote, while Costa Mesa voters approve Measure Q — allowing for retail marijuana sales and delivery — by nearly 66%.
Genis, who placed second to Katrina Foley in the race for mayor, thanked staff for patiently answering her many questions and reflected on council members’ difference of opinion over the years. Also a former mayor, she first served on the dais from 1988 to 1996 and then returned in 2012.
“Even when we disagreed vehemently you made me think, and I like it when people make me think,” she said. “And above all, I thank the public for coming and holding our feet to the fire. Sometimes we didn’t like what they had to say because it made us squirm, but I really appreciate that.”
Genis advised all council members, new and sitting, to love the city more than their political careers.
Mayor Pro Tem Stephens, who lost his District 1 seat to Harper by 323 votes, thanked his family for their support and acknowledged a long list of current and past city staff. He said he planned to continue to serve Costa Mesa in whatever capacity he could.
“We’ve accomplished a lot. I’m not done — I still love the city and will serve the city,” he said. “Good luck to Jeff, Loren and Don. You will be great council members.”
In parting, Stephens advised the newcomers to the dais to keep in mind that to be successful as a public servant, one must constantly collaborate and work across the table to achieve greatness.
“The one thing about being a council member is you don’t get anything done by yourself,” he said. “It’s impossible.”
Michelle Steel’s election to the House of Representatives leaves a vacancy on the Board of Supervisors.
Once Gameros, Harper and Harlan were installed to the council, each took turns thanking those who helped them get elected and shared remarks about what they hoped to bring to the office in the four years ahead.
The new panel rounded out the meeting by appointing Councilwoman Andrea Marr to serve as mayor pro tem under Foley, who won reelection in a clear victory, with 25,833 votes to Genis’ 11,158 and the 5,751 votes garnered by third-place candidate Wendy Leece.
“Welcome aboard, and buckle up, because it’s going to be a rocky road,” Foley told the three new council members. “It’s going to be an amazing year, and we’re going to get a lot done for the city of Costa Mesa.”
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