Righeimer, Moorlach plan news conference

COSTA MESA — Planning Commissioner Jim Righeimer, a City Council candidate, and Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach, plan to stage a news conference Saturday claiming “potential voter intimidation violations by the Costa Mesa Police Department,” according to a release issued by the candidate’s campaign manager.

Alleged witnesses of the so-called voter intimidation are also scheduled to be present, the release stated.

Righeimer and the Costa Mesa Police Assn. have been sparring since the Sept. 16 DUI checkpoint incident in which Righeimer got out of his car after and questioned officers about the wisdom of holding such an operation on Harbor Boulevard during the evening rush.

The police association has since publicized Righeimer’s past tax liens and lawsuits on a website; sent mailers; and parked a mobile billboard critical of him in front of a candidate forum and has been driving it around town.

An investigation by Costa Mesa City Atty. Kimberly Hall Barlow cleared Righeimer of any criminal misconduct. But police say the investigation wasn’t fair and that they were not trying to illustrate criminal activity in the first place.

The news conference will take place 11 a.m. Saturday on the southwest corner of 17th Street and Superior Avenue.

Mona Shadia