Ex-mayor Allan Mansoor weighing bid to return to Costa Mesa City Council
Then-Assemblyman Allan Mansoor in 2014. He has filed paperwork indicating he plans to seek one of the three Costa Mesa City Council seats available in November’s election.
Allan Mansoor, a former state legislator and mayor of Costa Mesa who once grabbed widespread attention for his hard-line stances against illegal immigration, could be eyeing a return to City Hall this year.
Mansoor has filed paperwork indicating that he plans to seek one of the three Costa Mesa City Council seats available in November’s election, according to documents on file with the city.
It’s unclear whether Mansoor is fully committed to running for the council or is merely exploring the possibility. He wrote in an email Friday that he would be unable to speak to a reporter that day.
The official filing period for council candidates doesn’t open until July 18, but those interested can declare their intent to run before then, said Costa Mesa City Clerk Brenda Green. Mansoor is among those who have filed a “candidate intention statement” to run this year, according to documents on the city’s website.
Mansoor, a former deputy with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, served on the City Council from 2002 to 2010 before winning election to the state Assembly for what was then the 68th District.
In 2012, Mansoor, a Republican, was reelected to the Assembly as the representative of the redrawn 74th District.
He unsuccessfully ran for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2014.
During his time on the council, he gained the national spotlight and attracted criticism as he pushed for stricter regulations to crack down on illegal immigrants living and working in Costa Mesa.
He was once named an honorary “Minuteman” by members of the Minuteman Project, a group that opposes illegal immigration.
If he officially joins the City Council race, Mansoor would be the fifth announced candidate so far.
Mesa Verde residents Jay Humphrey and John Stephens, Eastside resident Lee Ramos and Al Melone, who lives in the State Streets neighborhood, have said they are running.
The seats of Mayor Steve Mensinger, Councilwoman Sandy Genis and Councilman Gary Monahan are up for election.
Monahan is termed out. Mensinger and Genis have not officially announced bids for reelection.
--
Luke Money, lucas.money@latimes.com
Twitter: @LukeMMoney
