Former City Council member Wendy Leece speaks out about upcoming local elections

COSTA MESA, Calif. - Oct. 23, 2018 - PRLog -- A very dedicated public servant asks of her friends and neighbors, "Have we had enough? Do you have potholes?  Are your streets and gutters swept clean regularly?  Are there thefts in your neighborhood?  Afraid to go to the neighborhood park? Do the police come right away when you call? We didn't have these problems in the 70s, the 80s or the 90s."

According to Leece, the problems started in 2007, which unfortunately, was the year she began her first term on the city council. That was the year Jim Righeimer was appointed to the planning commission by Allan Mansoor, then mayor.

"Righeimer carpetbagged over to Costa Mesa from Fountain Valley. He'd never been engaged in Costa Mesa (wasn't a soccer dad and hadn't ever served the community on any committee), yet he got appointed. And the turmoil began. 12 years," said Leece.

"The reason we have so many things to fix is because our priorities for 12 LONG YEARS have been wrong. Instead of fixing things, we've been fighting things--two charters, a for-profit baseball field at Tewinkle Park, overlays on Harbor and Newport Boulevard, the effects of sober living and homeless persons, and saving Fairview Park from being turned into a sports field. Big dense projects. Traffic. Putting our quality of life here at great risk. The priorities of the council majority of Righeimer, Monahan and Mensinger were not the priorities of the people of Costa Mesa but were the priorities of a developer-friendly city council majority and planning commission," Leece went on to say.

So now with active voting going on in the city, Leece says, "the question is, do we want to bring back the good 'ole boys with their out-of-town developer buddies and anti-public employee agenda? Look at the 3-story stack-a-shacks on 17th between Superior and Pomona if you must think about your answer."  Then, says, "I hope your answer is a resounding NO! Never, ever. Not in a million years!"

Leece has lived in Costa Mesa's Westside for 46 years and raised 5 children. She wants those who come after her to enjoy the same experience she and her children enjoyed in a safe, clean Costa Mesa with good public and private schools where families can raise kids to be good citizens. "Our City's charm, character and citizens make for a good life in Costa Mesa," says Leece.  "But, it is all at risk with this election on Nov. 6, 2018."

SO, who will fill those empty seats?

Leece says, "We must vote for Katrina Foley for mayor AND Arlis Reynolds for District 5 or there will be two vacant seats open to be appointed by the new council to finish the two-year terms for the at-large council members (Genis and Mansoor) if they are elected. (I'd vote for Manuel Chavez in district 4 and Andrea Marr in district 3 if I lived in their districts, but I don't.)"

Leece, and other Costa Mesa residents, are seriously concerned that people friendly to developers could be appointed if Foley and Reynolds are not elected.

Apparently, many voters in Costa Mesa share her viewpoint. To learn more go to https://www.savecostamesa.com/ and to learn about candidates mentioned above go to https://costamesavotersguide.com/.
https://youtu.be/LsDEajzEOEY