Costa Mesa voters will fill four of seven elected posts Nov. 3

Mayor John Stephens used his final State of the City appearance on Oct. 27 for a panel rather than his customary prepared remarks, turning the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce luncheon into a discussion ahead of the city’s Nov. 3 election.

The chamber held the luncheon at Hilton Costa Mesa. Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez, Councilmembers Andrea Marr and Arlis Reynolds, Police Chief Joyce LaPointe, Interim Fire Chief Jason Pyle, Public Works Director Raja Sethuraman and homelessness-response lead Nate Robbins joined the panel. The Daily Pilot reported discussion of COVID-19 and homelessness responses, housing, street and park improvements, public safety and community policing. The event was a discussion, not a policy vote or funded commitment.

The ballot covers the mayor’s office and council seats in Districts 3, 4 and 5—not every seat on the seven-member elected body. That is four of seven posts, about 57%. Costa Mesa says voters will elect a mayor for a two-year term and district councilmembers for four-year terms.