Municipal elections in Costa Mesa are held every two years. Beginning in 1982, the elections were consolidated with the statewide general elections.[1] From 1954 to 2016, voters could select as many candidates as open positions, meaning the total vote count could exceed voter registration numbers. Following the passage of Measure EE in 2016, Costa Mesa moved from a system of electing either two or three councilmembers at-large every two years, to a seven member city council with a directly elected mayor, with a two-year term, and six city councilmembers with four year terms.
On March 25, 1947, a petition was presented to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to incorporate Costa Mesa as a city.[3] Following a public hearing, an election was set to be held on October 7 to determine whether the city shall become incorporated and filling the offices of five city council members, one city clerk, and one city treasurer.[4]
As the incorporation vote failed, no officer was elected.
At a special election, held on June 16, Costa Mesans voted to incorporate as a general law city.[6] The election also polled whether a city manager form of government should be used and who would be elected to the inaugural city council.
The 1954 municipal election, held on April 13, was Costa Mesa's first election as a city. The voters would elect all five Costa Mesa City Council members, with the top two vote-getters receiving a four year term, and the following three a two year term.[8] The City Council also approved placing Proposition 1 on the ballot, which asked voters whether councilmembers should receive fifty dollars ($50) per month.[8][9] There were 1,759 ballots cast.
A map of the Mesa Annexation No. 2 area on Costa Mesa's Westside
On July 2, 1956, the City Council announced its intention to call for a special election on whether to annex a portion of land known as "Mesa Annexation No. 2."[13] The election was held on October 11, 1956.[14][15] Electors were those within the annexation area. There were 119 total votes, with 70 in favor and 49 against.
Mesa Annexation No. 2
October 11, 1956
Shall the area be annexed into the City of Costa Mesa?
On September 24, 1957, the City held a special bond election to acquire and construct a water storage reservoir and other water-related infrastructure.[16] Since the measure required a two-thirds vote to pass, it was declared to have failed.
As the territory of Mesa Annexation No. 2 had not been fully incorporated into the city at this point, the City Council also held a special public opinion poll within the zone.[17] The result within the annexation area was 18 yes votes to 43 no votes.
Following the resignation of Charles TeWinkle in December 1955, Arthur Meyers was unanimously appointed to serve the remainder of his term.[18] Meyers ran for reelection as an incumbent.
The 1958 municipal election, held on April 8, was to elect two members of the City Council.[19] There were 2,517 ballots cast.
Shall the City Prohibit the Sale and Regulate the Use of Fireworks?
Outcome
Failed
Results
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
1,651
32.82%
No
3,379
67.18%
Following the resignation of Councilmember Bruce Martin on July 1, 1957, John Smith was unanimously appointed to fill the unexpired term.[21] Smith would go on to run for reelection.
Referendum on Ordinance 291
April 12, 1960
Shall the City Regulate and Control Oil Drilling?
Results
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
3,761
77.37%
No
1,100
22.63%
The 1960 municipal election, held on April 12, was to elect three members of the City Council and to vote on two referendums.[22] The Newport Harbor Union High School District consolidated a bond election to build a new high school with the city's general election.[23] Due to the number of issues on the ballot, the City Council adopted a resolution urging participation in the election.[24] There were 5,081 ballots cast.
The 1964 municipal election, held on April 14, was to elect three members of the City Council.[29] The election was consolidated with that of the Costa Mesa Union School District.[30] There were 7,860 ballots cast.
Following the resignation of councilmember Joseph Tomchak on August 5, 1963, the Council appointed Willard Jordan to fill the remainder of the term on August 19 of that year.[32][33] Jordan would run for reelection as an incumbent.
The 1966 municipal election, held on April 12, was to elect two members of the City Council.[34] There were 5,868 ballots cast.
The 1973 special bond election, held on September 11, was for voters to decide whether to approve two bonds related to park improvements.[45] Proposition A was a $2.602 million dollar bond for the acquisition of park sites and open space. Proposition B was a $1.308 million dollar bond for the construction of park improvements and public recreational facilities.[46] Both propositions passed by the required two-thirds vote, with Proposition A gaining 4,145 out of 5,826 votes and Proposition B gaining 4,009 out of 5,800 votes.
The 1974 municipal election, held on March 5, was to elect two members of the City Council.[47] Norma Hertzog was the first woman elected to the Costa Mesa City Council.[6]
On March 1, the City Council passed Ordinance 76-11, which rezoned a parcel of land from single-family residential to commercial, by a 3-2 vote.[52] A petition against the ordinance was signed by more than 10 percent of registered voters, causing a special election to be called.[53] The referendum election was consolidated with the statewide general election that same year. The referendum failed and the ordinance was not adopted, receiving 10,231 votes in favor and 17,437 against.
The 1978 municipal election, held on March 7, was to elect two members of the City Council and to vote on one initiative placed on the ballot by petition.[54][55] There were 8,355 ballots cast.
Shall the area be zoned single-family residential?
Outcome
Passed
Results
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
4,295
52.40%
No
3,901
47.60%
The initiative was to zone all land bounded roughly by Bear Street, Sunflower Avenue, South Coast Drive, and Fairview Road as single-family residential. The initiative passed with 4,295 voting in favor and 3,901 against.
Following the death of Vice Mayor Smallwood on October 7, 1978,[57] Planning Commission Chairman Donn Hall was unanimously appointed to fill the vacancy and was an incumbent in the 1980 election.[58]
The 1980 municipal election, held on April 8, was to elect three members of the City Council.[59] There were 6,758 ballots cast.
Shall rental housing developments for the specified groups be developed in Orange County?
Outcome
Passed
Results
Choice
Votes
%
Yes
11,632
61.72%
No
7,214
38.28%
The Measure J Election, held on June 3, was an initiative to approve rental housing developments for elderly, handicapped, and low or moderate income persons.[62] The election was held across unincorporated Orange County, with cities having the ability to opt-in by resolution, which Costa Mesa did by adoption Resolution 80-34. The election was consolidated with the Orange County primary election. The measure passed by a majority vote.
On November 16, 1981, the City Council approved Ordinance 81-22, which consolidated all future general municipal elections with the statewide general election.[1] The 1982 municipal election, held on November 2, was to elect two members of the City Council.[63] There were 28,359 ballots cast.
On August 3, the City Council called for a special election to increase the appropriations limit of the city, in accordance with the Constitution of California.[70] The limit was proposed to be increased to provide funding for city streets, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, and to construct new sidewalks for pedestrian safety. The election, held on November 3, had 6,264 ballots cast.
The 1988 municipal election, held on November 8, was to elect three members of the City Council and to vote on three measures.[71] There were 36,717 ballots cast.
One large issue for the candidates was the growth of the city.[72] There was a slate of three slow-growth candidates and members of Costa Mesa Citizens for Responsible Growth (Genis, Humphrey, and Williams) who supported Measure G and opposed Measures H and I. The six other remaining candidates had opposing views.
Howard Gensler withdrew from the race but still appeared on the ballot.[72]
Measure G was an initiative ordinance and amendment to the General Plan.[71] Titled the "Citizens' Sensible Growth and Traffic Control Initiative," it would require that certain levels of road and flood control facilities and certain levels of police, fire, and paramedic services be in place in order to permit specific types of development projects. Due to issues with ballot petition circulation, there were concerns with whether the measure could be placed on the ballot.[71]
The Segerstrom Home Ranch site is a parcel of land located between Harbor Boulevard, Sunflower Avenue, Fairview Road, and the 405 freeway. Following a court ruling in Costa Mesa Residents for Responsible Growth v. City of Costa Mesa, the city was required to amend two elements of its general plan, which was previously amended to allow for increased development at the Home Ranch property.[74] The city first passed Resolution 88-11 in response to the case, which would allow 3.1 million square feet of development and certain building limit heights.[75] A petition drive then began to circulate to place the issue on the ballot, ultimately becoming Measure H.[72] In response, the city adopted an alternate resolution, Resolution 88-44, which would allow for less development, at 2.12 million square feet.[74] Another petition was started to place this new resolution on the ballot, becoming Measure I.[72] Passage of either measure would have allowed the development to be built. If both measures had passed, Measure H would have prevailed over Measure I.
Both measures failed and a large portion of the site remains vacant to this day.
The 1990 municipal election, held on November 6, was to elect two members of the City Council and to vote on two measures.[76] There were 26,046 ballots cast.
Following controversial actions by the City Council, led by Councilmember Amburgey, a number of social issues were placed in the campaign spotlight. Namely, anti-illegal immigrant actions taken by the council and the censoring of public art that would receive grant funding.[77] With Peter Buffa being seen as a swing vote on these issues, an anti-Amburgey slate was formed by Jay Humphrey and Karen McGlinn, with Arlene Schafer seen as an ally of Amburgey.
Measure V was a ballot measure by the City Council regarding campaign financing and conflicts of interest. Title the "Ethics in Costa Mesa Government Initiative," the ordinance would prohibit a councilmember from voting on projects involving any contributor of more than $500 to the council member’s campaign funds.[79][77] The measure was seen as a response to incumbent councilmember Amburgey's lack of an abstention vote following projects by campaign contributors being brought before the council.[77]
Following an "unusually high number of complaints from residents," the City Council placed an advisory measure on the ballot to inform the Council on whether fireworks should be made illegal.[80][81] Fireworks sold within the city would have to be "State Safety Approved" and must be sold by nonprofit community groups.[82] A yes vote would be in favor of continuing to permit fireworks sales.
The measure failed, but, as an advisory measure, no action was needed.
Councilmember Ed Glasgow resigned on June 15, 1991 after allegations of spying on city officials.[83][84] At the June 17, 1991 meeting, the appointment of a councilmember was continued.[85] At the July 1, 1991 meeting, eight candidates were nominated and seconded. The eight nominees were ranked by the four remaining councilmembers and the top four nominees then had a straw vote taken on whether they should be appointed, each vote failing 2-2.[86] The issue was continued to the following meeting. At the July 15 meeting, votes were taken on three of the four nominees, each of which failed 2-2.[87] Joe Erickson, the final of the four nominees, was then unanimously appointed by the Council to fill the unexpired term.[88][89] Erickson would run for reelection as an incumbent.
The 1992 municipal election, held on November 3, was to elect three members of the City Council.[90] There were 39,306 ballots cast.
The 1996 municipal election, held on November 5, was to elect three members of the City Council and to vote on one ballot measure.[94][95] There were 32,572 ballots cast.
Casey Evans withdrew from the race but remained on the ballot.[96]
Measure F was a ballot measure proposed by the City Council which would institute term limits on city councilmembers. City councilmembers would be limited to two consecutive four-year terms.[98] The measure passed.
The 2000 municipal election, held on November 7, was to elect three members of the City Council and vote on one ballot measure.[101] There were 34,429 ballots cast.
The final results were not certified until November 28, with the lead of the third place candidate narrowing from 100 votes the morning after the election, to 36 votes a week after, to the final certified margin of 32 votes ahead.[102][103]
Measure O was a ballot measure submitted to the voters by the Costa Mesa City Council to implement a transient occupancy tax of no more than 2% which would be charged to hotel guests. Funds from the tax would go towards park and recreation facilities.[106]
On April 15, 2003, Mayor Karen Robinson resigned from her position as councilmember.[111] Before her resignation was effective, at the April 7, 2003 meeting, she and Councilmember Cowan supported a motion to appoint the runner-up from the 2002 election, or if they were not willing or able, the second runner-up, and so on. That motion failed and an application process was adopted.[112] At the April 21, 2003 meeting, nine people were nominated and seconded for appointment.[113] The council conducted a straw vote, with four candidates losing 2-2 and five losing 1-3. The council then conducted a second straw vote, after which it would eliminate any nominee not receiving at least two votes; six nominees remained after the second straw poll. The council then further narrowed the nominees by selecting one nominee per councilmember, leaving four. Two more votes were taken on the four nominees, with no nominee receiving a majority vote. The council then ranked the four remaining candidates and eliminated the lowest ranked, and repeated the process with the three remaining candidates. The two remaining candidates, Eric Bever and Mike Scheafer, were voted on and failed to be appointed on 2-2 votes. The process was continued to the following meeting. At the May 5, 2003 council meeting, the two nominees were voted on again and failed 2-2.[114] Following renominations of previously failed nominees and a suggestion to leave the seat vacant until a special election in November 2003, the matter was continued to a special meeting. At a special City Council meeting on May 12, 2003, Bever and Scheafer went before the council to answer questions related to Fairview Park and a bridge on 19th Street over the Santa Ana River.[115] Following another set of failed motions to select either of the nominees and a proposal to hold a special election, Bever withdrew his nomination and Scheafer was appointed by a 3-1 vote to the unexpired term.[116] Scheafer would run for reelection and would go on to lose against Bever.
The 2004 municipal election, held on November 2, was to elect three members of the City Council.[117] There were 39,192 ballots cast.
The 2006 Municipal Election, held on November 7, was to elect two members of the City Council.[120] There were 24,847 ballots cast.
There were two competing slates in the election, with Allan Mansoor and Wendy Leece on one slate, and Bruce Garlich and former councilmember Mike Scheafer on another.[121][122]
The Measure C election, held on June 8, was consolidated with the statewide primary election.[129] Measure C was a ballot measure submitted to the voters by the City Council regarding the OC Fair & Event Center. Following a large deficit in the California budget, the state legislature approved the sale of the fairgrounds in July 2009.[130] The city council then amended its general plan land use designation for the site to ensure that the OC Fair would remain as an annual event if sold to a private developer.[131] The measure would require that any future changes to the land use of the fairgrounds be approved by a majority vote at a future election.[132]
The measure passed, with no ballot statement having been filed in opposition to the measure and many local officials predicting overwhelming support.[133][134]
The city had also made a $96 million offer to purchase the fairgrounds, which was opposed by some state lawmakers after the city passed an anti-immigrant "Rule of Law" resolution.[133][134] The OC Fairgrounds remain state property, formally organized as the 32nd District Agricultural Association.[135]
The 2010 municipal election, held on November 2, was to elect two members of the City Council and vote on one ballot measure.[136] There were 29,816 ballots cast.
Measure L was a ballot measure submitted to the voters by the City Council which would increase the Transient Occupancy Tax charges to hotel guests from six percent to eight percent.[138][139]
After Katrina Foley was elected to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board, she resigned from her position on the City Council effective December 31, 2010.[140] At the January 4, 2011 Council meeting, Stephen Mensinger was appointed, by a 3-1 vote, to replace her. Mensinger would run for reelection as an incumbent.[141]
The 2012 municipal election, held on November 6, was to elect three members of the City Council and one ballot measure.[142][143] There were 39,008 ballots cast.
In March 2011, the city sent out layoff notices to more than half of city employees, intending the outsource the work to private companies.[145] The action prompted a lawsuit from the Orange County Employees Association (OCEA), which argued that Costa Mesa, as a general law city, was not empowered to outsource employees as a charter city would be able to.[146] The court ruled in favor of the OCEA, prompting the council to explore adopting a city charter.
By a 4-1 vote on March 6, 2012, the council approved placing the issue of a city charter on the June 5 primary ballot.[147] The paperwork to place the measure on the June ballot was filed past the deadline and so could not be placed on the June ballot.[148] The city, through the city clerk, filed a lawsuit to allow for the measure to be placed on the June ballot, which was opposed by former councilmember Katrina Foley and council candidate John Stephens.[149][150] The lawsuit was rejected and the measure was placed on the November ballot.[151]
The measure was defeated, with large labor opposition.[145][146]
The 2014 municipal election, held on November 4, was to elect two members of the City Council and to vote on two ballot measures.[152][153][154] There were 20,827 ballots cast.
Following the rejection of Measure V in 2012, a citizen advisory committee was created in May 2013 by the Council to explore the possibility of a future charter.[156] The charter committee, following 10 months of debate, approved a proposed charter to be sent to the City Council.[157][158] The Council then approved, on a 3-2 vote, to place the charter on the ballot.[159]
The measure failed to pass and Costa Mesa remains a general law city.
Measure P was an advisory measure placed by the City Council on whether toll lanes should be built on the 405 Freeway.[160] Specifically, the measure asked "Do you agree with the Costa Mesa City Council, which unanimously opposes the establishment of toll lanes on the I-405 Freeway in Orange County?"[161] The measure was criticized for having conflicting ballot title and ballot question language, with the ballot title being "Advisory measure, should toll lanes be built on the I-405 Freeway?”[161][162]
The measure passed, but, as an advisory measure, had no legal effect.[163] In December 2023, toll lanes were opened on the freeway.[164]
The 2016 municipal election, held on November 8, was to elect three members of the City Council and to vote on eight ballot measures.[165][166][167][168][169][170][171][172] There were 43,721 ballots cast.
Measures V, W, and X were three ballot measures related to the sale of medical marijuana in the city. Measure V would allow up to eight medical marijuana businesses, Measure W four, and Measure X would only allow non-retail businesses to open in an industrial area north of South Coast Drive and west of Harbor Boulevard.[174][175] Measures V and W were proposed by petition, with Measure X being submitted to the voters by the City Council.[176] Whichever of the three measures received the highest number of votes would be the one that became law.
Measure X ultimately gained the support of the proponents of the other two measures.[174][175] Measures V and W failed, while Measure X passed.
Measures Y and Z were two ballot measures related to development in Costa Mesa. Measure Y, placed on the ballot by petition, would require voter approval for development projects that require amending the Costa Mesa General Plan and that add 40 or more dwelling units or 10,000 square feet of other non-residential space, among other requirements.[174][175][177] Measure Z, a competing measure submitted by the City Council, would ratify the existing land use regulations and establish a new park fee on development.[174][175][178] As competing measures, whichever gained the most votes would become law.
Measures Y and Z both received more than 50% of the vote, but as Measure Y received more votes, it became law.[174]
Measure Y was partially overturned by Measure K in 2022.
Measures AA and BB were two ballot measures related to Fairview Park in Costa Mesa. Measure AA, placed on the ballot by petition, would require voter approval for the building of new permanent structures and the extension of park hours, among other requirements.[174][175][179] Measure BB, a competing measure placed on the ballot by the City Council, would prohibit the development of athletic fields at Fairview Park unless approved by a vote of the people, while still allowing for other limited park development.[174][175][180] As competing measures, whichever gained the most votes would become law.
To avoid a lawsuit from attorney Kevin Shenkman, who claimed the at-large council election system was discriminatory against Hispanic residents, the City Council placed Measure EE on the ballot.[175][181][182][183] The measure would divide the city into six council districts, which would elect councilmembers to a four-year term, provide for a directly elected mayor with a two-year term, and would limit each office to a two-term limit.[174] A different option rejected by the Council would have split the city into five council districts without an elected mayor.[174][181]
Measure EE passed, transitioning the city to district-based elections.
Measure TT was not a ballot measure for the city of Costa Mesa, but rather one regarding the Mesa Water District and Costa Mesa Sanitary District, both of whose service areas encompassed most of the city. Proposed by the Mesa Water District, Measure TT was an advisory measure regarding whether the two special districts should consolidate into one.[174][175] The two districts were on opposing sides, with the Mesa Water District in favor of the measure and the Costa Mesa Sanitary District opposed. The Costa Mesa City Council passed a resolution in support of the measure.[185]
The measure passed, but as an advisory vote, no legal action was taken and the two special districts remain distinct entities.
Following approval of Measure EE in the 2016 election, councilmembers were elected by district and the mayor was directly elected. The 2018 election started the transition to district elections by electing members for the third, fourth, and fifth districts. The councilmembers elected in 2016, Sandra Genis, John Stephens, and Allan Mansoor, would continue to serve until 2020 in an at-large capacity. The election was held on November 6.
Early on November 8, 2017, the Costa Mesa City Council voted 3-2 to remove Katrina Foley as mayor and appoint Sandra Genis, who was mayor pro tem, as mayor.[186][187] The decision was met with much controversy, with 49 public commenters attending the meeting and vows to remember this action in the 2018 mayoral election.[188]
Incumbent mayor Sandra Genis, who was also mayor from 1992 to 1994, was defeated by councilmember Katrina Foley. Foley became the city's first directly elected mayor.[189][190][191]
Genis continued to serve on the city council until 2020.
Councilmember Allan Mansoor ran in the District 5 election, though still had two years left in his term. He was defeated by Arlis Reynolds but remained on the council until 2020.
The 2020 election completed the transition process to district elections, with all councilmembers having been elected by district. The election was held on November 3, with an election for mayor, councilmembers for district 1, 2, and 6, and on one ballot measure.[193][194]
Councilmember John Stephens, after having been elected at-large in the 2016 election, ran in the 2020 District 1 election. He was defeated by challenger Don Harper.[196]
Following the passage of Measure X in 2016, the operation of retail cannabis businesses was illegal in Costa Mesa.[197] The City Council placed Measure X on the ballot to authorize the adoption of an ordinance which would allow retail cannabis businesses and allow for a tax on cannabis.[198]
The measure passed and the first legal cannabis store opened two years later.[199]
Following the 2020 census, the city was required the redraw its district borders that were adopted four years previous.[200] The new district map was adopted on March 15, 2022.[201]
The election was held on November 8. Three councilmembers, the office of mayor, and one ballot measure were on the ballot.[202] This was the first election since 1992 where each incumbent was reelected, and the first since 1982 where all the reelected incumbents were previously elected rather than appointed.[203]
Following the election of Katrina Foley to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in March 2021, the City Council appointed former city councilmember John Stephens as mayor.[204][205] Stephens would then run for reelection as an incumbent.
Measure K, placed on the ballot by the City Council, was a measure to respond to the strict development limits enacted by Measure Y in 2016.[207][208] The measure would, along certain commercial corridors in the city, remove the requirement for voter approval for developments enacted by Measure Y.
The measure passed by 22 votes.[203]
Although municipal elections in Costa Mesa are nonpartisan, two slates formed along party lines, with the Democratic endorsed slate of John Stephens, Adam Ereth, Loren Gameros, and Jeffrey Harlan opposing the Republican endorsed slate of James Peters, Mike Buley, and Jeff Pettis.
The 2024 municipal election took place on November 5, 2024. The mayor, and councilmembers for districts 1, 2, and 6 were on the ballot.
During the City Council meeting of February 20, 2024, councilmember Don Harper announced his intent to resign from the City Council, citing family health issues.[210][211] Despite this announcement, Harper remains on the City Council, though has endorsed another candidate to succeed him.
^ abcdMinutes of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Vol. 48. Orange County. October 14, 1947. p. 81.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Minutes of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Vol. 47. Orange County. March 25, 1947. p. 83.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Minutes of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Vol. 47. Orange County. July 8, 1947. p. 313.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ abMinutes of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Vol. 53. Orange County. June 25, 1953. p. 274.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Minutes of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Vol. 53. Orange County. June 25, 1953. pp. 275–277.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)