Candidates forum in Costa Mesa

Paul Clinton

Costa Mesa City Council candidates will be given a second crack at

setting the public tone for their campaigns at a forum tonight.

The five candidates, during a two-hour forum, will be asked their

opinions on development at Fairview Park, a proposed skate park at

Davis Elementary School, the need for more senior and affordable

housing, whether the city needs more open space and other campaign

issues.

The Mesa Verde Community organized the event, set for 6:30 p.m. at

the Neighborhood Community Center, to help voters sort out who they

should cast their votes for, organizer Cindy Brenneman said.

“It’s the only thing that gives people a choice to see how

[candidates] work under pressure,” Brenneman said, noting that

candidates were not given copies of the specific questions. “This is

something where we’ll learn who we can get behind and support.”

Five candidates are vying for two open seats in the Nov. 5

election. They include Mayor Linda Dixon, Councilman Gary Monahan,

Planning Commission Chairwoman Katrina Foley, Planning Commissioner

Bill Perkins and Human Relations Committee member Allan Mansoor.

Former Costa Mesa Mayor Peter Buffa, who is also a Daily Pilot

columnist, has agreed to moderate the forum.

The community center is located at 1845 Park Ave. The forum is

free to the public.

Cox named chairman of ALS walk

Rep. Chris Cox has been named Grand Marshall for a fund-raising

walk for Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The ALS Assn. holds the annual walk, now in its third year, to

raise funds for to combat the disease, formally known as amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis. The 5K walk is known as the “Walk to D’Feet ALS.”

More than 1,200 people are expected to participate in the event,

which will be held in Irvine on Oct. 19.

Cox was chosen for the walk’s top ceremonial post both because of

his position as the fifth-highest ranking member of the House and

because a member of his Washington, D.C. staff watched a parent die

as a result of the debilitating disease, group organizers said.

“Aside from the fact that he is a prestigious, high-profile

individual who can help us with public awareness, Congressman Cox had

a history of supporting bills that had an impact on ALS patients,”

said Louise Romano, executive director of the ALS association’s

Orange County chapter. “He [has] understood what a devastating

disease ALS is.”

John Adams fundraiser in Newport Beach

Making his first appearance in Newport-Mesa on the campaign trail,

judicial candidate John Adams is holding a fund-raiser Monday at the

Newport Beach offices of Republican activist Buck Johns.

Johns, who has endorsed Adams, is the owner of the Inland Group,

an energy company that builds power plants.

“I’m a big supporter of John,” Johns said. “He’s a quality guy and

he’ll be good to have on the bench.”

Adams, a Dana Point attorney, is running against Costa Mesa trial

lawyer Gay Sandoval for an Orange County Superior Court judgeship.

Sandoval is a former Daily Pilot columnist.

The fund-raiser, which costs $100 a head, should give Adams

another infusion in to his campaign war chest.

“Money is the mother’s milk of a campaign,” Adams said. “I’m

looking forward to the chance to have this fund-raiser.”