Week in Review

September 24, 2006

COSTA MESA

Police union endorses mayor's challengers

Mayor Allan Mansoor, who is running for reelection, has secured the endorsement of the Republican Party of Orange County, but not the endorsement of his city's police association.

The association decided to endorse planning commissioner Bruce Garlich and former Councilman Mike Scheafer, and not Mansoor, a Sheriff's deputy.

The firefighters association endorsed Garlich and Scheafer last week for the Nov. 7 City Council election.

Police association members said the immigration issue did not play a part in their decision not to endorse the mayor. Back in December, Mansoor proposed a plan to train police officers to check the immigration status of suspected criminals. The plan was approved by a majority of the council.

Mansoor's campaign for reelection has focused on public safety and illegal immigration.

Triangle Square finally has new owners. Newport Beach-based Greenlaw Partners, along with Commonfund Realty Inc., finalized the deal with the mall's former owners, Triangle Square Investments LLC.

Years of vacancies and charges of mismanagement plagued the 191,000-square-foot Costa Mesa mall, but tenants and city officials are optimistic the change in ownership will revitalize Triangle Square.

Greenlaw Partners is working with city staff on a possible proposal for a combination of residential units and businesses for the mall, although no specific plans have been submitted to the city, Mayor Allan Mansoor said.

POLITICS

Measure X supporter drops language lawsuit

Measure X proponent Phil Arst said last week he has dropped a legal challenge of the measure's ballot description written by the city of Newport Beach. The measure would require public votes on some developments in the city.

Arst filed suit in August, charging that the city's description of Measure X would mislead and confuse voters. But after two judges refused to speed up hearings on the suit, Arst decided to drop it because a deadline to get ballot materials to the Orange County Registrar of Voters has passed.

Huntington Beach Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's D.C. office added a new staffer last week. Tara Setmayer, a former conservative commentator for CNN and other news networks, took over as Rohrabacher's communications director.

Setmayer replaces Rebecca Rudman, who left Rohrabacher's office after nearly two years to return to Corona Rep. Ken Calvert, for whom she has previously worked.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Arraignment set in road-rage-shooting case

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