Dynamo touts her experience, leadership, integrity, tenacity

Alicia Robinson

A look at Linda Dixon’s activity list shows she’s some kind of

dynamo.

She works as a fundraising consultant. She has served on Costa

Mesa’s planning and transportation commissions and the City Council.

She gardens. She hunts for bargains at garage sales. She cares for

six pets.

Dixon served on the City Council from 1998 to 2002 and was mayor

in her last year there, before she was unseated by newcomer Allan

Mansoor.

A 30-year resident of Costa Mesa with 25 years of community

involvement under her belt, Dixon would like to continue improving

the city she loves for its diversity.

“I’m running because I have the experience; I have the leadership

skills; I have the tenacity, the integrity and the desire to make all

of Costa Mesa -- and I stress all -- the place we can all be proud

of,” she said.

During her earlier stint on the council, Dixon was most proud of

protecting residential neighborhoods on the Eastside and changing the

standards for infill development and for launching a serious Westside

revitalization effort, she said.

Like many moms, Dixon’s community involvement started in her

children’s schools. And as they grew up, she branched into other

activities, serving on the city’s ad hoc transportation committee and

the Planning Commission.

From her myriad community activities, Dixon can’t name just one

that’s most important, because they all give her a chance to interact

with other Costa Mesa residents.

“I think they’re all meaningful in one way or another,” she said.

“I like to be able to get out into the community and hear what the

people are saying. I don’t think anybody comes to City Council having

all the answers.”

She has plenty of ideas about what needs to be done in the city.

Continued improvements on the Westside, stronger involvement in

John Wayne Airport negotiations and a new library are among them. But

Dixon is also willing to step back and listen to others or let them

lead, she said.

Dixon and her husband originally settled in Costa Mesa after a

friend told them they’d like it, and today she’s proud that two of

her children chose to buy homes here.

“It’s an eclectic, diverse city,” Dixon said. “It’s the real

world. I think sometimes too many people dwell on the negative and

forget about all the positive things in Costa Mesa.”