New dais dawning for City Council

Deirdre Newman

Monday was an emotional night in the packed council chambers as

departing City Council members bade farewell and their replacements

thanked those who helped get them to the highest echelon of city

government.

Former Mayor Linda Dixon and Planning Commissioners Katrina Foley

and Eric Bever ascended to the dais to replace Libby Cowan, Chris

Steel and Mike Scheafer.

Bever clinched the third seat last week, beating out fourth-place

finisher and fellow Planning Commissioner Bruce Garlich by 44 votes.

Garlich conceded defeat Thursday when he decided not to ask for a

recount.

Bever thanked the voters, his parents and his wife Tami for their

support. Before the meeting, Bever said he was anxious to focus on

the issues that inspired him to run for the council in the first

place. Chief among them is fixing run-down streets, he said.

“It’s time to get to work on fixing the problems in Costa Mesa,

fulfilling my promises to the community,” Bever said. “And I’ll be

happy that I’m able to get to work.”

Foley thanked the voters, her family, her campaign team and her

law partner, who held down the fort while she walked precincts.

“Now we’re in a better position to work on issues that are good

for families,” Foley said.

Dixon, who served on the council from 1998 to 2002, thanked

voters, her friends and family.

“I feel I’m the luckiest person in the world because of you,” she

said, addressing her family. “It feels very good to go back to work,

and I’m eager to move Costa Mesa forward.”

Outgoing City Council member Libby Cowan, who served four years on

the Planning Commission and eight years on the City Council, called

the experience “humbling.” Cowan was the only outgoing member who

elected not to run again.

“It has been the thrill and ride of a lifetime,” Cowan said. “I

thank you all for the support you’ve given me.”

The audience responded with a standing ovation.

Chris Steel, who served for four years, said he tried to stay true

to his core values as a council member.

Scheafer, moving on to his post as new president of the Costa Mesa

Senior Center Board of Directors, said he had fulfilled his goal of

making a mark on the council.

“I think I’m the shortest-tenured City Council member in the

city,” he joked.

He praised staff members for doing an unparalleled job.

“When you visit other cities and get to know the folks from other

cities, the staff from Allan Roeder down compares to no one,”

Scheafer said.