<b>Police union backs mayor’s rivals</b>

The Costa Mesa Police Assn. on Tuesday endorsed planning commissioner Bruce Garlich and former Councilman Mike Scheafer in November’s City Council election.

The announcement came two hours after the Costa Mesa City Council approved a 3.4% pay increase for police officers and police management positions.

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor, an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy for more than a decade, declined to comment on whether the police union’s decision was based on his plan to train police officers to check the immigration status of suspected felons. His reelection campaign has stressed public safety and illegal immigration.

Mansoor said: “As a deputy sheriff, I understand and support law enforcement and Costa Mesa police officers. My union opposed Proposition 75 in the special election, but I took a stand in support of it, as did Gov. Schwarzenegger and most Costa Mesa voters. The union bosses are now paying me back.” Proposition 75, which did not pass in 2005, would have required unions to ask members’ permission before using dues for political purposes.

The police association is the second public safety group to endorse candidates for the Nov. 7 election. Last week, the Costa Mesa Firefighters Assn. endorsed Garlich and Scheafer in the council election.

“We interviewed all of them [the candidates] and felt that they were the best representatives,” Chris Walk, the association’s president said Tuesday night. He said he wished the other candidates the best, adding “It wasn’t an easy decision to make.”

Public safety and illegal immigration are expected to be among the most prominent issues in the election.

“I’m just delighted and excited,” Garlich said of the police union’s endorsement. “It’s a very important endorsement, particularly with the issues in this election. It [the endorsement] speaks volumes of where the public safety employees think we should be heading.”

The other candidates for the two open seats are parks and recreation commissioner Wendy Leece, business owner Mirna Burciaga, and business owner and author Chris Bunyan.

Scheafer was elated when he was told of the endorsement.

“It’s an extreme honor to have them endorse me,” Scheafer said. “It’s very huge to me, having a son who’s a police officer.”

The pay increase the council approved is part of a three-year contract between the city and the Costa Mesa Police Management Assn. and the Costa Mesa Police Assn. The contract began Sept. 1, 2004.

The financial effect to the city’s general fund for fiscal year 2006-07 is $687,013.

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