Foley the only hopeful with police support

The Costa Mesa Police Assn., the union representing the city’s officers, has endorsed City Councilwoman Katrina Foley’s reelection bid.

Although three seats are up for grabs in November, Foley is the only candidate whom police have endorsed so far.

During panel interviews the union conducts, the association looks for candidates who are knowledgeable about police issues, would vote to authorize equipment and staff that the police request and have a good chance of winning, according to association President Allen Rieckhof.

“Katrina is an incumbent, so she’s a viable candidate. In the last election she received a large number of votes. She’s a supporter of law enforcement. She endorsed our last pay and benefits contract, which she voted for. She’s always receptive of our concerns at the department. She’s pro law enforcement,” Rieckhof said.

Candidates Gary Monahan, Jim Righeimer and Eric Bever declined to participate in the process. Monahan, who has been endorsed by the police union in past elections, and Bever said city employees’ unions should stay out of campaigns.

“Unions just don’t have any business in the races. How does one keep their objectivity in voting on police and fire salaries [if they are endorsed]?” Bever said.

Last time the City Council voted on a contract for the police department, all members including Bever and Foley unanimously supported the contract, which raised police salaries. Foley adamantly disagreed that the endorsements cause a conflict of interest and said the interview process is a valuable one.

“Something that happens during the endorsement process is that you get an understanding of issues that are brewing in the city having to do with crime and safety that you might not know about otherwise,” Foley said.

Former Mayor Mary Hornbuckle has won police endorsements in her bids to be elected to the City Council. She says the endorsements are largely self-serving, but that is to be expected and it’s not negative.

“I think the associations are looking out for their members. That’s why they exist to look out for the wages and benefits of their members,” Hornbuckle said.

As part of the endorsement process, candidates are asked to fill out a questionnaire that asks them everything from their positions on ballot propositions for the upcoming election to direct questions about salaries, benefits and retirement policies for police officers. Then the candidates are interviewed one-by-one by a room full of association members.

The association says there is still a possibility that it might endorse other candidates, but so far Foley is the “only viable candidate,” Rieckhof said.

Nick Moss, Chris McEvoy, Bill Sneen and Chris Bunyan all participated in the interview process. Lisa Reedy didn’t because of scheduling conflicts.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at [email protected].