The Political Landscape:

Democrat Beth Krom’s campaign for U.S. Rep. John Campbell’s 48th District seat will continue indefinitely after the candidate observes seven days of prayer after the unexpected death of her 22-year-old son, her campaign manager said Thursday.

As customary in the Jewish faith, Krom will sit shiva, or observe a week of mourning and prayer, after funeral services for her son, Noah Krom, who apparently fell to his death from a cliff in Isla Vista last week.

“There hasn’t been any decisions made. We are going to honor her faith and give them a week of prayer,” said Krom’s campaign manager, Melahat Rafiei.

Krom has several fundraising events this month and announced a goal of raising $250,000 by June 30 earlier this year.

“We’ll figure things out as we go,” Rafiei said. “Some may go on without her participation or we may reschedule them — the priority isn’t her campaign, it’s getting through this difficult time.”

Beachgoers found Noah’s body at the base of an Isla Vista cliff Saturday. Noah Krom was to graduate from UC Santa Barbara on Sunday with degrees in business economics and sports management.

A public memorial service for Noah Krom is scheduled for 7:15 tonight at Congregation B’nai Israel, 2111 Bryan Ave., Tustin.

BUDGET TENSION LEADS TO LONG DISCUSSION

It’s less than one week from the meeting that Costa Mesa’s City Council set to approve next year’s operating budget, which includes some steep proposed cuts. The scope of the cuts and the mixed feelings of the council members led to a four-hour city council study session Tuesday, but no action was taken on any of the items.

The council hopes to adopt a budget Tuesday at its meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Some of the expected cuts include 5% reductions in staff salaries, laying off police and firefighters and ceasing some city programs and services.

ACTIVISTS CONTINUE FIGHT FOR FIELD DEAL

Parents, city politicians and other activists are still letting the Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s board of education hear their discontent on account of the district’s reticence to approve a plan to reinvigorate several sports fields at area schools.

A few weeks ago the Newport-Mesa Unified School District said that it would not be including a proposal to partner with the city of Costa Mesa to redesign and renovate fields at four of its schools in its upcoming agendas.

District officials said that the plan, which is estimated to cost more than $40 million, is unaffordable right now and the district is reluctant to approve something that has no means of funding.

A group turned out at Tuesday’s board meeting to show its disapproval of the policy. Advocates of the field plan have said that other funding methods could be pursued once the board approves the plan.