Incumbent Mayor Running for Election in Costa Mesa

John Stephens, who was appointed mayor of Costa Mesa in 2021 to replace Katrina Foley when she was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, is running for mayor in the upcoming Nov. 8 election. His opponent is former state Sen. John Moorlach.

Stephens has a history of public service and said he enjoys giving back to the city.

“I’m not a politician, it’s just my way to serve the community. It’s no different than when the community needs somebody to coach softball,” Stephens told The Epoch Times.

(Courtesy of John Stephens)

Stephens served on the city council from 2016 through 2020, followed by a brief stint on its planning commission shortly before becoming mayor. He’s additionally served on the city’s pension oversight and animal services committees.

“I find this community service very rewarding … it puts me in a position to do some real good and really understand what the community needs,” he said.

As chairman of the Orange County Homelessness Task Force while a councilman in 2018, Stephens helped establish what’s known as a Bridge Shelter, which now provides 70 beds for homeless individuals in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

Due to lawsuits, Costa Mesa police had been prohibited to remove homeless camping in public areas before because they didn’t have enough shelter beds.

With the help of the new shelter, police can enforce rules against encampments in the city.

According to the 2022 point in time count, the number of homeless dropped in Costa Mesa by 20 percent, which Stephens said is one of his biggest accomplishments.

“One thing I am most proud of in my public service was establishing our Bridge Shelter in 2018,” he said.

He said the city also has also adopted what’s known as a housing first model—which allows a homeless individual