And that’s a wrap! I have (finally) completed the editing process for the final set of candidates: Kelly Brown and Steve Smith, who are each running to represent District 5 on the Costa Mesa City Council. The 2026 Costa Mesa Candidate Conversations page has been updated! Head on over there to check out the last two interviews. You can also access them via the direct links below:

Kelly Brown

Listen to the interview: Dr. Kelly Brown (Candidate, District 5), September 18, 2026

Read the interview transcript: Dr. Kelly Brown (Candidate, District 5), September 18, 2026

Steve Smith

Listen to the interview: Steve Smith (Candidate, District 5), September 15, 2026

Read the interview transcript: Steve Smith (Candidate, District 5), September 15, 2026

And again, please check out the audio interviews on the Goat Hill Rodeo Podcast!

Thank you so much, Kelly and Steve, for taking the time to sit down with me. As with the other candidates I was struck by how lucky I was to have candidates that were patient, kind, and fun to talk to.

And to all the candidates: I wish you good fortune in the wars to come.

The Goat Wrangler, signing off!*

*for now… 😏