• The interviews were conducted between September 10th and September 18th, 2026.
• The interviews were in-person and one-on-one, with me, Jenn Tanaka (AKA, the Goat Wrangler).
• Each candidate was given the topics of the questions 48 hours in advance of his or her scheduled interview time. Candidates vying for the same seat were asked same questions in the same order.
• Candidates were not permitted to bring prepared answers.
• No candidate was permitted to propose, reject, edit or modify any question.
• The transcripts are close to verbatim, with edits made only for clarity, to remove cross-talk or extraneous noise, or to address interruptions to the conversation.
• Each candidate was given an opportunity to review the transcript for accuracy only prior to publication.
• All candidates were asked about a University of California at Irvine poll in one of the questions. That poll can be accessed here if you are curious.

Listen to the interview: Mike Buley (Candidate, Mayor), September 17, 2026

Read the interview transcript: Mike Buley (Candidate, Mayor), September 17, 2026

Campaign Bio: Mike Buley is a sitting City Council member that has represented District 1 since 2022. He is a husband and father of three children, and he just shipped his youngest off to college. Has lived in Costa Mesa for over 24 years. He has been a member of St John The Baptist Parish since moving to Costa Mesa, where his children attended school, he coached basketball, and he served on finance council. He has owned his own law firm for over 30 years where he has practiced as a civil litigation trial attorney. His parents, brothers and sisters live in the surrounding communities of Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.

What you should know before diving in: Mr. Buley’s interview took place on September 17, 2026. This means it took place after the City Council’s somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.

Here are some acronyms/places/institutions that get referenced in Mr. Buley’s interview, for context:

• “St. John the Baptist” refers to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, located on Baker Street in Costa Mesa.
• “FiPAC” refers to the Finance and Pension Advisory Committee, a committee of the City Council focused on budget and pension issues.
• “Measure C” is a 2026 city-sponsored ballot initiative to raise certain business license fees.
• The requirement that “grocery stores of a certain size to man or staff […] automated checkout counters” refers to an ordinance passed by the City Council earlier this year to regulate self-checkout lane staffing at certain grocery and drug stores.
• The discussion of a “rental registry” refers to a failed ordinance to require landlords in Costa Mesa to register their rentals with the city.
• The “Laguna pilot program” refers to an effort by the City of Laguna Beach to integrate artificial intelligence into its developmental services department.
• “SCAG” refers to the Southern California Association of Governments.
• “Yubuya” refers to a Korean sushi restaurant located on Adams Avenue in Costa Mesa.

Listen to the interview: Loren Gameros (Candidate, Mayor), September 14, 2026

Read the interview transcript: Loren Gameros (Candidate, Mayor), September 14, 2026

Campaign Bio: Mr. Gameros has been a City Council member since 2020. He has lived in Costa Mesa for more than 40 years and attended Bear Street Elementary and TeWinkle Middle School. He and his wife have two children that they have raised in Costa Mesa. For more than 20 years Loren has worked with the Operating Engineers Training Trust Local 12, a nonprofit labor organization. There he oversees the Building Inspection program for Southern California and is a Coordinator for its apprenticeship program. He has also taught for 16 years as an accredited instructor through Rio Hondo College and Santiago Canyon College.

What you should know before diving in: Mr. Gameros’s interview took place on September 14, 2026, one day before the City Council’s somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.

Here are some acronyms/places/institutions that get referenced in Mr. Gameros’s interview, for context:

• The discussion of regulating the number of “automated lanes per employee” refers to an ordinance passed by the City Council earlier this year to regulate self-checkout lane staffing at certain grocery and drug stores.
• “OSHA” refers to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
• “Flock” refers to Flock Safety, a company who provides automated license plate readers to cities such as Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa’s use of Flock cameras has been the subject of many public comments this year.
• “ARTVenture” refers to a yearly art exhibition hosted by the City of Costa Mesa.
• “2145 Eats” (also incorrectly called “2148 Pizza” in the interview) refers to a pizza and new American restaurant on Victoria Street in Costa Mesa.
• “Trenta” refers to Trenta Pizza & Cucina, an Italian restaurant on Superior Avenue in Costa Mesa.

Listen to the interview: Daniel Morgan (Candidate, District 3), September 10, 2026

Read the interview transcript: Daniel Morgan (Candidate, District 3), September 10, 2026

Campaign Bio: Mr. Morgan is a Costa Mesa small business owner, real estate professional and longtime community volunteer. He is the Managing Principal of Marterra Real Estate and currently serves on Costa Mesa’s Finance and Pension Advisory Committee. He previously served as an Orange County Planning Commissioner and has been involved with local nonprofit and mentoring organizations, including Let’s Be Kind and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Mr. Morgan earned his undergraduate degree in business from the University of San Diego and an MBA from UC Irvine. He and his wife, Christine, are raising their two daughters in Costa Mesa.

What you should know before diving in: Mr. Morgan’s interview took place on September 10, 2026, five days before the City Council’s somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan. This is particularly relevant for Mr. Morgan’s conversation, as one of the questions is devoted to how he would handle large development projects like the FDC Specific Plan.

Here are some acronyms/places/institutions that get referenced in Mr. Morgan’s interview, for context:

• “FiPAC” means the Finance and Pension Advisory Committee, a resident advisory committee of the City Council focused on finance and pension matters. 
• “Cal YIMBY” means California YIMBY, a nonprofit organization that advocates for increasing housing production in California to address affordability concerns (“YIMBY” is an acronym for “Yes In My Backyard”).
• “Garage Dads” is a men’s fitness and fatherhood community founded by former NFL player (and Orange County resident) Issac Rochell.
• “Measure K” means the successful 2022 local ballot initiative that removed the vote-on-zoning requirement for properties along many of Costa Mesa’s commercial corridors.
• “Pettis in the Parks” refers to the “Eastside Exchange” meetings organized by Council Member Jeff Pettis (District 6).
• “Bei Restaurant” refers to a modern Lebanese restaurant located on Harbor Boulevard.
• “Feed Barn”, “Salty Horse”, and “Tacos Madre” refer to three local businesses in Costa Mesa: the Feed Barn, a garden and homestead supply store located on Newport Boulevard, Salty Horse, a coastal-western cafe also located on Newport Boulevard, and Tacos Madre Mexican Cocina, a home-style Mexican restaurant located on Harbor Boulevard, all in Costa Mesa.
• “Let’s Be Kind” refers to a nonprofit organization that advocates for a culture of kindness on school campuses, founded by Rebekah Robeck while she was a student at Costa Mesa Middle School.
• “Bike Bus” refers to the College Park Bike Bus, an informal club of parents and kids that bike together to College Park Elementary School on Tuesday mornings, founded by Kohl Crecelius.

Listen to the interview: Cara Stewart (Candidate, District 3), September 18, 2026

Read the interview transcript: Cara Stewart (Candidate, District 3), September 18, 2026

Campaign Bio: Cara Stewart is an entrepreneur, communications strategist and former journalist. She began her career as a reporter for the Orange County Register before moving into corporate and public-sector communications, with leadership roles supporting organizations including Ingram Micro, Toshiba America Information Systems and the City of Anaheim Public Utilities. Ms. Stewart is the founder and CEO of WunderMarx, a strategic communications firm. Ms. Stewart currently serves as Chair of Costa Mesa’s Animal Services Committee, and she also sits on the Board of Directors of Someone Cares Soup Kitchen. She lives in Costa Mesa with her rescue-dog, Ollie.

What you should know before diving in: Ms. Stewart’s interview took place on September 18, 2026, three days after the City Council’s somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan. This is particularly relevant for Ms. Stewart’s conversation, as one of the questions is devoted to how she would handle large development projects like the FDC Specific Plan.

Please note also that I had to use the back-up audio recording for Ms. Stewart’s interview, as my primary microphones experienced a technical issue. Accordningly, the volume on the audio recording may dip in places, so please refer to the transcript if you have trouble understanding what was said.

Here are some acronyms/places/institutions that get referenced in Ms. Stewart’s interview, for context:

• “Fairview Park Steering Committee” refers to the resident committee formed by the Costa Mesa City Council to advise the City Council on affairs relating to Fairview Park.
• “OCTA” refers to the Orange County Transportation Authority, Orange County’s official transportation planning commission and operator of the county’s public transit services.
• The discussion of the “Ethics Policy” refers to the proposal and, ultimately, rejection of an ethics policy to govern the Costa Mesa City Council.
• “Salty Bear” refers to Salty Bear Brewing Co., a brewery located on Randolph Street in Costa Mesa.

Listen to the interview: Angely Andrade Vallarta (Candidate, District 4), September 17, 2026

Read the interview transcript: Angely Andrade Vallarta (Candidate, District 4), September 17, 2026

Campaign Bio: Ms. Andrade Vallarta has served as a nonprofit executive for the last 2 decades and currently serves as the Senior Director of Philanthropy at Climate Action Campaign. Ms. Andrade Vallarta holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Hawai’i. She has also worked as a Director of Corporate Relations at OC United Way, a hospital administrator overseeing pediatric residency programs and as a bills analyst in the Hawai’i state senate.

Currently, Ms. Andrade Vallarta serves on Costa Mesa’s Planning Commission for District 4. Prior to her time on the Planning Commission, Ms. Andrade Vallarta served as a Costa Mesa Parks and Community Services Commissioner. She is raising her daughter in Costa Mesa and serves on the Parent Teacher Association of College Park Elementary School.

What you should know before diving in: Ms. Andrade Vallarta’s interview took place on September 17, 2026, two days after the City Council’s somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.

Here are some acronyms/places/institutions that get referenced in Ms. Andrade Vallarta’s interview, for context:

• “2-1-1 Orange County” is an Orange County hotline that connects residents to various services.
• “Eller Bakery” and “Wilson Street Coffee” are a bakery and a coffee roaster, respectively, located on Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa.
• “Costa Mesa 311” is an app developed by the City of Costa Mesa to allow residents to report issues and access city services.
• “Wilson Street Learning Center” is an afterschool program for children of working parents run in partnership with Iglesia Harbor.
• “Costa Mesa Unidos” is an advocacy organization that is a part of Resilience OC and advocates for tenants’ rights and immigrant rights.
• “Promatores de Salud Orange County” is a nonprofit organization that provides culturally tailored health education, outreach, and navigation support, primarily serving the Latino community. Its members also frequently attend City Council meetings and advocate on a variety of community topics.
• “Bright Youth” is a nonprofit organization that focuses on bringing resources and services to the Shalimar neighborhood of Costa Mesa. It organizes an annual “Back 2 School Fresh” event that features free haircuts, school supplies and entertainment for neighborhood children.
• “Save Our Youth (SOY)” is a local non-profit that provides free after-school programming for teens.
• “Brentwood Park Alliance” is an Eastside community advocacy group dedicated to lobbying for and guiding the renovation of Brentwood Park.
• “Fairview Park Alliance” is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring, preserving and protecting Fairview Park.
• “The Wayfarer” is a live music venue and cocktail lounge located on W. 19th Street in Costa Mesa.
• “Costa Mesa Se Mueve” is a community run club that organizes runs through Costa Mesa.

Listen to the interview: Fisher Derderian (Candidate, District 4), September 15, 2026

Read the interview transcript: Fisher Derderian (Candidate, District 4), September 15, 2026

Campaign Bio: Mr. Derderian is a business owner and a Costa Mesa Arts Commissioner who previously served as vice chair. Through his business, Dux Culturae, he helps organizations develop strategy and manage their operations. He founded and led the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation, an international cultural foundation, developed programs for students, artists, academics, and civic leaders across the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Raised near Fresno, he spent seven years in New York City before settling in Costa Mesa with his wife, Maxine. They are raising five children in District 4, serve as foster parents, and attend St. Barnabas Orthodox Church in Costa Mesa.

What you should know before diving in: Mr. Derderian’s interview took place on September 15, 2026, just before the City Council’s somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.

Here are some acronyms/places/institutions that get referenced in Mr. Derderian’s interview, for context:

• “CMABS” refers to the Costa Mesa Alliance for Better Streets, a local nonprofit that advocates for safer street design, walkability and a better public realm (full disclosure: I sit on the board of CMABS and serve as its vice president). CMABS recently released a series of candidate questionnaires on streets-related issues, and these questionnaires are referenced in Mr. Derderian’s interview.
• “RHNA” refers to the regional housing needs allocation, which is a determination overseen by the California Department of Housing and Community Development regarding how many units of housing each jurisdiction must zone for in the current housing element cycle.
• The discussion of the “painted goats” refers to an idea I floated last year to do an inexpensive art project in Costa Mesa inspired by the “Herd of Kingsport”, a goat-themed art installation put on by the city of Kingsport, Tennessee.
• The discussion of Council Member Jeff Pettis’s efforts to do outreach in public places again refers to his “Eastside Exchange” effort.
• “La Lomita” refers to La Lomita Mex Grill, a Mexican restaurant located on W. 19th Street.
• “Shirley’s Bagels” refers to a bagel and coffee shop located on E. 17th Street, with a Westside location opening soon.

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

Campaign Bio: Dr. Brown is Director of Communications at the University of California, Irvine and has over 25 years of professional experience in higher education and government. She holds a PhD in literature from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is Chair of Costa Mesa’s Parks and Community Services Commission, a body she’s served on for 5 years. Dr. Brown’s community involvement also includes participation in her local parent-teacher association and Costa Mesa High School’s Volleyball Booster’s Club. Dr. Brown, her husband Jeff, and their daughter Nora live in Westside Costa Mesa with their two dogs.

What you should know before diving in: Dr. Brown’s interview took place on September 15, 2026, three days after the City Council’s somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.

Here are some acronyms/places/institutions that get referenced in Dr. Brown’s interview, for context:

• The project at Brentwood Park refers to the renovation of Brentwood Park in Costa Mesa, which was completed earlier this year.
• “Triangle Square” refers to the Triangle Square, Costa Mesa development that sits between Harbor Boulevard and Newport Boulevard.
• “Caltrans” refers to the California Department of Transportation, the state agency that exerts some control over Newport Boulevard and other state highways.
• The “Library” Dr. Brown refers to is the Costa Mesa-Donald Dungan Library, an Orange County library located next to Lions Park in Costa Mesa.
• “Flock” refers to Flock Safety, a company who provides automated license plate readers to cities such as Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa’s use of Flock cameras has been the subject of many public comments this year.
• “Travel Costa Mesa” refers to the City of Costa Mesa’s official marketing agency.

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

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

Campaign Bio: Mr. Smith is a Costa Mesa District 5 resident. He works in cloud computing technology, leading project implementations for healthcare and public-sector clients. He specializes in Amazon Web Services and its technology and software suite. He serves on Costa Mesa’s Animal Services Committee, where he helps advise the city on animal care, pet adoption, and the well-being of Costa Mesa’s pets and wildlife. Mr. Smith earned his undergraduate degree at American University in Washington, D.C. When he’s not working, you’ll find him walking his dog, Kylie, at Canyon Park.

What you should know before diving in: Mr. Smith interview took place on September 15, 2026, just before the City Council’s somewhat consequential meeting regarding the draft Fairview Developmental Center Specific Plan.

Here are some acronyms/places/institutions that get referenced in Mr. Smith’s interview, for context:

• “Triangle Square” refers to the Triangle Square, Costa Mesa development that sits between Harbor Boulevard and Newport Boulevard.
• “Newport Plaza” refers to the Newport Plaza Surgical Center, a large Spanish-revival-style building located off of Newport Boulevard.
• “Caltrans” refers to the California Department of Transportation, the state agency that exerts some control over Newport Boulevard and other state highways.
• “Measure C” is a 2026 city-sponsored ballot initiative to raise certain business license fees.
• The “Fish Fry” Mr. Smith mentions was previously held in Fairview Park refers to the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry, which was previously held in Fairview Park and is now held in Lions Park in Costa Mesa.
• The sushi spot Mr. Smith discusses at the end of the interview is Sushi Teri, a small Japanese sushi restaurant located on Baker Street in Costa Mesa.