Costa Mesa City Council
Who sits on the Costa Mesa city council, how long they've served, when each seat is next on the ballot — and how each member has actually voted, item by item, from the official record.
on the Nov 2026 ballot: 4 of 7 seats
Vote records digitized from 2024-01-16 to 2026-08-04 (50 meetings, 2,210 individual votes). Sources: official minutes and meeting records linked on every line.
Andrea Marr
Councilmember · first elected 2018 · next on the ballot 2026
348 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 86% present · 18 dissents
Arlis Reynolds
Councilmember · first elected 2018 · next on the ballot 2026
347 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 92% present · 17 dissents
Jeff Pettis
Councilmember · first elected 2024 · next on the ballot 2028
243 recorded votes since 2024-08-06 · 88% present · 30 dissents
John Stephens
Mayor · first elected 2021 · next on the ballot 2026
348 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 99% present · 15 dissents
Loren Gameros
Councilmember · first elected 2020 · next on the ballot 2028
348 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 100% present · 16 dissents
Manuel Chavez
Mayor Pro Tem · first elected 2018 · next on the ballot 2026
348 recorded votes since 2024-01-16 · 100% present · 13 dissents
Mike Buley
Councilmember · first elected 2024 · next on the ballot 2028
228 recorded votes since 2024-08-06 · 86% present · 19 dissents
Recent divided votes
| Date | Item | Outcome | Voted no | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-16 | Proposed First Time Homebuyer Pilot Program Funded by Measure Q (Retail Cannabis) | 6-1 passed | Manuel Chavez | record |
| 2026-06-16 | Award of Professional Services Agreement for the Arts and Culture Master Plan Update | 6-1 passed | John Stephens | record |
| 2026-06-02 | Substitute motion to continue FY 2026-27 budget and request additional $2,000,000 in budget cuts | 2-5 failed | Mike Buley, Loren Gameros, Jeff Pettis, Manuel Chavez, John Stephens | record |
| 2026-06-02 | Approve staff recommendation and review of budget every three months for FY 2026-27 budget | 5-2 passed | Andrea Marr, Arlis Reynolds | record |
| 2026-04-21 | Award of the 2025-26 Citywide Alley Rehabilitation Project | 6-1 passed | Arlis Reynolds | record |
| 2026-04-07 | Reduction of Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee members | 5-2 passed | Jeff Pettis, Manuel Chavez | record |
| 2026-04-07 | Substitute motion for adoption of ordinance amending Title 13 to rezone sixth cycle housing element sites | 2-5 failed | Loren Gameros, Andrea Marr, Arlis Reynolds, Manuel Chavez, John Stephens | record |
| 2026-04-07 | Original motion for adoption of ordinance amending Title 13 to rezone sixth cycle housing element sites | 5-2 passed | Mike Buley, Jeff Pettis | record |
| 2026-04-07 | Consider approval of a code of ethics and conduct | 3-4 failed | Mike Buley, Loren Gameros, Jeff Pettis, Manuel Chavez | record |
| 2026-03-17 | Substitute Motion on Just Cause Residential Tenant Protections | 3-4 failed | Mike Buley, Andrea Marr, Jeff Pettis, Arlis Reynolds | record |
| 2026-03-17 | Original Motion on Just Cause Residential Tenant Protections | 5-2 passed | Andrea Marr, Arlis Reynolds | record |
| 2026-03-17 | Substitute Motion on Rental Registry Program | 5-2 passed | Mike Buley, Jeff Pettis | record |
| 2026-02-17 | Adopt an ordinance requiring staffing at self-service checkout stations | 5-2 passed | Mike Buley, Jeff Pettis | record |
| 2026-02-17 | City of Costa Mesa's urban canopy and land assessment | 5-1 passed | Mike Buley | record |
| 2026-02-03 | Adoption of an ordinance amending Title 13 of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code to allow for ministerial approval of two-unit small lot ordinance projects | 5-1 passed | Jeff Pettis | record |
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