ISSUES
Daniel is running for City Council to ensure Costa Mesa remains safe, vibrant, and financially sound. His goal is straightforward: keep Costa Mesa a place where families, small businesses, and neighborhoods can thrive today and for decades to come.
PUBLIC SAFETY
As a father of two girls, public safety isn’t political to me. It’s personal. The rate of property crime in Costa Mesa is higher than the state-wide average. Every family in every neighborhood in Costa Mesa should feel safe. I am committed to reducing crime, strengthening community policing, and making streets safer for kids, cyclists, and anyone trying to cross an intersection without sprinting. I’m proud to have earned the endorsement of Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and ready to work to keep Costa Mesa safe.
Costa Mesa is growing, but our public services aren’t keeping up. I will fight to fully fund law enforcement and fire safety to meet the needs of the city today and tomorrow. I will focus on upgrading older public safety facilities, hiring new officers, and - importantly - retaining the incredible ones we have to keep Costa Mesa’s law enforcement among the best in Orange County. I will also push to hire more park rangers to keep the city’s parks and public spaces safe and accessible for everyone.
FAIRVIEW DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND CITY DEVELOPMENT
I was proud to have helped lead the fight against the city’s proposal to put over 4,000 houses into the Fairview Development Center, a plan which would have led to disastrous traffic on Harbor Boulevard, longer emergency response times, and other negative impacts for both current and future residents.
As a former Orange County Planning Commissioner with over a decade of master-planned community development experience, I know what it takes to protect our neighborhoods.
However, the fight isn’t over. Some candidates for city council support the original 4,000 housing plan. There are questions around economic feasibility and state approval. I am committed to pushing back against unworkable state mandates and delivering real housing solutions that respect our community.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY WITH SMART ECONOMIC GROWTH
Costa Mesa’s spending jumped over 9% this past year, but core city services haven’t kept up. The city has a projected deficit. I serve on the city’s Finance and Pension Advisory Council (FIPAC). I’ve read the budget. I will work to balance the budget and ensure tax dollars go towards roads, public safety, parks, infrastructure, and other basic services that Costa Mesa residents rely on.
At the same time, a strong budget is not just about cutting waste. It is about growing the city’s revenue responsibly. I support attracting and retaining businesses that fit Costa Mesa’s character while modernizing the permitting process so they can actually open in a reasonable amount of time. Right now it is not uncommon for great businesses to wait years to open their doors. One now beloved restaurant in District 3 took nearly three years to get through the process. That is not how you build a vibrant local economy. That is how you chase good employers and good jobs out of town. I believe Costa Mesa can do better and I am committed to making it happen.
AFFORDABILITY
Costa Mesa should be a city that families can afford to live in. Affordability at the local level starts with budgeting responsibly, cutting unnecessary regulations or fees that raise costs on businesses and taxpayers, and making smart decisions that make Costa Mesa more affordable while preserving the quality of life in our neighborhoods.
INVESTING IN PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Costa Mesa’s parks, fields, and public spaces are the heart of the community. Daniel believes the city needs a real plan to maintain them, upgrade aging facilities, and fix streets and lighting so residents feel proud of where they live.