Mayor’s till still the fullest

Costa Mesa Mayor Allan Mansoor arguably has the most name recognition in the Costa Mesa City Council race, and campaign finance reports filed Thursday show he’s still got the biggest spending power.

The reports covered fundraising and spending from Oct. 1 to Oct. 21, and they listed total amounts for 2006.

Mansoor raised the most money of all six candidates for two seats, reporting $58,944 raised this year. Mansoor also has spent the most, listing $43,168 in campaign expenditures so far. And he has the most money left over, with $26,382 in cash on hand.

Asked how he plans to spend the rest of his money, Mansoor said, “I plan on spending it in a way that’s going to demonstrate my vision for Costa Mesa, that we should be a beautiful coastal community and we should be striving to improve our community, making it more safe and more beautiful.”

Mansoor has made a point of urging supporters to cast their other vote for parks commissioner Wendy Leece, and she came in just behind him in fundraising as well.

Leece’s report showed she raised $42,220 this year, while she spent $35,504 and has $7,326 in cash on hand.

Running on the opposite side of some key issues from Mansoor and Leece is planning commissioner Bruce Garlich, who landed in third place in terms of fundraising.

Garlich raised $40,713 in 2006. He reported spending $33,858 and he has $15,500 cash on hand.

Former Councilman Mike Scheafer, who is not running on a ticket with Garlich but has many of the same supporters, has raised $24,056, spent $13,415, and has $10,690 cash on hand.

Restaurant owner Mirna Burciaga reported raising $15,118 this year, and she has spent $13,974. She has $3,509 left in cash on hand.

Businessman Chris Bunyan didn’t report raising anything in the first three weeks of October, so his total raised in 2006 remained $2,750. He has spent $610, and his cash on hand is $150.