I am the current City Council member for Costa Mesa's District 5 after winning election in November 2018. I've been proud and honored to represent westside Costa Mesa and hope to earn your support to continue serving our great community.

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Background

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I grew up in Costa Mesa, attended Costa Mesa schools (Pomona, Victoria Elementary, TeWinkle, and Estancia), earned my Mechanical Engineering degree from MIT and my MBA from UC Irvine. My professional work focuses on cost-effective clean energy investments, and my advocacy work has centered on protecting our coast and natural spaces. In addition to my City Council service, I serve as on the following boards: 

• America Walks (Vice Chair)

• Hispanic Advisory Board for the Orange County Soccer Club

• Coastline Community Colleges Enterprise Board

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I fought to Save Banning Ranch and to create a new 380-acre public park on the edge of westside Costa Mesa. 

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I helped organized community members and advocacy organizations to fight a massive development project that would have had negative and dangerous impacts on westside Costa Mesa. I created the videos linked below to help educate our community and rally support for a public park instead of development, and as a City Council member I have written letters and spoken in support of grants to purchase Banning Ranch. Our grassroots community efforts have so far succeeded, and we are making great progress on a 380-acre public nature park for passive recreation and habitat restoration at Banning Ranch!

Watch the first Save Banning Ranch video.

Watch the second Save Banning Ranch video.

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I worked to save Fairview Park

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I worked with other community members to protect Fairview Park as a passive, public nature park, and created this video in 2016 to help educate the public about the fight to save this precious open space.

Watch the Save Fairview Park video.

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As Council liaison to the Fairview Park Steering Committee, I'm working to update our Fairview Park Master Plan and update our management practices to accelerate restoration of natural habitats, develop education programs (e.g., nature walks) that highlight the unique cultural and biological resources at Fairview Park, and support an active array of passive recreation activities.

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I host a Little Free Library to create community and encourage reading.

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I installed a Little Free Library in front of my home to share books with neighbors and encourage reading. I enjoy seeing neighbors and their kids drop by to exchange books and leave friendly notes for each other in the library’s note box.

Read more about my Little Library in the Freedom Homes.

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I was recognized as a Daily Pilot “Unsung Hero”

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In 2016, I was honored to be recognized in the Daily Pilot’s “Unsung Hero” series for my approach to sustainable living and my contributions to stopping the development project at Banning Ranch.
Read my "Unsung Hero" the article from the Daily Pilot.

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I was recognized in the LA Times for Community Organizing

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Award-winning L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez recognized the impact of our local community organizing to raise awareness and stop the proposed development project at Banning Ranch.

Read the article about our grassroots efforts to Save Banning Ranch.

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Public Service is a Family Tradition

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My grandfather was a police officer in Inglewood before becoming a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, and my grandmother was a school principal for more than 40 years with the L.A. Unified School District. My father was a Marine Corps officer who served in Vietnam, and my mother is a first-generation college graduate. Both of my parents dedicated their careers to public education as school teachers, demonstration to my brother and I the meaning of selfless service and the value of caring about others. My brother, also an Estancia High School graduate, is a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice, focused on consumer protection. I've dedicated my career to climate resilience, focused on a clean, safe, and reliable energy grid.

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I have volunteered as a coach and mentor and previously served as Vice Chair of Costa Mesa’s Parks and Recreation Commission. I have worked with neighbors and local businesses to protect our parks and open spaces, improve safety of our roads, and invest in meaningful engagement across our community.

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THANK YOU for taking the time to read about my re-election campaign Costa Mesa City Council District 5. I'd love to hear your input and welcome your questions. 

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Please e-mail arlis4costamesa@gmail.com, call or text (949) 432-6159,

or complete this form.