Costa Mesa Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Mike Buley
Candidate for Mayor
Mike Buley is running for mayor of Costa Mesa in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Loren Gameros.
Vote-by-mail ballots available · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayCivil litigation trial attorney for over 30 years, elected to represent District 1 in 2024. He has owned his own law firm for the last 25 years.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Councilmember/Attorney/Parent
- Endorsed by
- OC Sheriff Don Barnes, State Senator Steven Choi, Assemblymember Diane Dixon, OC Supervisors Janet Nguyen and Don Wagner, and Councilmember Jeff Pettis. Mike Buley
- Campaign website
- www.buley4costamesa.com
If Mike Buley or Loren Gameros is elected mayor, the council seat he leaves would likely be filled by council appointment or a special election, which could cost about $250,000. Daily Pilot · Jan 15, 2026
Mike Buley's current District 1 council term expires in November 2028. City of Costa Mesa
Where Mike Buley stands: positions on the record
Renters4 sourced positions
Says he opposed a proposed rental registry as government overreach.
“I have also opposed government overreach that burdens residents and local businesses, including a proposed rental registry”
Own statementMike Buley
As reported by the Daily Pilot; not a direct quote
Said a rental registry would add regulation that would discourage development (March 2026).
Own statementDaily Pilot · Mar 19, 2026
Voted no on requiring notice of any eviction, developing a rental registry proposal and creating a renters' network (passed 4-2, Sept. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Sept. 9, 2025 · Sep 9, 2025
Voted no on asking staff for cost and staffing details on a Network for Renters' Solutions (passed 5-2, March 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, March 17, 2026 · Mar 17, 2026
Business regulation2 sourced positions
Says he opposed mandates that interfere with private business decisions.
“mandates that interfere with private business decisions”
Own statementMike Buley
Voted no on adopting an ordinance requiring staffing at self-service checkout stations (passed 5-2, Feb. 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Feb. 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026
Fairview Park3 sourced positions
Says he worked to preserve public access to Fairview Park while protecting its natural beauty.
“preserve public access to Fairview Park while protecting its natural beauty”
Own statementMike Buley
Moved to amend the 2008 Fairview Park Master Plan with six limited items instead of adopting the draft update (failed 3-4, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
Voted no on moving forward with the draft Fairview Park Master Plan update, with the flying field moved east (passed 4-3, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
Fairview Developmental Center2 sourced positions
Says the city should weigh whether thousands of high-density units at Fairview Developmental Center serve residents or a more balanced approach would.
“We must carefully consider whether proposals for thousands of high-density housing units and the loss of public open space are in the best interest of our residents”
Own statementMike Buley campaign site
Voted yes on the Fairview Developmental Center plan allowing up to 2,300 homes, 920 of them for lower-income households (unanimous, Sept. 2026).
Council voteDaily Pilot · Sep 17, 2026
Budget and taxes3 sourced positions
Moved to have staff explore only a hotel tax increase, not a business license tax (failed 2-4, Dec. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
Opposed the new business license fee structure the council placed on the November ballot (July 2026).
Council voteDaily Pilot · Jul 24, 2026
Voted yes on adopting the 2026-27 city budget, with budget reviews every three months (passed 5-2, June 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, June 2, 2026 · Jun 2, 2026
Flock cameras1 sourced position
Voted yes on keeping Flock cameras while the contract is renegotiated, with data kept 45 days (passed 6-1, July 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, July 21, 2026 · Jul 21, 2026
Housing2 sourced positions
Moved to approve the housing element rezoning without its no-minimum-parking rule (failed 2-5, April 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
Voted no on rezoning housing element sites to comply with state housing law (passed 5-2, April 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
Immigration legal aid1 sourced position
Voted no on creating a $200,000 legal defense fund for residents facing immigration enforcement (passed 5-2, Sept. 2025).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, Sept. 9, 2025 · Sep 9, 2025
Code of ethics1 sourced position
Voted no on adopting a council code of ethics and conduct with added definitions (failed 3-4, April 2026).
Council voteCosta Mesa City Council minutes, April 7, 2026 · Apr 7, 2026
Past candidacy1 sourced position
Ran for Costa Mesa City Council, District 1 in 2024 (won).
Own statementOrange County Registrar of Voters · Dec 3, 2024
What Mike Buley said vs. how Mike Buley voted
Business regulation
In their words
Says he opposed mandates that interfere with private business decisions.
On the record
Voted no on adopting an ordinance requiring staffing at self-service checkout stations (passed 5-2, Feb. 2026).
Feb 17, 2026 ·Costa Mesa City Council minutes, Feb. 17, 2026 · Feb 17, 2026
Fairview Park
In their words
Says he worked to preserve public access to Fairview Park while protecting its natural beauty.
On the record
Voted no on moving forward with the draft Fairview Park Master Plan update, with the flying field moved east (passed 4-3, Dec. 2025).
Dec 2, 2025 ·Costa Mesa City Council minutes, Dec. 2, 2025 · Dec 2, 2025
Also running for Mayor
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