Hornbuckle endorses Foley for council

Former Mayor Mary Hornbuckle announced this week that she is backing school board Trustee Katrina Foley’s run for City Council.

“Katrina Foley is the kind of council member Costa Mesa needs: someone who is invested in the community, who genuinely cares about the people and the neighborhoods, and who is active in community organizations,” Hornbuckle, who currently serves on the Coast Community College District board of trustees, said in a prepared statement.

Foley is a former member of the council and a practicing attorney. She has spent the last three years as a Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustee and is seeking a return to the council.

City Council candidate Tony Capitelli also picked up an endorsement. Capitelli, a first-time candidate, said former Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner Chris Fewel is backing him.

Capitelli works as district representative for U.S. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) and is the son-in-law of Newport Beach City Councilman Keith Curry, who’s running for state Assembly.

“Tony has a passion for the residents of Costa Mesa,” Fewel, a longtime Westside resident, said in a prepared statement. “His fresh perspective and knowledge of this city will make for a great addition to the Costa Mesa City Council.”

Foley and Capitelli are in a field of four announced candidates — Mayor Jim Righeimer and Eastside resident Lee Ramos are the other two — who are running for two open council seats in November.

Councilwoman Wendy Leece will be termed out and has announced her bid for Congress against Rohrabacher.