In November of 2022, Manuel Chavez was re-elected to serve in Costa Mesa's District 4 for a second four-year term. 

First elected in 2018, he was part of the City of Costa Mesa’s historical first District Elections and became the youngest ever council member elected in the city’s history and the first person elected to represent Costa Mesa City Council District 4 at the age of 23.

Manuel is committed to increasing access to public parks and infrastructure in Westside Costa Mesa and wants the city to work more closely with local organizations and non-profits to expand their existing work to help Westside families and youth.

He is a strong supporter of the city’s police and first responders and wants to work to improve trust and safety in Costa Mesa by keeping Police and Fire departments local in addition to restoring depleted department staffing.

He believes Costa Mesa needs more affordable housing, especially in his district, and he believes the council must prioritize lowering the cost of living while maintaining quality of life. He also believes it is vital for Costa Mesa to find continue to prioritize short and long-term solutions for economic development, housing, and public safety.

Growing up in Westside Costa Mesa, Manuel attended local public schools, including Pomona, Rea, Twinkle, and Estancia High School. While a student at Estancia High School, he became heavily involved with the Save Our Youth program (SOY).

After graduating from Estancia, Manuel attended UC Irvine where he studied Political Science and Religious Studies.

A lifelong Costa Mesa resident, Manuel is very involved in the community, he currently serves as a member of OCTA’s Community Advisory Committee and as a Board Member for the Coastal Corridor Alliance.

 Manuel works as the Outreach and Programs Manager at Save Our Youth, a local Costa Mesa Non-Profit serving 7th – 12th grade students in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

Term expires: November 2026 (2nd term)
Email: Manuel.Chavez@costamesaca.gov
Phone: (949) 274-2305

* To contact the City Council's Constituent Services Team, please call (714) 754-5105 or email constituentservices@costamesaca.gov.

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