McGirr Confirms Reelection Bid in 2014

By Martin Henderson

For nearly a year Brad McGirr has had a big presence in Rancho Santa Margarita. 

Present at Chamber of Commerce gatherings. 

Present at business grand openings.

Present at concerts in the park and various events citywide. 

Now, he's officially going to be present somewhere else. 

The election ballot. 

McGirr on Thursday confirmed a longstanding suspicion that he would seek reelection in 2014 for City Council. He is the first candidate in the race for three positions, including those of Steve Baric and Jesse Petrilla.

“I’m very proud of the fact that Rancho Santa Margarita is financially secure, has a thriving business community, and is safe,” McGirr said.  “Frankly, with the encouragement of so many residents and civic leaders, my decision to run for re-election was not a difficult one.”

He was elected by voters a year ago for a two-year term, which was the completion of Gary Thompson's four-year term won in 2010. Thompson resigned early in 2011, was replaced with Carol Gamble, and Gamble gave up that seat a year ago and won election to a four-year term, along with Mayor Tony Beall. 

McGirr has lived in RSM since 1986 and volunteered with the Special Olympics of Southern California and Big Brothers of Orange County. After coaching youth sports for more than 15 years, he was appointed by Beall to the Rancho Santa Margarita Planning Commission in 2010; he served as its vice chairman in 2012.