 Costas also cast a vote against allowing city employees to organize into a public employee labor union, though he received labor union endorsements in subsequent elections.In 1997, as Chairman of the Parks Foundation, Costas led an effort to raise $250,000 to buy land for a park on Silver Lake.Costas first ran for mayor against David A. Butterfield in 1999 and was defeated by 196 votes despite having the endorsement of both major local newspapers
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