Loading ...I just concluded a 90 minute interview of Mission Viejo recall candidate Dale Tyler.
Background for this post. The election to recall Mission Viejo vice mayor Lance MacLean will occur on February 2, 2010.
There will only be two names on the ballot to select from. Dem. Dave Leckness, whom I interviewed on November 9th and Rep. Dale Tyler whom I just interviewed.
Let me preface the Q & A with the following information.
Unlike many interviews where questionnaires are sent to every candidate who is then given one or two weeks to respond, I did not share any of my questions in advance with either of them.
Although I asked Dale many more questions than Dave Leckness, neither of them had a clue as to what I planned to ask nor today’s listing which follows below.
LG. First question. Having been a Mission Viejo resident for over 20 years what participation, if any, have you had in any of our prior city council elections?
DT. I have been involved in every Mission Viejo election over the past 10 years starting with JP in 1998 and Trish, JP and Lance in 2002, to Gail in 2004 and other candidates.
LG. Are you involved in any local organizations? If so, which ones?
DT. The Saddleback Republican Assembly, CIG, (the Committee for Integrity in Government), and DHS (Drivers for Highway Safety).
LG. Although you just filed your nominating papers, what endorsements have you been able to get for this Feb. Special election?
DT. I have not sought any for this election. I was endorsed by the Saddleback Republican Assembly
LG. Of the 8 charges against Lance MacLean which do you feel are the most egregious and why?
DT. Lifetime medical benefits..doubling his salary..disrespecting voters.. Measure K (a proposed tax increase promoted by Lance)
LG. Lance and several residents have stated that he is not the only one responsible for those decisions. How do you respond to those remarks?
DT. You are accountable for your own decisions. The fact that others may have voted for it doesn’t change your vote. Lance made either the Motion or provided the Second on many of these issues.
LG. Aside from Lance, Frank and Trish can any future council members qualify for the same $270,000 lifetime health care benefits that they each voted for?
DT. As of today the answer is NO.
LG. If Lance were to get reelected in Nov. would he qualify for that benefit?
DT. YES.
LG. What do you feel are the largest issues facing the city today?
DT. Lifetime medical benefits..doubling council salary and out of control spending that is a longer term process
LG. What recommendations would you bring forward to address them?
DT. Immediately revoke lifetime medical benefits and rollback pay increase
LG. In your candidate statement you reference projects that end up 200% to 300% over budget. Can you be more specific?
DT. The Murray Center, City Hall and the Montanoso renovation
LG. You also wish to promote a more open government. Can you give us some examples where our government has not been open? What changes would you recommend?
DT. Documentation requests. The data on the electronic sign was laughably incomplete.. the same answer for the costs and subsequent destruction of easels. I would give the city clerk more power to put teeth in Public Records requests and demand compliance from uncompliant employees.
Strictly limit matters in Closed Session to those that are unambiguously permitted by the Brown Act.
LG. A lot has been said about the Casta Golf Course being converted for housing. Is the city Moratorium on this property still in effect and, if so, when does that Moratorium expire?
DT. I believe it is still in effect until February..not sure. Even if they set a date certain, it could be terminated early
LG. What is the Right To Vote Initiative and what was your role in the that effort?
DT. I developed the wording in the Ordinance based on Yorba Linda’s Ordinance and campaigned getting signatures. The Initiative is a means for the citizens to gain control of major planning and zoning decisions
LG. When is that Initiative to appear on a Mission Viejo ballot?
DT. It will be on the regular June 2010 ballot
LG. Does it require a simple majority or 2/3rds for passage of the Initiative?
DT. A simple majority
LG. Same question for major development projects should the Initiative pass.
DT. A simple majority
LG. Can the current owner sell that golf course property in whole or in part today?
DT. Yes, subject to any deed restrictions
LG. How is the Casta golf course property zoned?
DT. Open space
LG. Without the Right to Vote Initiative what would it require to change that zoning to residential usage?
DT. Three votes
LG. If the Right to Vote Initiative is approved, what are the trigger points for that potential voter participation?
DT. Major zoning changes to parcels in our city. I am not opposed to using property as currently zoned and will encourage it
LG. In your candidate statement it reads that you want to “require city budgets to be balanced every year.” Aren’t our budgets balanced or is that balance only accomplished by taking money from our reserves?
DT. I believe today’s budget is balanced by accounting tricks and don’t reflect the actual fiscal state of the city
LG. Another area in your candidate statement says that you want to stop self-enrichment. Can you provide any examples of that remark?
DT. Lifetime medical benefits…doubling your own salary
LG. Recreation has always been a major reason why many families move to Mission Viejo. Were you involved in the 2002-03 effort to save the Sierra Recreation Center?
DT. Yes
LG. Do you support our city’s recreation programs?
DT. I do
LG. Do you support the $4 million expansion of the Marguerite Tennis Center as proposed?
DT. No.
LG. Why not?
DT. It’s $4 million dollars for approximately 150 residents
LG. A recent hot issue in Mission Viejo is the location and cost of a dog park. Do you support that future CIP?
DT. YES. I believe we should have a dog park in our city that is reasonably priced that is away from homes, schools and parks
LG. How much should we spend and where would you recommend that it be located?
DT. Other cities have built dog parks for less than $100,000. I would support a siting process that includeds input form every home and business within 2,000 to 5,000 feet of the proposed site.
LG. Due to the current recession in the construction industry we have not moved forward with any new housing start including the state mandated 94 low and super low income affordable units. Where would you prefer that the shortfall be located?
DT. A number of locations have been given special zoning, including density bonuses. It’s up to the developers. The city doesn’t build the units
LG. Would you promote placing all of them in one project or spread around the city?
DT. We’re done. The RENA allocations could be fully satisfied by the zoning made by the current council
LG. Would you support a new school District in Mission Viejo as some parents and council members have been promoting?
DT. It appears to me that the complexity of creating a Mission Viejo only school district far out weigh the benefits. However, if it could be done in a revenue neutral and site neutral school site I could support it
LG. The current city council has filed lawsuits against both of our school districts. Do you support either of those actions?
DT. I don’t see the point of either action. Any disputes could have been resolved out of court.
LG. A recent request was made by a member of the Mallorca HOA Board of Directors for the city to spend around $500,000 in taxpayer funds to upgrade their private slopes. How do you feel when discovering that over $one million dollars, 28%, was removed from our infrastructure budget for roads and medians?
DT. I think its’ inappropriate for the city to maintain private property. That the city council failed to maintain city property while spending foolishly on things like the Rose Bowl Float and decorating medians on Crown Valley Parkway is simply outrageous.
LG. Let’s address the 700 pound gorilla in this election.
Without providing any names a hit piece and your challenger allege that someone wants to fire staff members, privatize the library and animal shelter, reduce the number of sheriff deputies, get rid of the Kids factory and school crossing guards.
Here is your chance to respond to these charges.
LG. Do you wish to privatize the library? YES, or NO?
DT. NO
LG. Do you wish to privatize the animal shelter? YES, or NO?
DT. NO
LG. Are you familiar with the Kids Factory program?
DT. Yes, I believe its an after school program
LG. Do you want to get rid of the Kids Factory? YES, or NO?
DT. NO
LG. Another general comment relates to our OCSD Contract. Do you want to reduce the number of sworn deputies serving our city?
DT. NO
LG. How about our SRO’s. Do you wish to reduce the number of our school resources officers?
DT. NO
LG. What is your opinion of the taxpayer funded MV Community Foundation?
DT. The Foundation has failed to live up to its promise to raise funds for various city projects
LG. At what point, if any, do you feel the city should support an entry in the Tournament of Roses Parade? And if so, how much should be spent and funded by whom?
DT. Any time the businesses in Mission Viejo want to enter a Rose Parade Float I would applaud their efforts. However, the City of Mission Viejo should not spend another dime
LG. Final questions. As this election will be decided in the next 2 and a half months are you utilizing a professional campaign manager?
DT. NO
LG. What is your campaign budget for this election?
DT. We are going to spend whatever it takes to win.
Note: This exchange took place between 12:30 and 2 p.m. today at Denny’s restaurant on Alicia Parkway in Mission Viejo.
Larry,
Any chance you’ll follow up on Tyler’s residency claim. I mean, he could very well be a resident for the past twenty years but I would like to know why his vehicles have had Indiana License Plates on them for the past three. Both cars recently renewed. If this guy is going to be in office, isn’t his integrity already an issue.
Robert. There is no question about Dale’s residency.
Before accepting what others may say perhaps you should contact Dale.
Did you try before adding your comment or is it simply based on the photo which we have each received?
The Ford truck is owned by an Indiana Corporation, is leased to Dale, and has been back and forth to Indiana several times. It is currently being stored here. The Mercedez was stored in Indiana and has gone back and forth. His most recent vehicle was purchased in CA and has CA plates, however that vehicle was not included in the photos for some unexplained reason. Perhaps you might ask Frank Ury and Trish Kelley about that oversight.
Dale advises me that he has been in contact with the CHP regarding the tags on these vehicles and that he has no problems with their multiple state location usage.
Geez, Calm down Larry, take your medication. I merely asked a question. I just figured since you spoke to the man that perhaps you would have access to the answer. I don’t know the guy but wanted to know since I am a resident of mission viejo and want to make sure my elected officials are following the law. Do you have an issue with that? Or is that you would look the other way as long as the guy you want is in office? Try and stay on track and be fair to everyone.
I JUST HOPE THERE IS A WAY TO RID OUR CITY OF THESE UNDER-EDUCATED PERSONS! How can we be proud of a city council that decorates our streets with camel dung brick covering and plastic planters, poster art that resembles advertising, and seems to sling mud at every turn?
And- Lance- what the heck were you thinking- pulling an insurance scam on all of our citizens? And- who voted in favor of this grand larceny? Can we get rid of ALL of them? Seems like a city could find honest people to actually run the things efficiently, and with concious effort to better maintain our formerly beautiful, classy city. Not moving on- staying to see these people removed! Quite Sincerely!
Cassaundra
Can you please stay on the topic of our posts.
In this case do you have an opinion on my interview of Dale Tyler and his responses? You can also chime in on other comments as well as my own replies.
While I agree that the art in the new pilasters along Crown Valley and Marguerite Parkways is a hazard to drivers who may take their eyes off the highly used major arterials, that is not directly related to the two competing replacement candidates.
We just passed a law that your use of cell phones must be “hands free” yet its OK for you to look away from the road to look at “works of art” on the side of these roads or in the medians where, for a split second look, you might create a serious accident.
Great way to retain BRAGGING RIGHTS with our being “the safest city in CA.”
Perhaps they refer to crime rather than motor vehicle accidents.
Larry,
Was quite shocked that you didn’t get up to support “your recall cause” at the counsel meeting last night. Your an idiot. If you don’t like the way Mission Viejo is….I have one word…….MOVE!!! It would be a better place if you did!! Oh and take that low life Dale with you!
Mr. Tyler:
California law requires you register your vehicles in this state within 10 days of residency. As for one of your vehicles being registered to a leasing company in another state, You are the driver / operator, living in this state. The plates must be California plates, PERIOD. That is the law. I’m not sure what “driven back and forth” means. You use California roads, you pay your registration in this state to use your vehicles on these roads. Now, I do like your ideas on the medical issues. I am also a big proponent of having a part-time California legislator. M.V., as well as any city can operator on a part-time, all volunteer council. Cities don’t need full time council members. There should be no compensation given to these “public volunteers”. It should be 100% volunteer council. That’s how you know where everyone’s interest is. When they offer their time without expecting a retirement out of it.
Sutka. Mr Tyler does not live here.
That said, as the author of this post, he and I have had discussion on this issue.
All that I can add is that I drove by his home recently and did see a vehicle in his driveway with CA tags. The election is over. His car has CA tags and I move on.