Tonight was a unique meeting of the Mission Viejo city council. To the best of my knowledge we have never recalled a member of any south County City Council until tonight.After the traditional Pledge and Invocation we had a short parade of MacLean and Leckness supporters providing public comments including Dave Allen who thanked those who voted followed by his statement that for all those who didn’t I have two words for you. “19 votes.”
When the council was asked to vote approval of the Official Results Lance cast a NO vote as “a personal protest.” Lance said he was disappointed in the slim margin of the results and that he had no issues with the ROV in performing their duties. He went on to say that “this will not end my commitment to participating in the community.”
Lance urged Dave to follow through on his priorities of expanding our tennis center, creating a dog park, and providing traffic relief.
This was followed by our City Clerk Karen Hamman administering the oath of office to Dave Leckness followed by his unique remarks to the full house in the council chambers. Dave acknowledged his family, friends, members of the Rotary club of Mission Viejo, four former Mission Viejo mayors, his pastor from Mount of Olives church and business colleagues.
He opened his speech saying that “I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to do this” but was encouraged by his campaign manager Ken Dever to throw his hat into the ring at a popular bagel restaurant.
Dave told us he thinks he can make a difference. He later said let’s start fresh. It’s OK to blog but you don’t have to be so negative. Say something nice about our city.
However, it’s time to cut to the chase. Item 6 tonight was the CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION. I have received a copy of an email from Trish Kelley to Dave and some of their supporters encouraging Dave to keep all of his yard signs for the fall election.
Dave admitted that he had things to learn but promised to do so. However Frank Ury immediately nominates Dave to be Mayor ProTem that was immediately seconded by Vice Mayor Trish Kelley. When it was time to nominate the Mayor Council Member Schlicht said she was blocked out when hitting the buzzer to speak as she wanted to nominate senior council member John Paul Ledesma who after almost 12 years only served as Mayor one time being bypassed on two occasions. Frank Ury buzzed in and Nominated Trish Kelley which was followed by a second from Dave Leckness.
While the outcome would not have changed, this is a new day in Mission Viejo. I’m not so sure about the power of three.
Instead of a day of celebrating Dave Leckness’s victory at least one public speaker went on the attack and even included my name as I sat quietly in the audience. A sad beginning for the newest member of our city council.
Notes: Before the meeting began I did show Dave my latest post of elimination of lifetime health care for part-time council members.
At a break before departing Joe Holtzman told Dave about our prior efforts and web site promoting the Mission Viejo business community. We can agree on the need to “retain, sustain and gain” business in the city of Mission Viejo.
I was there too and wrote about the meeting here: http://holycoast.blogspot.com/2010/02/mission-viejo-city-council-power.html
I also thought that electing Dave Mayor Pro Tem seemed a little odd given that his seat wasn’t even warm yet and every other council member has years more experience. That seemed pretty odd.
I hope Dave does well in his new task. Given the level of acrimony expressed by some of the speakers at the beginning of the meeting, he’s got his work cut out for him to bring the various factions together.
Even if Dave Leckness is just a place holder, it is an improvement. MacLane was always acting like he was going to punch someone out. After he was attacking Leckness last week on another blog, everyone should get the picture by now.
MacLean attempted to get out from underneath his prior bad behavior by claiming he added more protection for the citizens–in reality he voted against school resource personnel from the Sheriff’s office. Some people never stop falsifying their records, and attempt to rewrite history. See ya Lance–don’t let the door get in your way out of the building.!!!
We had the same old parade of nay sayers–Butterfield, Cody, Workun, Saltsgiver, and Allen get up and cry about the election. Get over it folks–you lost.
We also saw how quickly Ury and Kelley closed out any breath of fresh air by shutting off microphones and ignoring the most senior member of the council. So much for Ury and Kelley worrying about healing–just keep on rubbing the scab Trish !!!
My jaw definitely dropped at how fast the nominations and votes went, especially for Dave as Pro Tem. It was like the bullies on the playground had planned out beforehand how fast they had to hit the buttons and speak their nominations and seconds. Unnerving to say the least. It’s definitely all about the power and not about the serving.
Violations to the Brown act aside…MV is certainly exhibiting it’s own set of issues.
Isn’t there a State
Law about Re-Called, Ousted Politians? How in the world can they give Lance “in Memorium Moment” after he has been officially dumped?
It seems so nice to treat those that were most “mean spirited” so kindly “after the fact”!
Back to business: Is brother Dave going to support a raise in yearly costs for Public Safety…..as Lance would seemingingly have done?
Comment 5 — good call. Kelley and Ury operate by their own rules. Anyone who watches the meetings should be able to notice how they break laws.
Good riddance to Lance, and he can crawl back under a rock. Leckness is unknown except for telling jokes. If Kelley and Ury succeed at sucking him into their agenda, it will soon be known.
Don’t pick on Trishtoday. There is ample time and ammunition to share as we approach the General Election.
I just started filling a file for future use.
One disadvantage of being an incumbent is that your words, deeds and actions do not disappear over time.
Larry,’AMMUNITION”? Are you out to disrupt her too?Maybe a file is being kept on you too? Keep in mind , it was a slim margin that lance was recalled on. Why don’t you try and be a better person [oh , I forgot, you do go to church don’t you.]This hate you seem to have developed is not helping anyone including yourself.At least you use your name .Many don’t.
Colin. Were you there last night? This was the fastest (rigged) selection of our mayor and vice mayor in our 20 year history. Last night was to be a celebration for Dave. Public comment threats against those of us who were successful in the recall were uncalled for and some of Dave’s supporters agreed with me.
As to my file on Trish. Perhaps you are not aware that I was her campaign manager in 2002. She has gone off the reservation these past few years and should her abuses continue all is fair when you re-enter the arena. That was just a shot over the bow which may never appear. Who knows. Stay tuned.
We will remember in November is a slogan to be repeated.
Perhaps an oversight on your part Larry – but didn’t John Paul vote “YES” on both the Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor selection last night? I believe that both the votes were 4 -AYE and 1 – NO (Schlicht)? Humm and scratching my head: John Paul voted YES for Leckness as Pro Tem and Kelley as Mayor. ANy idea why did he so?
Also, doesn’t council member Schlicht know about SUBSTITUTE MOTIONS? There’s no getting “shut out” (as you said she did) when all she needed to do was offer up a SUBSTITUTE motion for John Paul for MAYOR which she would have done immediately after the original motion for Trish was made and BEFORE the vote. Then JP could have seconded it and it would have been voted on FIRST and ahead of the other motion. If it passed – then JP would be mayor. If it failed (very likely) then the council votes on the original motion. Robert’s Rules of Order allow for SUBSTITUTE motions to address such situations (Assuming the MV Council implements this part of Robert’s Rules?)
Personally, I think Cathy is more interested in being a victim and the sole minority (as in voting minority) member of the council?
Still interested in why John Paul voted as a part of the MAJORITY last night? Kinda of blows some of the wind away from your sails…don’t ya think?
Robert Rules.
If you were there you would see how fast the Motion second and votes were cast. As to recording the vote you are correct. I was not hiding either JP or Cathy’s votes.
If you read today’s OC Register you will see a laughable comment by mayor Kelley when she says:
her first order of business as mayor would be to “build bridges, put some of the nasty division behind us and get working on the business of the city.”Trish was a participant in the very issues which she mentions. Build bridges? Is she dellusional?Vote for yourself to be mayor for the third time in 7 years while JP was mayor only once in 11?
And no, we are not bound by Robert’s Rules in Mission Viejo.
Another reader points out that Cathy and JP did not stand when Lance received a standing ovation for his removal due in great part to his documented violence that he never addresses in the Ballot.
Have you watched the State of the Union when members of the minority party do not stand to be cheerleaders such as bobbing head Nancy Pelosi?
The same rights of visible protest run all the way down to the local city council. We are not to be in lockstep simply for a bogus photo op of unity. Did you expect us to break out singing Kumbaya?
To Robert Drools, the Mission council doesn’t use Robert’s Rules. Other than that, z-z-z-z.
MacLean is quoted in OCR today saying the recall should not have happened. Had he resigned rather than hiding his violent acts, a recall would not have occurred. As a new discovery about MacLean’s domestic violence, court documents were destroyed in Sept. 2009. Did MacLean act to have records destroyed to cover his tracks? Where the hell is that OCR reporter who follows MacLean around trying to kiss his ring?
MacLean’s apologists should brace themselves for daily revelations about his domestic violence. He either made fools of his supporters by hiding it or they knowingly backed him to continue feeding at the trough. Kelley and Ury made a big production of supporting him, and both knew about his anger.
Yes, where IS that OCR reporter? Those who know about the police report say the contents are “chilling” and “horrific.”
Why can’t you let it go? You won the recall or as they say, you won the battle but not the war! MacLean never hid the facts of his history, admitted he was wrong, and was willing to talk about it with anyone who approached him. I am really happy your small yet seemingly powerful group(since you own the blogs and comment on each others blogs) didn’t get the majority of the City Council that you want to control. Let those who want to run the city, who have won the right via the elections (of which neither you or the other guys who run blogs about our city have never won) run our city until you get the right to run your candidates in November. Start the healing by (as others have posted) being positive for a while and see what happens. WE live in a great community and your negitive comments are a drag on all us (who don’t agree on your views)
Your group keeps on amazing me!!!!!
What’s your problem. We did win Lance is gone.
As to the future we collectively shall monitor, challenge and praise when warranted.
Have a great weekend.