Measure M. For those outside the country on Nov 7th let me tell you that Measure M passed last week. With 1,497,397 registered votes in Orange County, we now have a 30 year tax that, according to the OC Registrar’s latest data, received a favorable vote by only 29 percent of the registered voters. Just a lead in to this new post.
Who are the members of the OCTA Board of Directors? In addition to the five Supervisors there are two other elected officials from each District and two outsiders. At their meeting in Tustin last Thursday the mayors of all 34 Orange County cities voted to make some changes. Let me focus on the Fifth District where I live and know all the players. However, before providing the outcome that I just received, I need to point out that Mission Viejo, after the city of Irvine, is the largest city by population in south county with virtually 100,000 residents. We currently do not have a representative serving from, and representing the wishes of, our city council. At this meeting Susan Ritschel from the San Clemente city council was replaced by Paul Glaab from Laguna Niguel. Paul was given a one year term commencing Dec 2006. Our other representative Richard Dixon, from the city of Lake Forest was given a two year extension to begin in Jan 2007.
Let me remind the readers of Richard Dixon’s fundraising activities immediately prior to the election as reported in the Sept 15th LA Times.
“A member of the Orange County Transportation Authority board sent out a letter this week asking recipients to help raise $1,000 apiece for his reelection to the Lake Forest City Council, at the same time inviting them to hold confidential discussions with him about transportation issues.” The article goes on to say that “After noting that Dixon is seeking reelection and reciting his experience on the OCTA board, the letter states, ‘Please contact me if you would like to discuss any concerns or issues you might have regarding transportation. All conversations will remain confidential.” The letter continues by stating ” I will be calling you next week with the hope that you will agree to commit raising $1,000 as one of my team members.”
While all of this may fall into the grey area, I would hope that the mayor’s might recognize that they should engage in rotation when making new appointments. This was an opportune time to replace Richard Dixon by one member of the Mission Viejo city council. No. We reward Richard for his poor choice in handling of his fundraising.
Awaiting your feedback.
Larry Gilbert
Thanks for your usual honesty Larry (that’s sarcasm!) You so conveniently forgot one piece of the Times Article:
“Dixon, who’s seeking reelection to the City Council, said Thursday afternoon that the Sept. 10 letter was not a veiled “pay-to-play” solicitation. Rather, it was simply an effort to let lobbyists know what he was working on. He said he takes that approach to all constituent fundraising letters.
“Now, from what I’m hearing back about it, I can see how that letter could be misconstrued,” said Dixon, who has served on the Lake Forest City Council since 1991. “I’m cancelling the fundraiser because I want to take the high ground.”
He said he’ll also be writing letters to the lobbyists apologizing for any misunderstanding.”
Now I know you would never admit mistakes and apologize but Richard did. Maybe Richard is still on OCTA because of his honesty, which, sadly, you lack.
Anonymous.
I did not publish the Times article in it’s entirety. That’s not being dishonest. Perhaps one of those receiving the solicitation raised questions on a conflict of interest which triggered the “damage control” by Richard. Having watched him in action for the past decade I can state that Richard Dixon is not the shining star you try to elevate in your post.
Larry
Larry,
Can you at least admit that Mayor Lance MacLean will be re-elected and that your slate lost….. everyone of them. How many tree’s now cannot be saved because the Sierra Club wasted money supporting Diane Greenwood!
Anonymous 10:31 a.m.
“YOUR SLATE LOST”
Excuse me but I did not have a slate. As you drove by my home placing illegal signs in a major city park you know what signs were in front of our house. I am happy to report that yours was not one of them.
My slate, if I had one, was to promote Prop 90 property rights protection and to oppose the flawed Measure M extension. Everyone who has read my blog posts have seen that more than they cared to.
I did not have a slate in Mission Viejo nor did I publish a MV selection in my Larry’s Pix this year.
We will shortly know the MV final outcome. However we do know that the incumbent Mayor sweated this one out at a time when typically 90 percent of incumbents get re-elected.
Got to go. Off to the Registrar of Voters to check on a few open races.
Larry