Why am I not surprised. Red County blog has just reported that Mission Viejo councilman Lance MacLean has endorsed two competitors for the same seat in the same election.
As a former administrator at UCI, having left that post around three months ago, does Lance have a problem with math?
If he respects both Assemblywoman Mimi Walters and Anaheim Councilman Harry Sidhu, than all he needed to do, when asked for an endorsement, was to tell them that he will not favor one over the other. This is not like going to Delmar to place bets on every horse in a race simply to brag that you picked a winner, or use that endorsement to gain favor afterward.
Wasn’t he thinking about the impact of that act when every candidate mass mails endorsements to the electorate and now have the time and expense burden of proving that they were not being deceptive by his lack of concern.
But then again, those of us who helped him get elected in 2002 will forever live with our collective mistake.
Larry, this is a common practice when someone believes that two candidates are qualified. Perhaps he is friends with both of them and believes both could do a good job. To not endorse either might send a message that neither one is qualified which may not be how he feels. I can see how this might be frustrating for someone who sees the world as black and white or perhaps has an ax to grind regarding one candidate or the other but it happens all the time.
It’s no surprise Lance is endorsing two candidates … or five or ten. The excuse of “everyone does it” is what teenagers tell their parents about using drugs.
Lance told residents in 2002 he would represent them. Turns out, he is representing developers, vendors, outsiders and politicians. His votes on the council indicate he has dumped the residents entirely, as they’re simply not the highest bidder.
The only question I have is why anyone running for office would want Lance’s endorsement. It demonstrates that neither candidate is tuned in about Mission Viejo or its pathetic officials.
Anon 6:23 sounds like a M.V. resident who thought Lance would do his/her bidding on every issue. It’s a common Gadfly condition that can never be cured. He/she will back another candidate in a future election, be saddened when that person does not vote exactly as hoped on every issue and the cycle continues. All towns have a handful of gadflys like that but M.V. always seems to have more than the others.
Email response:
“But then again, those of us who helped him get elected in 2002 will forever live with our collective mistake.”
Come on, now, Larry. Lance is really good at a several things, and we need to see that he gets the credit he deserves for it.
He is the most perfect charlatan I have ever known. It would not surprise me if in the next edition of Webster’s College Dictionary if one were to look up the word “charlatan”, Lance’s picture would be there.
He is better at changing his colors that a real chameleon. That is the characteristic about him that fooled us all, and happened so very quickly after his election.
These two characteristics are what tricked us all so well. However, another characteristic of Lance’s is sad.
He is about the best example many have seen of a self-serving elected official who will not listen to and couldn’t care less for his citizen constituency.
Anon 5:31 p.m.
I respectfully disagree with you.
You do not double endorse competing candidates. If you feel compelled to throw your support for a candidate, than do so or simply stay out of the race.
As you say this is “common practice” perhaps you can provide a few examples. I recall one by Supervisor Chris Norby but that was the exception not the rule and I do not recall his reasoning.
anon 8:15 p.m.
I do not know who you are nor do I know who wrote the comments that you responded to. Having been very active in that 2002 campaign I know the entire history of every candidate, including Lance MacLean and his using us to get elected. It’s not about his failure to do our bidding. There is something to integrity which is a word not found in his vocabulary.
Another email reply:
Lance is the man! He can stand in the middle better than anyone!
Another email from a MV supporter of Lance. I would say that this individuals bridge has burned down.
“Atta Boy Larry”
email from central OC
Larry, I believe two others also dual endorsed. I just thought it was a mistake.
McClean might be a great guy, but lets be honest, he’s a political dork.
Most of his fellow councilmembers openly joked about his sign stealing issues and initial loss on re-election. I watched others giving condolences on his close loss then walking away chuckling to themselves. Final tally was in Lance’s favor, but he added nothing and would not have been missed.
Sorry to be so harsh but it’s the truth…
Not everyone must believe the Gadfly opinion that Larry is a “political dork”. He was selected by his fellow Mayors and councilmembers from throughout Orange County to be the Chairman of the Toll Road board of directors. Have you every run for city council Larry? Why not? If you did, how did you do? Just curious.
anon 10:37 p.m.
Yes I have been a candidate for city council. At times I feel like Thomas Dewey in that the next morning edition of the LA Times had me winning both times yet when the final votes were counted I lost. Check it out. 1994 & 1996.
Setting aside my personal campaigns, that you inquired about, I can respond by telling you that watchdog/activists as we are known, or to use your slang, Gadflies, carried three candidates over the finish line in Nov 2002.
Note: We blew away both the mayor and vice mayor in that election.
Lance MacLean being one of the three we supported. Along with I.E.’s in the thousands of dollars spent in that effort we stood on corners carrying their signs, put out yard signs until 2 a.m., got key endorsements for the trio, walked precincts, hosted home gatherings, made phone calls, issued voter guides with their names being recommended, and just about anything else one does in a local campaign.
Supporting Lance MacLean in that election was the biggest mistake we ever made. Not a single member of our groups support him today.
If you care to contact us to verify the above remark simply send me an email identifying yourself and I will forward your request to our “gadflies.”
anon 10:37 p.m.
I will violate our own guidelines to respond to one of your comments. While this post is about SD 33 endorsements you raised the issue of Lance MacLean’s top role in the TCA.
Following text is from another blog in Mission Viejo. http://www.missionviejoca.org
“One of the things that struck me about the pro-tollroad arguments was the number of outright lies and deliberately deceptive statements used to try and prove their points. For example, the TCA claimed that nearly 1,200 properties would have to be taken to widen the I-5 if the toll road was not built. Yet, the OCTA and an independent study both showed that the number was approximately 100 in the worst case and that far fewer might actually be needed.
Another lie told by TCA representative Lance MacLean was that the TCA was putting up $100 million to fund the re-lease or purchase of San Onofre State Beach when the lease expires in approximately 10 years. However, under questioning by the Coastal Commission board, it was revealed that the prior lease cost $1, and there was no reason whatsoever to expect that the next renewal would be for any amount other than $1. So, the TCA claimed to be this altruistic organization spending the colossal amount of $100,000,000 when, in fact, they would likely have to spend only $1. Even MacLean, who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer, should know the difference. He probably thought the voters were too dumb to notice.”
Note: While I know the editor I am not associated with this blog or their coverage.
Lance came into office in 2002 with 15,114 votes, and he nearly lost his office in 2006, with only 8,574 votes. The citizens of Mission Viejo knew that MacLean was a sell out. He won his re-election by 94 votes, with the help of two last minute cash infusions from SCE and Steadfast Developers. Jupiter
YOU ALL should have done due diligence on Lance. While at UCI, he managed to embarass every organization with which he was associated . He went from a frat boy student rep to a paid stooge of the Admin. He has always been a self-serving and unprincipled individual.
Hey, stupid anon….Steadfast supported Frank Ury’s candidates. Look closly and they gave money to MacLean after the election.
Well, now that you “gadflys” have bash poor Lance, who heads up the New Majority on the M.V. city council of Trish Kelley, Frank Ury and himself and the City Staff knows they now have the three votes to do as they please, why don’t you see how good you are and “Recall Lance Maclean” and put Larry Gilbert in his place. Let’s see what “watchdog/activists” you really are!
anon 6:40 a.m.
Thanks, but no thanks. I have no desire to serve on our city council.
Now the Recall idea has merit.
anon 6:32 p.m.
After the fact I did receive info on Lance from a UCI insider. That data package covered his Mission Viejo campaign contributions received from firms doing business with Lance’s department, that had no possible economic relationship to our city. However, after speaking to one of their professors, I decided not to proceed further. Pay to play, YES. Illegal, NO!
A request. Let’s drop this diversion from the original story. I will not be responding to any further comments that are not on point. Thank you!
Larry..back on point.. why would Mimi Walters want the endorsement of Lance MacLean? Check out why he left UCI..did he leave on his own or was he asked to leave..
No anwser required…
anon 5:33 p.m
After today’s OC Register story on Lance my guess is that both of the dual endorsed candidates will probably drop that endorsement from their campaign literature.
For an update on Mr. MacLean please go to the more recent post.