Six years ago we had a well organized “grass roots” and I.E. effort to remove both the Mission Viejo mayor and Vice Mayor and we succeeded by a three to one vote. There were no surprises as to our objective in that November city council election. You can still find OC Register Senior Editorial Writer and Columnist Steve Greenhut’s editorial on that victory which he labeled “The Revolution in Mission Viejo.”
Well, as we approach another city council election I am hearing about some “skulduggery” at work among one or more of our current council members. According to multiple sources, Mayor Kelley and (possibly) Vice Mayor Ury have convinced Planning Commissioner Rich Atkinson to run for a seat on the council in their attempt to remove council woman Gail Reavis.
Note: As reported previously. Member Reavis and Ury are up for reelection.
Politics truly is a “combat sport.” And candidate supporters learn that while we may work our tails off getting candidates elected, while simultaneously defeating deeply connected incumbents, the new members memory of prior campaign assistance disappear, in some cases, shortly after taking their Oath of Office.
Case in point. As stated before I have not endorsed Gail Reavis for the 2008 election. However it is worth reporting on Rick And Gail Reavis’s in-kind contributions to the election of Trish Kelley in 2002 where, according to Trish, I served as her campaign manager.
Where shall I begin. Let’s start with Council Woman Reavis endorsement of Trish taking a huge risk going against two powerful incumbents.
Rick Reavis designed our campaign sign logo and made arrangements for favorable pricing in our very tight budget. He also assisted in constructing her yard signs. Through Rick Reavis’s connection we were able to get a huge discount on the design layout, printing and mailing of our final campaign flyer that, according to Trish’s husband Jack Kelley, made the difference in Trish’s huge victory margin.
As Gail served on the Fire Authority the Reavis’s promoted Trish to the Fire Authority union and not only did she get their endorsement and funding but the Reavis’s went back and were able to get a secondary contribution resulting in the thousands of much needed dollars for the campaign.
There’s more. In our final flyer you see a photo of Trish in the Reavis neighbor’s Model “A” Ford that was used to drive her around town. Hosting a coffee for Trish, having lunch at the Sierra Recreation Center daily to increase resident usage numbers to keep the center from the wrecking ball, etc., etc. Larry. That’s all old news.
Yes, Gail Reavis can be a pain as she serves in the minority trying to promote fiscal sanity among a band of RINO’s. The record will show that she has her flaws.
I have placed multiple calls to Mr. Atkinson who is a Code Compliance Officer in the city of San Clemente. We surely wish to interview him for the Orange Juice on two fronts.
Why is he a candidate? Incumbents will always tell voters that “everything is honkey dory.” If that’s the case, why are two (or more) members of our city council promoting him in this years election?
Mr Atkinson. To repeat myself. Why have you thrown your hat into the arena?
UPDATE: Mr. Atkinson has just returned my call.
See stand alone post of that interview that will follow shortly.
If MV voters don’t wake up and smell the coffee, the city will be in far worse hands than it was in 2002. Trish Kelley has been a huge disappointment. While she was doing some people a favor by getting into the race in 2002 (for a job no reasonable person wanted), she has no qualifications, no business sense — a long list of negatives. She quickly became a pawn of city employees and began pushing their weird agenda instead of serving her constituents. Frank Ury is far worse because he is fueled by self-promotion and enriching himself and his out-of-town buddies (aka the good old boys).
The only way to remove this unsavory element from the council is for activists and everyone else to work together to remove Ury. I think he’s the worse council member MV has ever had, and that’s saying something. As for electing Ury and Kelley’s puppet, why on earth would anyone do that?
Your information above is correct, but you should add that Council Member Lance MacLean is part of the unholy alliance with Kelley and Ury. The three are unethical and ruthless.
*Since we don’t beat up on out of town electeds unless they are County level or above. So, how about that “Brown Act”? Does it really matter that the majority or any number of City Council members have a little get together to find new help at election time?
Can’t speak to the problems in Mission Viejo…did here you were losing two Starbuck locations…..guess things couldn’t get worse than that!
Maybe you can convince your Council Members to move or resign……that is what happens here in
Newport Beach….all the time! The the remaining
majority just pick whoever they want to replace them! No election……just a bunch of fine folks all on the same page!
“Hear”….that is…. and “Since….we are selective and don’t….”
MV Citizen.
While I suspect Lance’s possible participation in the city council dump Gail effort he is currently taking “anger management” courses due to a scuffle at UCI and is smart by keeping a very low profile until after he gets a clean bill of health.
The test is simple. Gail needs to ask each of her peers for their endorsement. It would also be a clue if they sign commissioner Anderson’s nominating papers which would be a big flag.
Ron & Anna Winship.
Brown Act violation? Are you saying it’s not OK for three members of the city council to conduct “stealth” meetings to discuss strategy and tactics on how to eliminate Gail Reavis from the council? Come on now. Get real.
Perhaps you don’t recall my blogging about a member of our city’s law firm, RW&G, who conducted a Seminar in Monterey, CA teaching elected city officials as to how to circumlocute the Brown Act. I still have the audio tape of that League of Cities “education” Session.
Once again Larry:
“ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ”
Really man…
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
If you run, I will VOTE for YOU just so I can b*tch at you every single council meeting and see how much you like being questioned every time you take a drink of water.
Really, you just dont get it. Sad, because I think you are an otherwise fairly smart guy.
NoHypocritesPlease
Did you miss me? Our computer was down for upgrading so that I can post more stories to entertain you.
As part of the service call we added dual exhaust with chrome lakes plugs and a 6-71 GMC blower. Forget about the speed limit.