As we approach the deadline for city council candidate filing, I just interviewed Michael Williamson, our latest challenger for the Mission Viejo city council.
Michael, who plans to retire in April of next year, is currently employed as a Sgt. in the LAPD. He has been married to his childhood sweetheart Danna for 32 years. They have two children ages 31 and 29. In his private law practice Michael “represents police officers accused of administrative misconduct in family matters.”
Michael said he is “a bit irritated with the day laborer issues..illegal immigration..it affects the city” citing opportunity for “residential burglaries, vandalism and urinating in parks.”
Michael said that “quality of life issues” would be his main campaign theme.
His second concern deals with police services. While we have “traffic enforcement on main thoroughfares” we are “lacking similar coverage on the side streets where we have a large population of small children” that need to be protected. He also mentioned being a strong supporter of speed bumps to reduce speeding on our residential streets.
We recently passed, by a 3-2 split vote, a new Social Host Ordinance where parents are now accountable for teen drinking in their homes. Michael stated that he “would have voted to hold parents accountable.”
As to traffic related issues I asked for his opinion on the Toll Roads. He said “I’d like to see the 241 extension go through.”
Recreation. He admitted that he has not followed the Murray Community Center expansion or the renovated Montanoso recreation centers.
After a quick input from the mid year budget review I asked for his thoughts about participation in the Jan 1, 2009 Rose Parade. He said “If the city has money..gravy time, for name recognition, spend it…if it enhances the city, do it.”
We than covered his campaign. He will not hire a campaign manager, is “not filing a Candidate Statement” and only plans “to spend $500 to buy some signs.”
Gilbert assessment. As we have a council majority of RINO’s you can never tell how the voters will react to Michael who called himself a “very conservative Democrat.”
Let’s be realistic here. It’s virtually impossible to be elected to any city council post without at least buying space on the Ballot with your 200 word max Candidate Statement.
As alwasy your comments are welcome.
This is way beyond amazing.
He is toast!
He’s for the float !
He has no insights into the reckless city administration spending !!
He is for the social ordinance !
He is for the toll road extension !
He has no campaign statement and only spending $500 on signs…who is he fooling?
From a retired OC police Sgt.
Larry,
Reading Williamson stance on traffic leads me to believe he has little or no traffic enforcement experience. Speed bumps in neighborhoods cost money to implement, money to maintain and traffic studies show people actually drive faster over speed bumps. Residential roadways are very difficult to manage from a speed perspective. Most do not qualify under the vehicle code for radar enforcement. Most are too short in length for an officer to pace a vehicle for speed. Most traffic collisions occur on major streets where you would want your traffic enforcement to intensify their presence. How is he planning to pay for additional enforcement in our neighborhoods? Most traffic in the neighborhoods occurs between 7-8 am (when people are leaving for work) and again between 6-7 pm when they return. Don’t we want our law enforcement on the major streets during that time where the majority of our traffic is occurring?? Where at LAPD did Williamson work? What were his assignments? He is worried about illegal immigration which leads to residential burglaries? Come on, where are the statistics to back this up??
Let’s not forget that Williamson ran in the 42nd Congressional primary hoping to challenge Rep. Gary Miller in the general election. He finished second. I don’t think that will sit well with the Republicans in the city.
He obviously has ambition for higher office and his Congressional campaign site states Williamson 2010. It appears he would just use his position to run again, but as an elected official.
http://www.michaelwilliamson.net/
#4 –
Strangely, Williamson, a DINO, was the first runner-up in that election and didn’t even run a campaign.
That means he beat Ron Shepston, who did. You’re correct that Williamson still has Congress on the brain, and while Republicans in MV will give him serious consideration, they shouldn’t expect him to stick around.
SMS
Folks.
In the interview he did mention having been a Dem. candidate in the 42nd CD. However I will let the voters of MV decide about his immediate political ambitions and I try to contact a newcomber named Rebecca Price, another candidate who earlier today met with our city clerk.
SMS,
I was happy he beat Ron. Shepston seemed cocky and lashed out at those that disagreed with him. It was hilarious that he would spend as much money as he did and lose to Williamson who spent nothing.
Larry,
it is for the voters to decide. But I would think most voters would find it suspicious that he already has a 2010 web site.
I wouldn’t under estimate Williamson in this race. His name id almost helped him pull off a huge upset in the 42nd race. If left alone in this race he could pull it off. Hopefully, his opponents will raise the issue of his Congressional run. Lots of people in Mission Viejo really like Rep. Gary Miller.