Results of CRA endorsement meeting. South OC city council races

Tonight the California Republican Assembly, CRA, held a local endorsement meeting for Republican candidates for city council in the cities of Laguna Hills, Lake Forest and Mission Viejo. Invitations were extended to all registered Republican candidates.

Prior to the meeting each candidate was sent a questionnaire and then given the opportunity to address the credentialed members during the meeting. Candidates in attendance also responded to questions from Assembly members during an open Q&A session so that the voting members could get as much information as possible before casting their secret paper ballots.

Presiding over the election was CRA VP Karl Heft with assistance from CRA Statewide Recoding Secretary Craig P. Alexander. With three open seats in Aliso Viejo that were not challenged there were no presentations or debate for that city.

In accordance with state CRA By-laws a two-thirds vote of the members in good standing is required to become endorsed. If no one achieves a 2/3rds approval after a maximum of three ballots, then there is no endorsement for that race.

In the city of Laguna Hills there were four Republican candidates under consideration for two seats. L. Alan Songstad, Joel Lautenschleger, Brad Clark? and Ellie Michaels- Smith.
The CRA endorsed L. Alan Songstad Jr. and Ellie Michaels-Smith
.

As an aside I met Ellie at a CRA convention held at the Reagan Library in 2002 when she was a candidate for Lt. Gov. A professional songwriter, Ellie produced two songs that you might be familiar with. No Child Left Behind, “a song for America’s parents and teachers” and My Home is America.

In the city of Lake Forest there were three Republican candidates for two open seats.
Current council member Marsha Rudolph, current Mayor Mark Tettemer and HOA President James Gardener.
The only candidate to receive the CRA endorsement in that race was Council Member Marsha Rudolph.

The final city participating in the endorsement meeting was Mission Viejo where there are five Republican candidates running for two open seats. Challengers Rich Atkinson, Neil Lonsinger, Judy Rackauckas, Cathy Schlicht and Council Member Frank Ury.

After Q& A, and on the first ballot, both Neil Lonsinger and Cathy Schlict received an overwhelming number of votes and the CRA endorsement.

Each of the endorsed candidates are now authorized to use the CRA logo in all of their campaign literature (as long as it is not in conjunction with non endorsed candidates).

“Chartered in 1934, the California Republican Assembly is the state’s oldest and largest Republican volunteer organization.”

President Ronald Reagan called the CRA “the conscience of the Republican Party.”resident Ronald Reagan called the California Republican Assembly, “the conscience of the Republican Party.”

Chartered in 1934, the CRA is the state’s oldest and largest Republican volunteer organization. CRA has been working to elect Republican candidates who stand unwaveringly for Republican principles.

President Ronald Reagan called the California Republican Assembly, “the conscience of the Republican Party.”

Chartered in 1934, the CRA is the state’s oldest and largest Republican volunteer organization. CRA has been working to elect Republican candidates who stand unwaveringly for Republican principles.

About Larry Gilbert