According to the ROV’s final results of our Nov 4, 2008 election, we had 62,298 registered voters in Mission Viejo.
With that number of potential council candidates who could have applied for the current recall election one must question why only four voters even met with our city clerk to file an application of which only two actually completed the required process.
Having just spoken to 2006 council candidate Diane Greenwood we do have part of the answer to this voter apathy. Cutting to the chase. Intimidation or outright fear.
It is worth pointing out that Diane lost her bid to take a council seat by 84 votes to none other than Lance MacLean whose last minute hit piece campaign signs surely had an impact on the final outcome.
Another watchdog in our city has labeled what we are experiencing as the “MacLean Reign of Thugocracy.”
What led to my writing this post was Diane’s letter that was published today in the Mission Viejo Dispatch, a popular news source serving south county.
Following is the full text of her letter which Diane said was written in a few minutes, along with the link to the Dispatch where you can find information on a wide variety of local events and people.
Letter: My Experience With MacLean
by MissionViejoDispatch.com on December 10, 2009
“As you may all recall, Lance MacLean put out 500 signs the weekend before the 2006 election that I was in. Those signs said “Reject Greenwood and Barker. They will raise your taxes and lower your property value”. It was an absurd claim, but he was running scared.
It was that same weekend that he verbally assaulted me on the corner of La Paz and Marguerite, a few inches from my face. He was angry that he might lose, and was willing to win at any cost. He did, by 94 votes, and now is running scared again and is now putting out signs making citizens fear that their taxes could raise and property values decline if they do not keep him in office.
If Lance MacLean has another anger outburst and attempts to strangle another person while presiding as mayor, that is when the city can be wiped out financially. It will affect every citizen in Mission Viejo. We cannot afford to keep Lance MacLean in office…he is a liability.
I doubt that the Mission Viejo Police Department will protect him again. He now has a record and too many people have been on the other side of his anger. I have heard from many such people since my episode with him, and believe that they are now ready to come forward. There is safety in numbers.
UCI did the right thing and now it is time for the citizens of Mission Viejo to do the same.
I urge everyone to vote in favor of the recall and remove a man who is a liability to our city and all of its citizens. This is how you truly protect your taxes, property values, and your family.”
http://missionviejodispatch.com/
My closing thoughts. While some have questioned the cost of the recall election others have told me that should an individual get into a confrontation with a member of our city council we could face a multimillion dollar lawsuit, especially if it is someone who has already engaged in an altercation in which the city took no punitive action.
Email from MV resident.
“Good piece. I never thought of that potential City MV liability, but it could happen. Especially now, after everyone reads this piece, and Lance gets his adrenalin running faster!”
“
I commend Diane Greenwood for have the courage to again relate the details of the verbal assault that Lance Maclean unleashed on her. There have been other documented cases not only in Mission Viejo but on the UCI Campus. MacLean’s signs are not only misleading–but by there very nature this Christmas Season are offensive.
The potential liability (with an out of control Mayor) the city faces is staggering and one has to wonder about Ury and Kelley support of MacLean. Thugocracy is a good term for what is going on under the regime of MacLean, Ury , and Kelley. If there is any doubt about that I would suggest you view the Monday, Dec 7, 2009 council meeting–it is available on the MV City web site.
Larry, everybody is talking about Recall-Gate here in Mission Viejo, and you run home to mommy trying to cover for Connie Lee and Dale Tyler with this drivel. Is this supposed to protect them?
The article in the Register was devastating, Connie admitting she was PAYING PEOPLE UNDER THE TABLE!! Where is your article justifying that bit of law breaking.
We are waiting….
Everybody Talking:
I suggest you stick to the point–MacLean is not in control of his conduct !! Instead you wander off point to try and cover up the problem.
I would suggest you re-read the noted article you reference–Ms. Lee fired the person who wanted to be paid under the table. So get your facts right—. Maybe those half glasses you wear (half way down your proboscis) are defective.
“Everybody is talking.”
So am I. I just spoke to the Communications Director of the OC ROV for a correct answer on the proper procedure for petition gathering rather than jumping to conclussions.
Keep it up and I will hit the delete key if you continue to bait me and take your personal grudge off the thread.
I just posted an international report covering a major controversial issue that our president is deeply involved with.
Sorry chum, but I do not take my marching orders from you!
Everybody is talking. Just for clarification. My last post was about “climate change.”
This post is a letter from a former candidate with direct knowledge of Lance’s behavior for which we have photos of two or three police cars arriving on the scene after a 911 call was placed. Lance will probably call this another piece of fiction but we do have the photo as evidence.
Perhaps you should complain to the Mission Viejo Dispatch that posted it within the past 24 hours.
This punching bag has had enough of you today.
Larry please report the facts (or is Ms Greenwood wrong?)Is it she lost by 84 or 94 votes. Good job two different numbers in the same posting that you yourself posted!?! Re read what is printed and let us know. The point is she lost and who cares by how many votes? She is just another one in your group who has run for a political office and LOST!!! Great reporting as usual. Go ahead and spin that one as well or threaten me with the delete key. Keep these blogs open so all can read and reply to your gibberish. I really do like you, but usually you are slanted in your views and it is always you who is correct and blast those who don’t conform to your opinions.
“Who cares Larry.”
My favorite nit picker is still reading my posts. Yes, the nine key is right next to the eight key and that error would not be picked up by spellcheck. The correct number is 94. I should have verified it but failed as the bigger issue is the theme of the post. Next time I will play it safe and say she lost by less than 100. Are you happy now?
Folks. If the biggest comment he or she can make is my error in a digit I guess the story is valid.
Any other major flaws in the story to complain about?
“She is just another one in your group who has run for a political office and LOST!!”
Folks. You will love this one. She was one of Frank Ury’s three candidates he selected to defeat Lance, Trish, and John Paul Ledesma in the Nov 2006 campaign. Each of his candidates, whose names were first, second, and third on the ballot, lost to the incumbents that Frank wanted to remove. Feel free to ask to see the election results photo from the Saddleback Valley News where Frank is checking election night results on a laptop in Diane’s house. Yes, I am in the same photo.
Some people are simply out to lunch 24 hours a day.
No, its’ better not to hit the delete key as you continue to make a fool of yourself because you are uninformed of facts.
Facts, what are facts anyway?
All I need to do is to malign Larry Gilbert because it makes me feel good and he doesn’t even know who I am.
Man, you guys are so pathetic you dug up Diane Greenberg. Face the facts. Connie Lee broke multiple laws and helped someone committment unemployment insurance fraud.
Dan. I did not dig up Diane Greenwood.
Diane, whose campaign manager was Frank Ury, just happened to send a letter to the Mission Viejo Dispatch in the past 24 hours. You might go to that other blog and read her letter and comments. I did acknowledge http://www.missionviejodispatch.com as the source of the letter in my post. Do us all a favor. Go back and read it again.
Oh, and Larry, if you want to know the correct procedure for recall elections, just read the back of any recall petition sheet. It’s printed in English. You do speak English don’t you Larry?
Dan , the man. Almost bed time so I will simply say good night
Too bad Lance didn’t choke Diane Greenwood. In fact, I would vote to give Lance lifetime medical benefits as long he choked and slapped each troll in the Mission Viejo Mafia.
Larry, that’s is your best shot? “Almost bed time so I will say goodnight?” Game over, let’s hit the showers. The woman admitted to multiple crimes Larry. The DA should really just lock her up. And 10 to 1…she gives up you and Dale in a heartbeat…I spent my time on the street Larry…I know a stone cold….well you know what word comes next…it rhymes with switch….
Larry, this is what Diane Greenwood wrote in the dispatch also,
Diane Greenwood November 17, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I support the recall of Lance MacLean, but my experiences with Dale Tyler lead me to believe that he is about the worst candidate for M.V. City Council.
He runs a blog, that during my election year, printed lies about myself and my family. He told me that he would continue to print these things about me until I promised him never to run again.
Personally, I have no interest in running for city council again. However, honesty and integrity are the two ingredients I look for in a candidate. He proved to me early on that he has neither.
I love it–Dan Avery dodges the real issue–MacLean is a big liability for the city. His past violent actions will lead to more in the future.
So Dan–maybe you would like to be held liable also ?? Dan –address the issue at hand !!
Juice readers.
For the regulars reading my posts you will recall my issuing multiple warnings to Dan Avery about staying on the thread or I will delete his comments.
For some reason Dan has chosen to ignore the warnings and continues to add comments that are not related to the specific post.
He continues in his efforts to take this story, as well as my other posts covering the Mission Viejo recall over a cliff by changing the topic.
Won’t happen. Add opposing or supporting comments to the specific post, without engaging in personal attacks, or use of language my grandkids cannot hear, and we will include your opinions.
This is a forum in which all points of view OF THE SPECIFIC POST are encouraged.
Although Dan has cursed me recently we have allowed him to continue adding comments but don’t push me too far.
I just deleted one of his latest comments that was not related to this story.
Dan. Nice try. The text of this post was Diane Greenwood’s personal interaction with Lance MacLean which was witnessed by another candidate supported by Frank Ury. His name is Bill Barker and if you wish to meet him I can arrange it. Diane’s prior report on another blog is off this thread.