Following are two posts from the popular Mission Viejo Dispatch. Both connected posts relate to our city council election that is truly getting ugly. www.missionviejodispatch.com
Activist Dan Avery, who has been banned from our blog, is in the center of the firestorm as he defends his First Amendment rights. I need to point out that Dan is the webmaster of council member Dave Leckness who did not attempt to stop Dan from his personal attacks and intimidation of another council member at the September 20th council meeting.
“Dirty Tricks Alleged To Dave Leckness
by MissionViejoDispatch.com on September 21, 2010
“At Monday night’s council meeting two public speakers alleged Dave Leckness was affiliated with an anonymous campaign attack website. One of the speakers said he was able to trace the site to the computer server of Dave Leckness’ website manager. Leckness is seeking re-election against the candidates who were personally assailed. The speaker noted the website manager’s wife is the treasurer for the Leckness campaign.
Another speaker, disclosing he was Brian Skalsky’s treasurer, condemned the ethics of anonymous political speech. He called it “gutter politics” which inhibits good government and substantive discussion of issues by avoiding transparency and responsibility to voters. He called the level of “personal venom” on the site “disgusting.”
Also exposed was an email from Frank Ury to some residents which included a link to the attack site. Ury’s email forced him to admit and defend the low-blow content. He justified it by analogizing the situation with political attacks on President Andrew Jackson’s wife in the 1800’s. The councilman then chided the speakers for being naive, telling them to “man up and deal with it.”
Dirty sites are more common with independent political groups than elected officeholders, making the alleged connection with Leckness and Ury more significant. Trish Kelley, who is also seeking re-election against the targets of the website, is the mentor and running mate of Dave Leckness.
Leckness’ website manager later spoke to the council. He didn’t deny his and the wife’s campaign role with Leckness, nor that his server was implicated, but he claimed the attack website as his own. He argued the site was not “licensed” to Dave Leckness, and as a business owner he had the right “to donate space to whoever he wanted.” He angrily directed his remarks to Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht, who is not supporting the incumbents. “You need to know who you are tangling with – someone who was maced, gassed, beat with night sticks, and had a firehose turned on him for standing up for what I believed in. You people are going to fold long before we get there,” he vehemently proclaimed. He was a member of the radical Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and has described himself far left on the political spectrum.”
The follow up Letter to the Editor,approved for reprint by the Editor is entitled “Dirty Tricks & The S.D.S.” follows:
by MissionViejoDispatch.com on September 21, 2010
“Few articles that I have read in the M.V. Dispatch have disgusted me more than “Dirty Tricks Alleged To Dave Leckness”. I understand that “going negative” in political campaigns is a standard tactic because, unfortunately, it works. Voters are directed away from the candidate’s positions on important issues, and instead encouraged to focus on the candidate’s alleged bad character or misdeeds. The targeted candidate is forced to address the charges, which diverts valuable campaign resources that could be better used to further the candidate’s message.
Then when an email from Frank Ury to some residents, which included a link to a political attack site against his opponents was exposed, he justified it by analogizing the situation with political attacks on President Andrew Jackson’s wife in the 1800’s. His statement to speakers that they were “being naive”, and telling them to “man up and deal with it”, is the height of political arrogance.
Learning that Leckness’ website manager also claimed ownership of the attack website, and as “a business owner” and “former member of the S.D.S.” he had the right “to donate space to whoever he wanted”, and his admonishment/threat of “you need to know who you are tangling with”, and “you people are going to fold long before we get there”, was interesting to me in several respects.
I am a Viet Nam Era veteran, and was attending college on the G.I.Bill during the heyday of the S.D.S. As a member and President of the campus veterans fraternity, Chi Gamma Iota (X-G I), we protected the Administration Building when the S.D.S. tried to occupy it. Showing more wisdom than they normally exhibited, they decided not to mess with a bunch of combat veterans. Ultimately, however, the S.D.S. did prevail in the U.S., and the NORTH Vietnamese Communist government credited the S.D.S. with helping THEM to win the Viet Nam War.
Most S.D.S. members upon graduation went into teaching and influenced your children with their politics and concepts of Victimization, Class Warfare, radical Environmentalism, Statism, no individual property rights, and the re-distribution of wealth. Today they are the Deans at Major Colleges, and influence what your Grand Children are learning.
Having a former member of the S.D.S. as a business owner arguing his rights to do with his business as he sees fit, I find ironic. As a proud member of the T.E.A. Party movement, and a veteran, I believe it is time to clean house at the local, as well as the State and National levels. I do not trust ANY politician with friends that describe themselves as “far left on the political spectrum”.
Norm Jones”
http://missionviejodispatch.com/letters-to-editor/letter-dirty-tricks-time-to-clean-house/
Gilbert comment: We have a first in our city council elections.
Back during the February recall campaign Dave Leckness signs were seen nailed to trees on our major streets. Apparently Dave cannot control his volunteers, or simply doesn’t care that once again several residents, including one of the candidates, have notified me that vote for Dave signs are again being found nailed on our trees. He sent me photos for proof. Dave has been notified yet I await confirmation that they have been removed.
I just checked out that web site. The comments seem to be true. What is dirty about posting the truth? As far as Leckness “controlling” his volunteers, who is it that is putting out those “don’t trust” signs in front of candidates Leckness and Kelly signs? They had to be printed and paid for, seems a little deliberate.
GS Leader:
If you think it was/is the truth you have absolutely no idea what is going on. You can’t handle the truth !!
I highly suggest you see the last council meeting that has been archived on the city web site.
Girl Scout Leader
That’s an interesting take. The owners of the website have changed the content since they were called out on what they did. Here are the facts:
1) The website attacked a candidate, who dropped out of the race, for his financial problems, suggesting he deserved to be homeless.
2) It attacked other candidates for “probably” never having held a job
3) Attacked a sitting councilmember for probably “living with her mother” her entire life
and most of all, they did all this while attempting to mask their identity to all the residents. If this had been published on paper, they would have been required to show their FPPC information.
If Ury and Leckness were so proud of their “facts” and “helpful information” which just so happened to also slander a bunch of candidates, why didn’t they put their name on it?
What is the name of the web site?
the web site is ProtectMissionViejo.com. I noticed they toned down the diction but the content is the same.
Do candidates expect they will take away power from the incumbents and it will be a picnic?
As for the “secret” connection between the so-called nice folks on the council and the attacks against challengers, it’s not a secret.
I did see the council meeting Sandy. I understand the the candidate that dropped out because of his financial problems is a “financial advisor commissioner” to the city. That is a problem. The candidate that never had a job, hmmm do we want someone who has no real life experience negotiating city contracts? That is a problem. And I am assuming you are refering to Ms. Schlict at the last. Well if you watch those city council meetings, She clearly does not get a lot of things. I am not convinced that Ury or Leckness had anything to do with it. I don’t think you can call it “slander” if it is true!
Girl scout leader.
As the campaign manager for someone who came in first, while her only job was that of a part time piano instructor, I must question your remark about one of the current candidates.
Larry, who are you speaking about?
TRISH KELLEY. 2002. Ask her if this is not a truthful statement.
Signed, Larry Gilbert, Campaign Manager for Trish Kelley 2002
Dear Girl Scout Leader,
I was one of the people who spoke on Monday’s council meeting.
Do you, or the website you linked to, have any proof for that allegation? It seems to me if you looked over at that candidates financial 460 financial form, you will see that most of them are self-financing the campaigns, to the tune of over $10,000 in personal funds. Now, if its true that someone has “never held a job” do you think that would be possible? That’s okay, I know you don’t intend to answer that question. I also know that you, or the website you’re linking to, don’t have a single shred of proof to back up that claim. And that’s slander, it’s libel.
Look, the chief issue that I discussed on Monday night was the fact that this website was done anonymously, not simply what was stated. There’s a reason this website was created 1) with the impression it was an independent group, and 2) not published in official campaign literature.
Maybe you’ve become so jaded by the political wars of this city that you forget the candidates running in this race are regular, real people. I don’t care about who hates who, who started what. I know a lot of the other people who were on that website, and regardless of the past, I think that website was uncalled for.
I spoke up because I support Brian Skalsky’s campaign and I didn’t appreciate what was done to him. I’ve known Brian a long time – we have been friends since we were kids. And I can tell you right now, that if this BS happens again, I’ll be right back at that podium calling people out. Councilmember Ury says that it was “politically immature” to do what we did? Really? And his “mommy and daddy” attacks were the height of maturity? Please. We did the only mature thing the happen to that website in a long time.
I appreciate the fact that the website has been “spruced up” to remove some of the more offensive and sharp commentary. As far as I am concerned, those responsible for the website have been called out for it, and the political process will play out however it will as to the “substance” of the acts, if you want to call them that.
Lastly, you should know that my “response” to their “I’ve been attacked for all sorts of things” excuse shows how out of touch he is with this campaign: to my knowledge (and I have followed his campaign closely), Brian NEVER attacked any of the councilmembers on a personal level like what was done to him first. He was lumped in along with a bunch of other candidates that didn’t deserve these attacks.
Make all the excuses you want. But I am proud of what I did, and I’m proud of my friend, Brian, for running in this campaign to make a difference and putting in his own money to stand up for what he believes in. That’s politics at its finest.
The website you should be visiting is http://www.vote4brian.com and not any anonymous attack websites.
-Steve
PS Mission Viejo is a $62,000,000 corporation, not a $50,000,000 corporation. Sounds like someone hasn’t looked at the budget since they came into office.
Larry, what a pansy some of the candidate are, and thin skinned.
You and they accuse Leckness of hiring illegals (lie), Trish of illegal ballot statements among other things (lies), the council of squandering every dollar in the bank (they have $26M in reserves) and basically prop up the most embarrassing person ever elected to the council. You can lie, but others aren’t allowed to tell the truth.
Here is truth
1) Skalsky lives at home with parents, never has paid a mortgage, and wants to run a $50M city
2) Lonsinger is registered at a steet corner, to most likely trick voters into not understanding that he most likely lives with his kids.
3) Schlict lives at home with her folks (see a pattern here)
4) Dobrilovic is on the INVESTMENT commission, batters every decision the council makes, and his home is in preforclosure or something like that
5) The picture of Schlicht in the tin foil hat IS HER
All truths, is that what is bothering you Larry?
MV Watcher.
Truth? Let me share some truth. I ran Trish’s 2002 successful campaign. Her only business experience was being a part time piano instructor yet the city budget was close to what it is today. Any response genius?
Neil’s use of a P.O. box is for his own privacy and security. Street corner. Having lived across the street from him for 20 years, and sharing personal information, I won’t report his personal financial data other than to report that he can run circles around your net worth any month of the year.
Cathy Schlict is not a candidate in this election. For those not familiar with her 2008 election victory outcome let me simply report that in her first campaign, she finished second of 6 candidates getting 13,725 votes which tells me that 13,724 voters disagree with your attack on her personal life that is none of your business.
Mark’s home is not in foreclosure. He dropped out of the race based on prioritizing his family and business growth over abusive attacks from anonymous people like yourself.
Cathy wore the tin foil hat in response to blog attacks of her promoting warning signs in our public parks, where children play, against possible unhealthy EMF exposure.
Obviously it worked because it caught your attention or someone is feeding you this BS. The hat was worn to a city council meeting almost three years ago. Cathy should apply for a job in Manhattan at an advertising firm for creating ads that have legs.
On behalf of intelligent Juice readers we thank you for the entertainment.
This is your final call tonight as I am putting your personal pinata away.
This is the M.O. of the Family Action PAC. Costa Mesa is currently under fire by this particular brand of “local control’. I’m not surprised Ury is in it.
It’s the focus of the local republican machine right now to take over at every local level and push thier national political agenda. Svhoo; boards , water districts, city councils, et.al.
It’s easier to burn the books if you control the libraries…….
Larry you are a hoot! Trish was a grown woman, raising kids and paying bills. Not a young man that has never left the nest. Steve I am sorry if you were offended by his parents being referred to as Mommy and Daddy, but really, aren’t they? I guess you will be busy on Monday nights dening the truth. As for Neil, no other candidate had to use a street Corner for protection. Makes me wonder protection from what? I love your “net worth” comment. Just cause you say it Larry does not make it true. You have to know that Marks home is in foreclosure, unfortunate, but it does not say much about a guy that gives financial advise to the city. As for Cathy, although not a candidate she is a counsel person that appears to be manipulated by others. You don’t seem to worry about Ury and he is not up for re-election either. Cathy may have won, but now she is judged by her record which is sadly expensive and disruptive to this city.
Girl scout leader.
If not for Cathy Schlicht, who has been in more 1-4 and 2-3 votes than perhaps any prior or current council member, deserves the credit for championing the removal of access to lifetime health care. Between Frank Ury and Trish Kelley Cathy’s persistence saved us taxpayers over $500,000.
Want proof. Watch Irwin Bornstein’s response to John Paul Ledesma on that figure. Don’t stop here Larry. Matt Cunningham writes that “the recall election took place in Feb of this year at a cost of another $500,000–even though MacLean was up for re-election 8 months later.” For starters he doubled the actual cost and fails to acknowledge that the formation of the recall effort, getting the volunteers together, and having over 10,000 petitions signed, began roughly 18 months prior to the recall election not 8 months as stated on Red County’s twisted factoid blog.
One minor point Matt fails to acknowledge in his diatribe. Removing Lance from office blocks him from the same health care perk saved us another $257,000. Therefore that election cost was a wash.
I’ll address Frank Ury in two years should he run for a third term. Don’t shift the argument. There will be ample time to devote to Mr. Ury’s conservative track record.
A bit of trivia for our readers. Did you know that Frank Ury ran for president of the Saddleback Republican Assembly and lost? That factoid will not be found on Google search.
He lost that close election to a resident of Mission Viejo named Larry Gilbert. Current CRA Vice President Scott Voigts witnessed that election.
I saw that meeting Larry. Cathy was redundant. Trish and Ury had already signed off on the health care irrevocably so there was no savings. The recall passed by 19 votes at a cost of $287,000. The special election for measure D also cost near or more than $240,000. Cathy suing the city over the ballot statement cost at least $40,000 and the measure still tanked by 2/3 the vote. Don’t see savings here, just expense. You can try to spin it but these are real dollars spent, not estimated savings. Think of how much better off we would have been had we not spent the money on the recall and let the voters decide in November, just 9 months later. Lance could not have activated the health care for quite a few years and he may never have qualified for it. So that it mute. We would be at least $287,000 better off.
Girl scout leader you are not. Don’t smear that fine organization with your repetitive diatribe.
I am truly getting tired of responding to that lame sound bite that the Nov election was only nine months after the recall election.
Genius. When did the effort to recall Lance begin?
It surely was not on Feb 1st, the day before the actual recall election. Concerned residents, many of whom actually have other interests besides local politics, came together around 18 months before the election drafting the document and getting signatures on the petitions. The city clerk controlled the actual recall election date.
As to council access to lifetime health care. Sure, under duress they signed a document. Lance only signed when the recall was becoming a reality as we pointed out his fighting to retain it. That signed document was a worthless piece of paper. We needed to drive a stake through the heart of this self dealing perk which the last vote hopefully achieved.
As to the challenge to Frank’s Right to Vote ballot arguement. We did not waste $40,000. In fact the city attorney should have caught that error.
Frank Ury LIED and the Judge agreed. Housing CAN be built on part of the Casta Del Sol Golf course. There is not state law preventing it as originally written in Frank’s rebuttal. I was in that Santa Ana courtroom and heard judge Luis Rodriguez clearly make that point. You were not there.
We have a policy against Spam. Should you continue repeating the same broken record on my personal posts I will delete it.
.
Girl Scout Leader.
I know that Trish was raising a family. Trish and Jack invited me to attend their daughter’s wedding to a major league pitcher currently on one of the west coast team rosters. I will not reveal his name.
My point was in response to your argument questioning the ability of a candidate to run a city whose revenues are in the $50 to $65 million dollar range. You bet she was busy raising a family. Having spent many days in their living room I know them all.
That said what business experience did Trish possess that was OK in 2002 but is objectionable for anyone else in 2010?
Based on our shocking victory are you calling me a magician? No retraction requested from you. I was just doing my volunteer job to get Trish elected.
Next time be careful not to pull the pin. That grenade you carry can cause you great harm.
So why did Frank Ury take out over $400,000 in equity out of his house two years ago. Maybe he was having financial trouble—OOOOOOOOOhhhh NO–not Mr Perfect !!! Man up Frank–what are YOUR financial troubles ??
Sandy. At this point in time Frank Ury is not a candidate for city council. His questionable departure from a high level job at Intel is not the topic of this post.
Should he run for a third term in 2012 you will have ample time to vet his record and shortcomings.
Sandy, do you not understand the difference between forclosure and equity credit?
You make me laugh Larry, thanks! Try to stay on topic. Once again Trish had life experience and maturity, Skalsky is but a child that has not left home yet. Who do you want to make city decisions. Thank you for the little history on Trish’s election. I understand there was a break in your friendship….hmmm! I don’t even get the remark about the grenade…did you make a point?
Of course Brian is a child, he had parents, just like Trish. The fact that someone has “experience” isn’t always a good thing, e.g. the City of Bell administrators and council members. The better question to ask is would Brian make a good council member? From what I have seen and heard I believe the answer is yes. Some young, talented new blood on the city council would be a good thing.
Girl Scout Leader.
It was a stretch for me to create a winning message for Trish in that 2002 campaign. My point was in response to your attacking one of the candidates who is currently attending Loyola Law school after completing his degree at UCI. He has one advantage over Trish 2002 in that he has served on one of our city commissions and knows how to interface with his peers in deliberations of Agenda items as well as having the knowledge on how to run a meeting.
Trish’s claim to fame in 2002 was her activity in the Capo PTSA.
In designing her final mailer I included quotes from the principal and assistant principal of Capo Valley High School while she was running for a seat on our city council.
Trish did not have any full time professional or business experience yet we were victorious. Don’t be too quick to write off Brian who is running his own campaign. Challenge him, or any candidate on their statements, not their maritial status or age.
and Trish has done a very good job. The point is there are better choices today than Skalsky who has never even had to pay a trash bill. Age and experience are relevant Larry, as you have said before “when you live here as long as I have”. Why should your experience and time here make you superior than someone who just moved here when you don’t apply the same principle to a candidate running for city council?
Girl SL
My experience and time here is irrelevant to the discussion.
Larry Gilbert is not a candidate nor anyone’s 2010 campaign manager. We are comparing how a neophyte like Trish Kelley could be elected with extensive tutoring. Anyone else willing to invest the time and effort in a campaign can achieve the same result. As a contract city Trish had zero knowledge of Contracts.
As you continue to hammer Brian’s youth you force me to peel the onion further back which might expose some of Trish’s personal working with me as I respond. Keep it up. I’m sure she is pleased that you have opened a can of worms that you cannot close.
Oh for Pete’s sake, go for it Larry. Tell the world how the all seeing, all knowing Larry Gilbert took a babe in the woods Trish and turned her into the powerhouse she is today. Tell us why your training, expert advice and visionary view of her abilities turned her into the person you despise today. Enlighten us, oh sage one….
MV Watcher. Sadly, I now regret that investment.
Larry, that is not an answer to your attack on Trish or to “expose some of Trish’s personal working with me”. Go for it, c’mon
MV Watcher. I am not attacking Trish Kelley. Everyone’s past is fair game. Haven’t you seen Meg’s ads of Bill Clinton and his exchange with Gov Moonbeam? How many years ago was that debate?
My sharing history is in reaction to those of her supporters who are attacking the challengers in this election. Or to quote an old expression. Don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house.
Larry you do realize that when you resort to threats you have lost the argument. This was fun but now you bore me. Bye.
Art/Vern. As this remark is off the thread I will exercise my right to remove it.
I am not threatening anyone. What I will continue doing is reminding contributors of our very broad policy except as stated many times. I have no intention of being anyone’s pinyata.
Larry it is perfectly within the thread. You threatened to “peel the onion” I understand that you have helped get quite a few people get elected to city counsel. Once they are there they seem so split ways with you (except for Cathy). Your team might want to look at that. It must be frustrating for you. By the way you may want to look up threat….that is exactly what you did.
Wanna B girlscout.
This post is about the 2010 election not those from the past.
Stop looking at your rear view mirror and stay focused. As it is there are some incumbent supporters, such as yourself, that are trying to engage incumbent challengers in an attempt to take their eyes off the finish line. That is why I have peeled the onion in response to some of those remarks.
A perfect illulstration is your mentioning Cathy in your comment when she is not a candidate nor has she written anything on this blog post to warrant your inclusion.
Wanna B girlscout.
Are you permitted to use cannibus? What team? Wait a minute. I am part of a team. The writers on the OJ blog.
Larry, you are beyond incoherent
MV Watcher.
Is that all you can contribute?
Art. Please delete his or her comment from our count. Comments on the Juice should address the topic rather than repetitive personal attacks. Obviously you surely spend a great deal of time visiting the Juice and attacking every position or statement I make.
Hey Larry, now you don’t even make sense. My work here is done!
Girl scout.
So sad to see you depart
Oddly enough, Brian Skalsky has admitted in front of several people that his allegations were lies, he knew they were lies, and he’ll correct them after the election. Sounds like one of your candidates all right Gilbert.
Blind Willie.
What allegations are you referring to?