City Election Update

Larry Gilbert posted an entertaining article about blight in Mission Viejo – the eyesore of campaign signs. Read it on http://www.orangejuiceblog.com/2010/10/blight-in-mission-viejo-thanks-to-dave-l-rick-s

Candidate Richard Sandzimier has taken to nailing three of his signs onto one stake, which Gilbert calls a “high rise.” Dave Leckness is following suit by stacking two of his monstrous signs on a stake. After being criticized for nailing his signs to trees, Leckness is lately using only stakes. Sandzimier, however, stuck one of his signs in a tree owned by the Mission Viejo Environmental Association, the city’s largest homeowner association.

A member of the homeowners association reported that MVEA landscapers had to be called to remove the illegally placed sign, which was 20 feet off the ground.

Sandzimier was also involved in a dustup on the night of Oct. 8 when the same resident confronted him about his signs. Both Sandzimier and the resident called the police at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday evening. The incident took place on Marguerite Parkway and was listed as a disturbance on the police blotter, http://ws.ocsd.org/Blotter/BlotterSearch.aspx , Case No. 10-189031. Others who have had run-ins with Sandzimier say he has an aggressive personality and a short fuse.

More than signs and mailers, candidates’ behavior is in the spotlight for several months prior to an election. Voters should beware of candidates who become confrontational, lose their temper, vandalize property or make fraudulent claims about their accomplishments. No sensible employer would hire such an applicant.

Last week, ex-councilman Lance MacLean appeared at a Casta del Sol meeting for candidates and the Cox forum. Those present said he was civil.

Some candidates might be relieved upon hearing about MacLean’s campaign finance report (Form 460). He has only $300 in his treasury, and he’s carrying a large campaign debt. Without special interest or vendor money, MacLean thus far has no signs, mailers or other means to promote himself. He also has no money for a hit piece, like the one he sent in 2006 against other candidates.

Three candidates attended their first Back-To-School events last week. Leckness, Sandzimier and Kelley showed up at various elementary schools without an entourage of supporters except Leckness and Sanzimier’s family members..

Challengers continue to report that the city is “sweeping” signs from public and private property on a daily basis. On the corners where signs aren’t taken down, the sight of 50 signs crowded into one spot causes drivers to laugh out loud.

False Claims Are Also Cheap
Letter to the Editor

In her ballot statement Trish Kelley states, “Talk is cheap – results matter!” She goes on to claim her results include "Earned AAA bond rating (highest possible).”

That statement by Trish Kelley is, at best, gratuitous. Let’s examine how a bond rating comes about: (from The Mission Viejo Dispatch http://missionviejodispatch.com/budget/is-city-hall-broken-deficits/#comments

“Regarding MV's AAA bond rating, that rating tops some similar cities that have much higher reserves than Mission Viejo; because the bond rating is NOT primarily about budget strength - it's about the affluence of the community, i.e. the potential tax base to support repayment of bonds. MV is the #3 affluent city among 34 in OC. That explains why MV's bond rating was upgraded, even while Mr. Ury and the Council majority were approving consecutive spending deficits and falling reserves. The credit goes to residents, not the Council. Not cool to take false self-praise.”

Stay tuned for more revealing examination of Ms. Kelley and her ballot statement.

Just say NO to Kelley,

Joe Holtzman
Mission Viejo

Tea Party Patriots Voter Guide – Mission Viejo Edition

November 2 isn’t just Election Day – it’s the first step in taking back our country.

Governor – Meg Whitman by default – Governor Moonbeam would be worse.

Lt. Governor – Abel Maldonado by default; both leading candidates are liberals.

Sec. of State – Damon Dunn

Controller -- Tony Strickland

Treasurer – Mimi Walters

Attorney Gen. – Steve Cooley

Ins. Comm. – Mike Villines by default – the most conservative of leading candidates.

Board of Equalization, District 3 – Michelle Steele

U.S. Senate – Carly Fiorina

Cong. Dist. 42 – Gary Miller

State Assembly Dist. 71 – Jeff Miller

Justices of the CA Supreme Court
   Tani Cantil-Sakauye – recently appointed; too soon to tell.
   Ming Chin – No.
   Carlos Moreno–No.
   Judith McConnell – no recommendation.
   Manuel Ramirez – No.
    Carol Codrington–No.
   David Sills–No.
   William Bedsworth–Yes.
   Eileen Moore–No.

Supt. of Public Instruction – Torlakson is a Democrat, and Aceves is Decline to State.
   Neither is conservative. Write in Diane Lenning for Supt. of Public Instruction.

South OC Comm. College Dist.: Kevin Muldoon, Nancy Padberg and Marcia Milchiker

Capo Trustees: Area 4 Anna Bryson; Area 6 Ellen Addonizio, Area 7 Larry Christensen

No on Capo USD recall of Mike Winsten; No on Capo USD recall of Ken Lopez Maddox

Treasurer / Tax Collector – Keith Rodenhuis

Mission Viejo City Council – vote for three of these five:

No. 1 on ballot, Rhonda Reardon – strong recommendation; conservative.
No. 6 on ballot, Neil Lonsinger – Tea Party Patriot, strong recommendation
No. 12 on ballot, Mark Dobrilovic – Tea Party Patriot (who suspended his campaign)
Bill Barker – Tea Party Patriot – deserves consideration
Ken Golemo – deserves consideration as a limited-government conservative

Water District – no recommendations.

California Propositions

Prop 19, Legalize Marijuana – No
Prop. 20, Redistricting of Congressional Districts – Yes
Prop. 21, Vehicle Registration Surcharge – No
Prop. 22, State Taking Transportation and Local Funds – No
Prop. 23, Suspension of AB 32 “Global Warming” Law – Yes
Prop. 24, Repeal of Business Tax Lowering Provisions – No
Prop 25, Simple Majority vote to pass State Budget – No
Prop. 26, Requires Two-Thirds approval for State and Local Fees – Yes
Prop. 27, Eliminates Citizen Redistricting Commission – No
H CUSD Elections Method Change – No

CUSD Update

On Oct. 8, the union-backed group “Children First” had a full-page ad in the Saddleback Valley News. The largest headline read “Yes on Measure H,” – the ballot measure that would reduce voters’ power to elect trustees. Currently, voters get to choose all seven school board members. Measure H would allow voters to choose only one trustee residing in their area of the district.

The ad states “Realtors and Homeowners are voting Yes on Measure H, Yes on the CUSD recall and voting to remove the current CUSD Board of Trustees.” If voters understand – this is a union takeover attempt – why would anyone want the union to control the school board?

Since July, the teachers union (Capistrano Unified Education Association) has spent more than $100,000 to remove the reform-minded trustees. All of the current board members were elected by wide margins, replacing the corrupt regime of ex-superintendent James Fleming.

On Oct. 8, Mission Viejo voters who reside in the Capo district received a recorded phone call from Scott Baugh, Chairman of the Republican Party of Orange County. In his message, he said, “Don’t be deceived by the union’s dirty tricks.” The tricks include the union’s ads and flyers implying that the Republican Party is pushing union-backed candidates.

Baugh’s message indicated the Republican Party opposes the union, their candidates, their recall attempt and their ballot measure. The Republican Party of Orange County has endorsed incumbent trustees Ellen Addonizio, Anna Bryson and Larry Christensen. The Republican Party also endorsed “No on the Recall” of Trustees Mike Winsten and Ken Lopez Maddox and “No on Measure H.

The Buzz

Is it true Niyaz Pirani is no longer assigned to Mission Viejo as an employee of the OC Register and Saddleback Valley News? A Buzz reader says Oct. 8 was Pirani’s last day on the job. Niyaz replaced Lindsay Baguio, who did a commendable job for Saddleback Valley News by covering the Easelgate story. For her unbiased reporting, Baguio was called into city hall and told by city administrators to publish only positive news. An exchange of emails (discovered through activists’ requests for public documents) showed City Manager Dennis Wilberg applied pressure to Baguio and her supervisors. Baguio’s investigative work was replaced with puff pieces favorable to city hall. Wilberg supplied Baguio with a hand-picked list of Mission Viejo residents she should call for interviews or comments about city issues.

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Pirani’s tenure with the OC Register began with his columns about food. From the beginning of his Mission Viejo city beat, he didn’t make waves. This blog challenged him by asking if he put his name on press releases written by city staffers. Readers complained that they could find no difference between the material released by city hall and the articles appearing under Pirani’s byline in OCR / SVN articles.

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Reminder: ACT for America hosts State Assemblyman Chuck DeVore on Mon., Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m., at the Murray Community Center, Sycamore B room, 24932 Veterans Way in Mission Viejo. DeVore’s topic will be “Protecting America from Islamic Sharia Law.”
The meeting will start promptly at 7:30 p.m., ending at 9:30. A $5 donation will be appreciated by the organization to help cover meeting room costs.

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Another reminder: Capo Valley High School Foundation is sponsoring a “Taste of Capo,” a community-wide event filled with food, fun and music. The organizers are inviting families and friends to come out and enjoy the evening while supporting Capo Valley High School. The event will be held on Thurs., Oct. 21, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the CVHS Mall. Taste of Capo is an event where approximately 20 local restaurants will provide samples of their best recipes. Will-Call tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Each ticket will allow attendees to try each restaurant's sample one time.

For additional information, contact the Foundation at CapoFoundation@gmail.com.

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Fun With Chalk organizers are inviting community members to support this worthwhile endeavor, which annually provides a fabulous street painting festival and enjoyment for people of all ages. Two popular restaurants will donate a portion of food sales toward Fun With Chalk when patrons bring in a flyer advertising the promo. Click here to print the flyer for California Pizza Kitchen for Tuesday, Oct. 12. Click here to print the flyer for Cafe Maiz for Friday, Oct. 15. Both restaurants are in Mission Viejo. Additional information, including addresses and phone numbers, can be found on the flyers.