Editorial comment

Residents frequently ask while observing the antics of some Mission Viejo City Council members: who are these people – how did they get into office?

Prior to the November 2002 election, incumbent Council Members Sherri Butterfield and Susan Withrow had become arrogant spendthrifts, and the average voter was ready to throw them out of office.

Surprisingly, residents weren’t lining up to run against the incumbents in 2002. By mid-year, Lance MacLean appeared to be the only serious challenger. Frank Ury had talked about running, but he abruptly moved to Northern California during the summer (and returned in 2003). A large group of activists first asked each other to run and, failing to find any prospects, asked others in the community. By July, at least 50 people had been solicited without success.

A city staffer later said, “A monkey could have won a council seat in 2002.” Supporters flocked to MacLean without knowing him or his views. The mantra became “ABB” – Anyone But Butterfield. By mid-July, activist Bo Klein said he would persuade a certain person in his Sierra neighborhood to run: Trish Kelley.

Kelley had taken part in past community efforts, getting signatures on a petition to stop apartment-building in south Mission Viejo. She also participated in the crusade to save the Sierra Rec Center from demolition. Klein asked Kelley to run, and she said no. He asked again … and again. Eventually, she agreed.

MacLean and Kelley ran on the coattails of Councilman John Paul Ledesma, who was running for reelection in 2002. Ledesma – a long-time opponent of Butterfield and Withrow – would easily be reelected for a second term.

Kelley ran on little more than “bringing harmony to the council.” MacLean’s promises were more grandiose and unattainable, but he needed only to oppose “the gals” in order to win. Other candidates emerged: John Maginnis made the mistake of aligning with Butterfield and Withrow. Bob Gaebel, Emmy Day and Ryan Cheo each threw a hat into the ring but lacked organization. Joe Chavez put his name on the ballot but didn’t campaign.

While several people tried to claim credit for the November 2002 victories, widespread opposition to Butterfield and Withrow was a huge factor. The gals, to a degree, defeated themselves by offending so many people. Two outsider political consultants – Scott Taylor of Newport Beach and John Lewis of Orange – implied to other political outsiders that they had orchestrated brilliant strategic victories for Ledesma, MacLean and Kelley. That’s laughable.

Immediately following the election, MacLean’s popularity dropped like a rock when he aligned himself with City Manager Dan Joseph and other cronies of the old regime. Kelley soon began undermining Council Member Gail Reavis, who had tirelessly campaigned for her.

The irony is stunning. MacLean had campaigned against the big-government ideals of two offensive politicians only to bring back the same ideals and offense. Kelley promised to bring peace and became a political street-fighter, determined to overthrow anyone who disagreed with her. Most notably, Kelley removed Klein from the Planning Commission -- first declining to reappoint him and then aligning with MacLean and Ury in a suspicious vote to remove him.

And where does Kelley get her direction for such behavior? At a prayer breakfast earlier this year, she seized the microphone to give spontaneous testimony to an audience of 500 people, where she wasn’t on the program, nor did anyone invite her to speak. Kelley announced that Jesus had told her to run for council. It is difficult, however, to reconcile the apparent ill will and egomania with divine intervention.

Residents might not be following council events closely, but they notice inconsistencies. Almost anyone can distinguish between back-slapping and back-stabbing. “Character words” are spewed constantly from the dais – frequently with sarcasm – to accentuate the hypocrisy. Council members refuse to work together, and the Nov. 7, 2006, election is on the horizon.