The Buzz column, October 25

Mission Viejo voters received an anonymous recorded phone call on Oct. 27 with a message of “easy as 1-2-3.” A lobbyist’s slate of Diane Greenwood, Bill Barker and Justin McCusker was touted for the candidates’ positions at the top of the ballot. Voters should instead remember “first on the ballot, worst on the ballot.” Electing these three candidates would give Orange lobbyist John Lewis the majority he’s been dreaming of for four years.

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The battle over campaign signs rages on. Taking a hit are Lance MacLean’s signs, which often look as if they’ve been run over by a train. His signs are not just knocked down, they’re frequently torn to bits. It takes an angry person to rip up heavyweight signboard. Candidates who are retrieving their confiscated signs at city hall report relatively few of MacLean’s signs are being taken down by city employees. One theory is the city staff’s favoritism toward an incumbent who consistently supports bureaucracy.

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A city hall insider said a contractor was hired to take down campaign signs when city employees couldn’t keep up with it. High numbers of signs disappear daily, and paid sign-baggers are removing them from private property as well as city streets. Meanwhile, both Lance MacLean and Trish Kelley have written emails to indicate other campaigns or residents are taking their signs. One such email called the residents “stupid.” If MacLean and Kelley were to walk down the hall from their city offices, they could probably find out which department head decided that removal of their signs should be paid for with city tax dollars.

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According to informal polls, the candidate in last place is Justin McCusker, dubbed Justintime on the basis of his signs. If it weren’t for a ton of money from a lobbyist, Justintime wouldn’t be in the race. McCusker has political endorsements from the good ol’ boys, but he lacks supporters in Mission Viejo.

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Campaign finance reports indicate a third mailer has been paid for by a Political Action Committee, likely a hit piece funded by Lewis. What does Lewis have to gain by buying council seats? Among his past efforts, Lewis lobbied council members to give the Audi dealer a $2 million subsidy, he pressured for an ambulance contract, and he represents an independent power provider. Councilman Frank Ury’s motion to create a $100-million regional park off Olympiad Road also appeared to be related to the lobbyist’s financial interests.

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Those watching council meetings have noticed the lack of agenda items in the past few months. The city staff is likely waiting to see who will form the majority after the Nov. 7 election before trying to push through staff-generated proposals. If Kelley and MacLean are reelected, they’ll probably continue to vote with Ury for more housing development, more traffic and an increase in pointless social programs. Residents should expect more overcrowding and a negative impact on schools, as all three council members – Ury, Kelley and MacLean – have indicated they’ll support building new affordable housing complexes. Despite Kelley’s denials in her campaign literature, she’s supported two such projects along Los Alisos Blvd. in the last two years.

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The election of board members to the Santa Margarita Water District usually causes yawns all around. This year, a Mission Viejo resident is trying to enter the race as a write-in candidate. The self-proclaimed watchdog-turned-mad-dog is frequently at the public microphone delivering angry tirades during council meetings. A blog reader who received an email promoting the write-in candidate responded, “I’m not going to write in a name, and I have no reason to empower someone who has caused such a stink in city hall.”

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Candidates Diane Greenwood, Bill Barker and Justin McCusker haven’t spent much time campaigning in public places. They’ve been absent from the usual street-corner rallies, and their other public appearances have been limited. One resident reacted, saying, “Greenwood and her gang of three have a history of showing up at council meetings to scare people with intimidation and personal attacks. Seeing these folks on street corners won’t impress voters who have seen them during council meetings.”

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Incumbent council candidate Trish Kelley is into high gear shaking hands and calling her former PTA buddies. She appears to rely on residents who don’t follow city politics or otherwise know her history of fighting with other council members. Both Kelley and MacLean need the support of uninformed voters to remain on the council.