Ury: The Voice From the Far Left
Editorial staff
 
Mission Viejo residents tuning in to council meetings might notice the new seating arrangement of elected officials.

Council members' positions on the dais have for years indicated which ones are in or out of power. Gail Reavis is in the center seat as mayor, and John Paul Ledesma is to her left as vice mayor. They're "in." Reavis also has the privilege of deciding where others sit. She placed Councilman Lance MacLean at her right, seemingly a friendly gesture. Reavis is either currying favor with MacLean or he's sitting next to her by default.

Council Members Trish Kelley and Frank Ury are the bookends -- a first for Kelley, who occupied one of the three middle seats throughout her tenure from 2002 through 2006. Ury (to Reavis' far left) sits between Ledesma and an empty chair. Kelley sits to Reavis' far right. Beyond the physical separation of Reavis and Kelley, Reavis at the Jan. 2 meeting stated as one of her goals ending the city's penchant for feel-good programs. Kelley's City of Character nonsense comes to mind.

By separating MacLean and Ury, Reavis has effectively cut the cross-talk and snickering that took place during 2006 when MacLean and Ury sat next to each other. If Ury leans over and talks to anyone, it would be Ledesma, who probably won't respond. Like a bad schoolboy, Ury has been isolated.

Residents attending meetings since the November election say Ury fidgets and appears disinterested in the proceedings. Prior to the election, Ury frequently leaned back in his blue suede chair with his hands clasped behind his head. His posture continues to come across as arrogant, bored and above it all. Will he stick around for the remaining two years of his term?

City hall insiders say Ury has ambition to run for higher office. Assemblyman Todd Spitzer will term out in 2008, and a county blog controlled by Ury's lobbyist friend has been dropping his name as Spitzer's replacement. Others mention Ury's alleged wish to become a county supervisor, which doesn't make sense. Ury several months ago denied he's interested in taking Spitzer's place. Any closet candidates will soon come out, as the race will likely be decided in the 2008 Primary Election.

Mission Viejo's city election three months ago was devastating for Ury, who backed unsuccessful challengers Diane Greenwood, Justin McCusker and Bill Barker. Ury not only campaigned on street corners for Greenwood and McCusker, he openly trashed Kelley, Ledesma and MacLean. He tried to prevent the three incumbents from being endorsed by the Orange County Republican Party.

In addition to Ury's hostile behavior toward Kelley, Ledesma and MacLean, Reavis has reason not to trust him. Among other issues, when Reavis got into a legal tangle with the former city manager and his secretary, Ury's lobbyist friend found a "free" attorney for her. The free advice -- legal threats and claims -- put Reavis at odds with residents, city staffers and her council peers.

Perhaps the lobbyist will have to forget about cashing in on Ury's popularity for awhile. Ury has been bypassed as mayor and stripped of meaningful appointments to agencies where he might network. Ury's former fan club has diminished considerably, and those who followed him around for two years appear disenchanted. A vocal blog writer pulled his plug from Ury's power strip as soon as Diane Greenwood officially lost her bid for a council seat.

Although Reavis and Ledesma's edge may be temporary, Mission Viejo's power seekers will likely start courting them again. While Kelley and MacLean's political views are vastly different from those of Reavis and Ledesma, this foursome has found unity by galvanizing against Ury.