Tale of the Prodigal Council Member
Staff editorial

Blog readers occasionally remark about which council member is the greatest disappointment. Such comments are regularly directed at Lance MacLean, Trish Kelley and Frank Ury. All three dramatically departed from their campaign promises and appear unmotivated to represent the residents.

No council member has a stellar record, but the blog acknowledges some are better than others. For example, Councilman John Paul Ledesma is known for his honesty -- he doesn't lie. Additionally, he has never initiated a pet project for his personal benefit. Despite mixed reviews of Councilwoman Gail Reavis' record, she goes to bat for her constituents. At meetings, Reavis appears well prepared and familiar with the issues.

Ury's shill at the public microphone on Jan. 2 falsely claimed Ledesma and Reavis are associated with this blog. They are not. They neither contribute to the editorials nor do they influence what is written. The blog has been less critical of Ledesma and Reavis because their performances warrant less criticism.

If reader response is representative of residents' views, Ury is the most unpopular council member. Those who formerly supported him have in some cases become his strongest critics.

Ury has the longest political history of those on the council. He served one term on the Saddleback school board in the early 1990s before losing a string of elections. After dropping out for several years, he reemerged in late 2001 by spreading the word he would run for city council. In April 2002, Ury in one of his campaign speeches said, "My wife and I are living in the last house we'll ever buy. We'll be pushing up daisies in Mission Viejo." A mere three weeks later, he announced his departure for a job promotion in northern California.

If Ury in April 2002 were considering a job offer that involved relocating (and he was visiting the new area, checking out schools, etc. -- things people do before announcing a move), why did he make a speech about staying in Mission Viejo forever? When his former supporters learned he was actually planning to "push up daisies" wherever the grass was greener, a political buddy provided the spin, "People are mad at Frank for accepting a job offer to benefit his family."

A former Ury supporter said, "By the time Frank left in 2002, I was aware of his deficiencies. While I was turned off by his arrogance and lack of genuine concern for the city, his lying was flatly unacceptable. He lied about practically everything -- big things, little things -- when there was no benefit in lying. A lot of people who were present at the 'pushing up daisies' speech talk about the deception to this day."

Ury returned to Mission Viejo less than a year after leaving. While he currently has almost no activists standing up for him, a few diehard residents can be found in Canyon Crest and Stoneridge. In 2004, Ury was still talking about "forcing Southern California Edison" to bury its lines after the California Public Utilities Commission decided they would be installed above ground. Even after his group (N.O.P.E.) failed to file a timely appeal, Ury went on campaigning as if the decision hadn't been made. Those continuing to follow him around seem undaunted at being used and thrown away.