Norm Murray: Farewell to a Friend
Editorial staff

On Wednesday, May 23, Mission Viejo lost a friend. Norm Murray, who had melanoma for four years, died at age 89. The word spread quickly among Norm’s many acquaintances, with everyone feeling a sense of loss.

Norm served as the city’s first mayor from 1988 to 1990. He never stopped working for the community, including the Activities Committee and Heritage Committee and helping organize the 1984 Olympics cycling competition in Mission Viejo. He served on the Planning Commission until January 2004, and he was recently honored for his work at the May 5 Mission Viejo Community Foundation’s inaugural ball.

Murray in 2004 gave a boost to the completion of the community center expansion, appealing to the city council by saying, “It’s time.” Those who heard his remarks understood the message. Many of the city’s senior citizens wondered if they would live long enough to see the project through.

A longtime activist who worked on cityhood with Murray said, “Norm was a leader who was truly civic-minded. It took some people awhile to realize he wasn’t in it for himself or wanting personal glory. That’s one of the reasons he earned respect whether everyone agreed with him or not. Norm was diplomatic and businesslike – qualities that rise above opinions.”

Norm was like a history book, and he seemed to have accurate if not complete recall of names, dates and events extending long before the city’s official beginning. His experience and memory saved people the time of having to look things up.

Norm and his wife Mary were married for 67 years when she passed away in 2003. In addition to his large family of children and grandchildren, Norm will be missed by more friends than anyone can count.

May 21 Council Meeting Summary
Editorial staff

If anyone looked for coverage of the May 21 council meeting in Saddleback Valley News this week, the lack of mention wasn’t an oversight. Only three council members attended – John Paul Ledesma, Lance MacLean and Frank Ury – and the meeting of less than an hour produced no noteworthy outcome.

Those who tried to watch TV coverage said the cable connection was lost and not restored. One viewer called the blog, saying, “Maybe I was the only person in town who tuned in. I called Cox when coverage ended abruptly, and the person who answered wasn’t aware of the problem.” Perhaps the meeting was so short it ended before coverage could be restored.

No council member pulled any agenda item for discussion, and as of an April 16 council majority vote, members of the public cannot pull items for discussion. The meeting consisted of public comments, unanimous passage of the consent calendar and reports from council members near the end of the meeting.

During public comments, one resident who lives on Coronel Drive reported he had spoken with Councilwoman Gail Reavis about her May 7 vote in favor of a home remodel on Calle Hogar, turning a single-family home into what appears to be an eldercare facility. The speaker said Reavis asked him to come to the May 21 meeting and request that the council bring back the item. Mayor Pro Tem Ledesma, who was presiding in Reavis’ absence, said Reavis could put the item on the agenda for reconsideration if she so desired.

Two public speakers mentioned the controversial issue of cell towers. Both speakers campaigned for Ury during his 2004 run for a council seat and now appear at odds with his decision to push a cell-tower master plan with a lucrative contract for the cell-tower consultant.

Despite Ury’s prior stance that council members may not respond to public comments, he responded with his standard answer to residents’ complaints: 1) baffle them with b.s., 2) mischaracterize remarks of the speakers and then claim they don’t know what they’re talking about, 3) label residents’ negative comments as hysteria, and 4) let everyone know he was elected to make decisions without interference from the little people. Ury additionally implied the Planning Commission exists to safeguard the community from any maladies mentioned in the complaints. For anyone who has observed a Planning Commission meeting during the past two years, the commission has become a rubber-stamp agency to approve city staff recommendations regardless of harm to the community or objections from residents.

For whatever reasons both Reavis and Kelley missed the meeting, their absence evidently didn’t give MacLean and Ury enough notice to use their two-to-one advantage over Ledesma. Residents should also feel a sense of relief knowing the meeting ended before MacLean and Ury could take turns nominating themselves for mayor.

CUSD Update
Editorial staff

Former CUSD superintendent James Fleming was indicted on Thurs., May 24, and charged with three felony counts. Also indicted was retired assistant superintendent Susan McGill, who was charged with conspiracy and perjury. If convicted, both could serve prison sentences, with Fleming getting up to four years and McGill up to four years, eight months.

The news surprised many residents who supported the failed 2005 effort to recall all seven CUSD trustees. A CUSD parent emailed the blog, “It’s taken so long, I thought Fleming had gotten away with everything.” Another wrote, “FINALLY!” and included a release of the online OC Register story breaking the news.

Charges against Fleming include misappropriation of public funds for his unlawful “enemies list” of CUSD parents supporting the recall. A second list of political enemies was created when former CUSD employee David Smollar and McGill viewed recall petitions at the Registrar of Voters and made note of signature gatherers. The perjury charge against McGill stems from her denial to the grand jury of a second list.

Fleming hired attorney Ronald Brower, who referred to the district’s independent investigation conducted by retired judge Stuart Waldrip and funded by CUSD taxpayers. Waldrip’s report – described as a whitewash by recall supporters – found no criminal wrongdoing. Fleming claimed he needed the list of parents (the “enemies list”) because he thought they had hacked into the district’s computer. Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas on Thursday said the prosecution will contradict Fleming’s claim.

Rackauckas said there may be more to come from the grand jury. Allegations include conflicts of interest, violations of open meetings laws and the use of taxpayer funds to thwart a recall effort and interfere with an election.

A supporter of the 2005 recall commented, “I’m hanging on every word from the D.A. and hoping for more indictments. If anyone is still supporting Fleming and his loyalist trustees, it’s beyond comprehension.”

If the D.A. doesn’t finish the job, it will be up to CUSD voters in November 2008. Four remaining pro-Fleming trustees – Marlene Draper, Sheila Benecke, Mike Darnold and Duane Stiff – will be up for reelection.

The Buzz column, May 25

Those watching the May 21 council meeting finally caught a break. The meeting lasted only 52 minutes, and both Councilwomen Gail Reavis and Trish Kelley were absent. As a result of Kelley’s absence, no $100,000-a-year staff member received lavish praise for merely doing the job, and the meeting was approximately three hours shorter than usual.

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An out-of-towner commented to blog staffers, “What Mission Viejo needs is an elected mayor.” No, it doesn’t. Having council members take a one-year turn is enough. If the office of mayor were determined by the candidate getting the most votes, it would have gone in 2002 to Trish Kelley, who is incompetent on the council. Meetings lasted forever – up to 2 a.m. – during the otherwise forgettable year she took a turn as mayor. In 2004, Frank Ury received the most votes. Even Ury’s peers on the council know better than to let him take a turn as mayor.

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While campaigning for office in 2004, Ury said he would “take Mission Viejo to the next level.” What was he talking about? Soon after winning a seat, he attempted to give his HOA a gift of public funds by using taxpayer dollars to build a park on private property. That’s illegal. During the past two years, Ury has voted to rezone six commercial properties to high-density residential, allowing developers to run roughshod over residents trying to protect their homes. A month ago, Ury insulted his former fans by voting to deny residents the right to pull council agenda items for discussion. At every opportunity, Ury has taken Mission Viejo to a lower level.

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The L.A. Times and OC Register are all over the May 24 indictments of former CUSD superintendent James Fleming and former assistant superintendent Susan McGill. As an interesting quote in the Times, CUSD Trustee and longtime Fleming supporter Duane Stiff said he wasn’t surprised Fleming was indicted. If Stiff hasn’t already appeared before the grand jury, perhaps he would like to tell them why he’s not surprised.

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Community members who worked in the 2005 CUSD recall effort reacted to a question from The Buzz: would they work in another recall to remove the remaining four old-guard trustees? All those contacted said no. One responded, “Just let things play out. I doubt the old-guard trustees will run in 2008. What I support is genuine, qualified challengers lining up to run. By qualified, I mean knowledgeable candidates with a record of involvement and leadership in CUSD.”

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A “Celebration of Life” honored the late former State Assemblyman Gil Ferguson on May 19. Marianne Zippi of Newport Beach described Gil’s memorial service as “a sincere, dignified and even humorous review of his many accomplishments.” The monthly breakfast programs of Principles Over Politics established by Gil and Anita Ferguson will continue. Tom McClintock will be the guest speaker for the next program on June 16. Call (949) 644-7094 for more information.

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Another friend of many Mission Viejo residents has moved on in a different way. Brittany McKee, who was known for her activism in the Sierra Club, is relocating to Georgia. Her farewell party was held last week in San Clemente

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A memorial service will honor the late Norman P. Murray at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 5, at Presbyterian Church of the Master. Norm, who passed away May 23, is deeply and sadly missed.