City Council Campaign Update
Editorial staff

On Sept. 18, the Saddleback Republican Assembly endorsed city council candidates for several South County cities. For Mission Viejo, council candidates Cathy Schlicht and Neil Lonsinger received SRA’s endorsement, which also carries the endorsement of the California Republican Assembly.

All Republican candidates were considered. For Mission Viejo, council incumbent Frank Ury was among those not endorsed. Another Mission Viejo candidate who wasn’t endorsed, Richard Atkinson, may have falsely claimed that he received the group’s endorsement. Although vote tallies weren’t given, CRA Vice President Karl Heft announced that the results were overwhelmingly in favor of Schlicht and Lonsinger.

Several Mission Viejo residents sent emails to this blog after they received invitations to attend fundraisers for Atkinson. None attended. One of the events was held Sept. 17 at the Arroyo Trabuco Golf Clubhouse. Most city candidates say that the high prices at Arroyo Trabuco would diminish the net gain. Did Atkinson raise money on Sept. 17 or add to his campaign debt? He bragged a month ago about putting $67,000 into his campaign. Given that donations from residents add up slowly ($25 being low, $99 being high), everyone should ask who is funding Atkinson.

Councilmembers Ury, Lance MacLean and Trish Kelley indicated several months ago that they’d raise cash for Atkinson by pressuring city vendors, who would be warned not to donate to anyone else’s campaign. Are these three threatening to end contracts and/or committing Brown Act violations by implying they’ve discussed lining up three votes?

Atkinson has another fundraiser (or debt-raiser) scheduled at Tortilla Flats, which was a favorite fundraising spot for a former regime – Susan Withrow and Sherri Butterfield. Activists appreciated Susan and Sherri’s choice of locale, as they could sit in the bar and see everyone who was attending the fundraiser in the adjacent meeting room. In the last big bang for the old queens, their fundraiser for 25 people was very well attended by their immediate families, several city vendors, their campaign managers and no residents.

Back-To-School Nights began last week for Capistrano Unified School District with events at Bathgate, Hankey and Newhart. Campaign teams handed out flyers for Schlicht and Lonsinger at Bathgate and Hankey, but no other city candidates were there. While incumbent Frank Ury might be acting as if he’s above handing out flyers, he probably doesn’t have any volunteers who would help him. Atkinson also hasn’t emerged as a candidate, and he seems to have only Councilwoman Trish Kelley campaigning for him. Challenger Judy Rackauckas campaigned at Newhart with a team of teenagers, and activists who talked with her said she’s likeable. They report her platform seems to be city government reform.

Candidates Lonsinger and Schlicht might be concerned about negative mailers as hit pieces against them. Councilmembers Ury, MacLean and Kelley had been gunning for Councilwoman Gail Reavis until she announced on Aug. 8 that she wouldn’t seek reelection. A Political Action Committee had already been formed to accept donations for a negative campaign against her. Residents should expect the PAC money will be used instead against Lonsinger and Schlicht.