City Campaign Update
Editorial staff

Two council challengers – Cathy Schlicht and Neil Lonsinger – anticipate that council majority members MacLean, Ury and Kelley (M.U.K.) are in back of negative mailers that will be released to damage their campaigns. The MUK-rakers intend to get Ury reelected, and they’re promoting their own newcomer, Rich Atkinson, to fill the seat of Councilwoman Gail Reavis, who isn’t running for reelection.

MUK efforts behind the scenes are benefiting Atkinson. In August, MacLean pushed the city clerk into suing Schlicht and Lonsinger over their ballot statements, causing them to hire attorneys and appear in court. Ury persuaded his lobbyist buddies at the GOP Central Committee to give Atkinson the county’s endorsement. Kelley used her influence with the Orange Co. Fire Authority to get OCFA’s endorsement and financial support for Atkinson. Except for MacLean’s exceptionally dirty trick, it was politics as usual.

The big surprise came during the Oct. 1 taping of the Cox forum. Two candidates – Ury and Atkinson – were remarkably well prepared with polished, thought-out remarks for each question. Did both men know the questions beforehand? Other candidates may have been stunned with Ury and Atkinson’s performance, including ready answers to obscure questions about such things as water district issues and other topics not usually addressed by the city council. Schlicht is well versed on real city issues, and she’s attended more council meetings than some of the council members. She didn’t have to cram for the test – she’s lived it.

For whatever reason, someone connected to Cox apparently thinks Ury and Atkinson can improve their chances of winning the election by coming across as skilled orators. Anyone who has attended a council meeting knows Ury for his arrogant remarks and disrespect for residents. Smooth talking won’t help him, and why would he need an unfair advantage to reapply for a council position he’s held since 2004? Atkinson, who’s been on the planning commission since 2006, rarely says a word during planning meetings. For two years, he’s apparently been hiding his command of issues and odd knowledge.

One aspect of Ury’s candidacy has become clear. Those who know him won’t vote for him. Voters should anticipate a steady stream of Ury’s mailers to start arriving any day. Look for glossy, full-color brochures that no ordinary candidate could afford. Ury is no ordinary candidate. His list of financiers includes developers, lobbyists, city contractors and some pretty strange players outside Orange County. This incumbent sold his soul to Steadfast, ATS, the P.R. agent (Roger Faubel) for Sunrise Assisted Living and every other business that wanted something from the city – and they got it.

When residents see all of Ury’s pricey brochures and slate mailers, they should also “get it.” No other incumbent in the history of the council has been a bigger sellout than Ury.