The Buzz

The Orange County Registrar of Voters reported 932,032 votes were cast countywide in the election. The number represents a 58 percent turnout of the 1,607,989 registered voters in Orange County. Voters cast 503,533 polling place ballots and 406,371 absentee ballots. Early ballots, 22,128, comprised 1.4 percent.

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The Registrar of Voters has 28 days to finish counting ballots following an election. If it seems like a long time, consider that 224,658 paper ballots were still uncounted as of Sat., Nov. 8.

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Which HOA had the most informed voters in city council race? It was Casta del Sol without a doubt. Vote totals in Casta del Sol: Schlicht 924, Lonsinger 870, Ury 729, Atkinson 458. Ury took first place in both Palmia and Canyon Crest, with Schlicht, Lonsinger and Atkinson following. The real leaders in Casta del Sol got the word out.

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With Ury’s reelection, at least three neighborhoods should stay on high alert. Casta del Sol, Finisterra on the Green and Cypress Point need to keep close watch on the Casta golf course. Those living near La Paz and Marguerite are facing the threat of apartments on top of stores from Big Lots to Trader Joe’s. The Unisys property owner wants his parcel rezoned to high-density residential, and he’s graciously offered to turn it all into affordable apartments.

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A Mission Viejo resident mused about its impact of the national election on the toll road extension. What if the current administration overturns the Coastal Commission’s decision to reject the completion of the road? How long would it take the new administration to overturn that decision? If the good ol’ boys of Orange County saw that one coming, maybe they would have gotten involved in the national election instead of meddling in city council races.

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In the newspaper article about Lance MacLean’s unemployment, his mention of relocating got the most replay among activists. Did he mean he’s ready to move to a different city? Maybe not – relocating might mean downsizing to an apartment. The main problem with getting the story directly from MacLean is that no one wants to talk to him.

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During the Nov. 3 Capo school board meeting, trustees voted 4-3 to reject a tentative agreement between the teacher's union and CUSD. Voting in the minority to approve the contract were Anna Bryson, Duane Stiff and Mike Darnold. Stiff and Darnold’s tenure came to an end with the Nov. 4 election. Stiff was defeated by Mike Winsten and Darnold didn’t run for reelection. On Nov. 5, CUSD learned it will have to cut between $17 million and $34 million from the current year's budget.