Email Campaign Splatters

Councilman Lance MacLean said during the Oct. 5 council meeting that he hasn’t had an opportunity to respond to charges of the recall. The process of gathering signatures ran from March 19 through Aug. 24. For five months, MacLean could have distributed flyers or campaigned in any way he chose. Instead, he showed up occasionally at a storefront to antagonize recall supporters and throw a temper tantrum.

MacLean’s current problem is his message of contradictory remarks. He first says all of the complaints against him are lies. Then, he says the complaints are true, but he’s not the only one who did it. Perhaps his political consultant will help him contrive a single story and stick with it.

Last week, MacLean asked his handful of supporters to forward his campaign email to their distribution. As soon as one of them did, the email and the sender’s distribution list were immediately in the hands of watchdogs who support the recall. Particularly humorous, MacLean’s shill didn’t send blind copies. Many of those on her list not only oppose MacLean, they gathered signatures and donated to oust him.

Recipients of the email indicated they were disinterested, annoyed or very annoyed at receiving political tripe on behalf of MacLean. One of them commented, “I am in favor of recalling MacLean. I signed the recall petition the first time I saw a table in front of Trader Joe’s. I walked up and put my name on it before anyone had a chance to ask.”

When MacLean campaigned from the dais during the Oct. 5 council meeting, he attempted to list his accomplishments as a councilman. By the time he mentioned the community center as his doing (mismanaged until it ran three times over budget), he seemed to be listing reasons to recall him. He next touted the Crown Valley widening project – a colossal boondoggle that tied up traffic for more than three years.

In MacLean’s message to his shills, he asks them to “forward emails that I will be sending you to spread the word to others in Mission Viejo as the campaign gets into high gear.” Given his disastrous first attempts, MacLean is already in high gear – in reverse.