The Buzz

Here it is. This online comment in OC Weekly broke the ice about ex-councilman Lance MacLean’s alleged history of domestic violence:

“Is it true the neighbors, school district personnel, courts, Child Protective Services, OCSD and OC Register knew about Lance\'s domestic violence? Is it true Lance\'s choking a UCI employee wasn\'t his first act of violence and he should have been charged as a repeat offender? Does a law enforcement union with ready access to police reports have any excuse for backing a repeat offender who has terrified his own family?

How come nobody wants to talk about it? Are the OC Register and its\' affiliates engaged in a cover-up regarding non-disclosure of information by the OC Sheriffs department?

If the the requested information had been provided in a timely manner, would the recent special election to recall Lance MacLean been necessary? If those with knowledge of the facts spoken up, instead of acting to conceal this information, would Lance have stepped down without wasting taxpayers money?” Posted on Tues., Feb. 9, 2010, at 12:36 p.m.

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Immediately prior to the OC Weekly post, an arrogant MacLean was revved up in his bully mode, spewing threats and saying he would sue everyone. He not only demanded a recount, he made bizarre accusations, including a claim that his opponents had stuffed the ballot box with fraudulent absentee ballots. He first blamed the recall on proponents, and then he turned on those who hadn’t bothered to vote in the Feb. 2 election. As soon as the OC Weekly post appeared, he immediately reversed by issuing a press release that he obviously didn’t write. If Lance thought he had succeeded in hiding his past, he hadn’t. Given the number of people who knew about the domestic abuse, it was amazing it didn’t reach the media until Feb. 9 at 12:36 p.m., a week after the recall election.

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Has City Manager Dennis Wilberg abandoned his weekly insider newsletter, “The Week That Was”? He hasn’t published it in awhile. He was so busy predicting doom and gloom if MacLean was recalled that he might need time off to get over it.

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“Diamond Tom,” a Mission Viejo resident who has been hailed as having the best tribute to Neil Diamond, is recovering from lung surgery. Tom has been providing entertainment for Mission Viejo’s TEA Parties, and he regularly performs at restaurants and clubs throughout South County.

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Saddleback Republican Assembly will host H. Paul Payne as its guest speaker on Thurs., Feb. 18. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the first-floor dining room at Atria del Sol, 23792 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. Payne will speak on Second Amendment rights. Admission is free and guests are welcome.