The Buzz

Why is the council race attracting a stampede of challengers? Could it be that residents want change? With a week to go before the Aug. 6 filing deadline, 15 residents have shown interest by pulling nomination papers. A watchdog’s comment: “I’m going to be holding a sign on a street corner that says NO INCUMBENTS. That’s something we can agree on.”

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OC Supv. Bill Campbell’s newsletter talks about the County Redistricting Committee. Campbell writes, “The Board approved the formation of an ad hoc committee comprised of myself and Chair Nguyen which will be tasked with developing the initial preparations for the County’s redistricting process. The committee’s duties will include the evaluation and recommendation of issues which will include ensuring an open and transparent process, identifying meeting locations and communities of interest, composition of the final redistricting committee, and population data trends. The committee will report its preliminary findings to the Board within 90 days.”

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Email from a parent about a movie, “Waiting for Superman,” to be released Sept. 24: She says of the movie’s theme, “We are letting this happen to OUR kids. This is a movie soon to be out on education reform. The trailer is a must-watch.” http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=62632 . From the Plot Summary: For a nation that proudly declared it would leave no child behind, America continues to do so at alarming rates. Despite increased spending and politicians' promises, our buckling public education system, once the best in the world, routinely forsakes the education of millions of children.” The film touts innovative approaches, reform and charter schools.

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City watchdog Liz Mimm reports that her son Greg recently won a gold medal and two silver medals in the National Senior Olympics. Greg is a gifted athlete and a Mission Viejo resident. Liz said, “I don’t suppose news like that will be in the Saddleback Valley News. Instead, we can read about a cow tank being drug down the street. Mission Viejo’s float was in the newspaper constantly for three months before and after the Rose Parade.”

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Forwarded by Carl Schulthess, founder of MissionViejoCA.org:
“They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it has worked for more than 200 years, and we're not using it anymore.”