City Circus Update

Is it true a city administrator’s new contract has a clause whereby he can’t be fired for misconduct? That’s what a city watchdog reported to this blog about Keith Rattay’s contract. It should come as no surprise after City Manager Dennis Wilberg got such a deal from the council majority on Feb. 1, 2010. The council majority of Frank Ury, Trish Kelley and Lance MacLean approved Wilberg’s contract on the eve of MacLean’s recall. After Wilberg had been videotaped interfering with signature gathering, it was obvious why he wanted such a clause. However, it isn’t clear why Keith Rattay received cover.

With the next city council election more than a year away, parents who attend back-to-school nights this month won’t be greeted by candidates handing out their campaign flyers. Two council seats will be on the November 2012 ballot, with Frank Ury and Cathy Schlicht up for reelection. Both have indicated they’ll run. Also posturing are Wendy Bucknum and Richard Sandzimier. Acquaintances of Greg Woodard are saying he won’t run in 2012. 

Woodard lacks name recognition, and he crossed swords with two politically active groups (city watchdogs and members of the Saddleback Republican Assembly) when he campaigned against Measure D, Mission Viejo’s Right-To-Vote Initiative. Trying to do an end run for Woodard was Lake Forest resident Scott Voigts. Woodard can thank Voigts for his appointment to the Orange County GOP Central Committee last January after longtime committee member Jack Anderson moved to Illinois. Voigts lobbied for Woodard, who appropriately calls himself “Newbie” when he posts on blogs. Newbie lacks a record of volunteering or helping Republicans in his own Assembly District.

In January, Woodard had an advantage that many politicians at the county level didn’t know him. Within two months of his Central Committee appointment, he followed Voigts into the mire by joining a “paper” unit of the California Republican Assembly. Voigts was accused of selling endorsements, and his membership was suspended for a year. Most of the paper clubs he created were dissolved or placed on probation. Woodard has become known as a power-seeking real estate attorney who jumped to the front of the line ahead of deserving volunteers, such as Walter Myers of Tustin.

Bob Bruchmann, Councilwoman Trish Kelley’s appointee to the Planning and Transportation Committee, will likely be removed as commission chairman during the Oct. 10 meeting. His fellow commissioners have grown tired of his abrasive remarks and arrogant attitude. Bruchmann has been accused of running roughshod over the residents he is supposed to serve. Details can be found on http://missionviejodispatch.com. Read the article and comments at http://missionviejodispatch.com/planning-commission/commission-may-oust-chairman

Bruchmann has a history of political conflicts, including his rejection by SRA in April 2010. Because he is a friend of City Manager Dennis Wilberg, some people speculated Wilberg encouraged him to join SRA as a prank. Its members were familiar with Bruchmann’s behavior on the commission, and they rejected his membership application. Bruchmann responded with his usual style, telling a visiting state officer to f*** off.