Council Race Begins

What sport follows the Olympics? Mudslinging! Mission Viejo’s city council contest officially started last week. Six candidates completed the filing process before the 5:00 p.m. deadline on Aug. 11. Two seats are on the ballot in November.

Here’s the lineup.

Incumbent Frank Ury is running for a third term. In 2004, Southern California Edison announced plans to add overhead power lines in north Mission Viejo. Ury ran on a promise to get the lines buried, and residents with homes near the lines campaigned for him. After they got him elected, he laughed at them and made disparaging remarks about those who worked hardest for him. In 2008, he campaigned on “Promises Kept.” Apparently, those promises are the ones he made to his out-of-town financiers.

Incumbent Cathy Schlicht is running for a second term. A longtime city activist, Cathy is the only council member who comes to the meetings well prepared to discuss city business. She works for a financial company where she negotiates contracts and handles millions of dollars in private investment loans. Her 2008 campaign slogan was “Can’t be bought, can’t be bullied.” She has kept her promises to residents, and she is often the lone vote for fiscal responsibility. Voters should anticipate a negative campaign against her, fueled by the backers of Frank Ury and council challenger Wendy Bucknum.

Ed Sachs is a first-time challenger. He mentions his business background and concern for city finances when talking about why he’s running for a council seat. Politically, he’s associated with Tea Partiers and reform-minded citizens. He ran for the OC Republican Central Committee in 2010 but didn’t win.

Wendy Bucknum’s backers include ex-council members Sherri Butterfield, Susan Withrow and Roger Faubel. If that isn’t enough to scare voters, Bucknum works as a lobbyist for a property management company.

Desi Kiss is the only candidate who doesn’t have a ballot statement, but he passed his resume around. He has an impressive background in civil and structural engineering. Activists who have met Desi say he’s passionate about his beliefs and outspoken on some of the city’s problems. When Desi talks about city hall, it’s not in flattering terms, particularly about staff members who recently approved a questionable remodeling job.

Richard Coleman is not a familiar name in city politics, and some voters might find that refreshing. According to his ballot statement, he’s a test engineering manager. He says he’s running for council to find out how decisions are made for the city. Given his occupation (e.g., testing to see if something works or if the design is sound), he’s going to find out that council majority decisions are pretty much the opposite – arbitrary, self-enriching and whatever produces the greatest amount of waste.

Richard Sandzimier pulled papers but did not complete the process.