The Real Ury, Part 1

Councilman Frank Ury is up for reelection in November. His outright lies from the dais are reason for voters to remove him from office, but many people aren’t paying attention. His slick campaign mailers are also false, touting a conservative record he simply doesn’t have.

Ury runs on Other People’s Money, including special interest and city vendors. He also has the backing of some Republican officials. When Councilwoman Trish Kelley asked the Orange County GOP to endorse her in 2010, they said no. Kelley had twice campaigned for and endorsed a Democrat. Ury not only campaigned for and endorsed the same Democrat in 2010, he campaigned for a pro-abortion candidate in 2006. Since he hasn’t supported the Republican slate or principles of the party, how will the OC GOP react to his candidacy this year?

Council minutes and other records document Ury’s actions:

• Ury on 11-17-08 (Agenda Item 21, during the meeting following his reelection) and 6-21-10 (Agenda Item 24) voted to bestow lifetime medical benefits on part-time council members who serve three four-year terms, and he rescinded benefits twice (on 5-19-08 Item No. 30 and 7-6-10 Item No. 36) to assist campaigns for like-minded majority council members seeking to save their seats. In the final vote eliminating the benefits, Ury cast the sole vote trying to keep lifetime healthcare for himself.
• Ury’s endorsement of a Democrat occurred in the 2-2-10 and 11-08-10 city elections.
• Ury on 04-07-08 voted to fund a Rose Parade float and in October 2008 voted to move it forward (the expense exceeded $300K) during the same month the city required liquidating two bonds to meet payroll.
• Ury on 07-07-08 (Agenda Item 39) voted for a social host ordinance, an infringement on constitutional rights of due process and probable cause.
• Ury on 1-3-2010 voted to take $1M from reserves to spend on a dog park. On 3-19-12, he voted to proceed with the $1M park, adding an unfavorable land swap in which the city would get only 2.71 acres in return for giving the county 7.18 acres.
• Ury on 2-1-2010 voted to remove from the city manager’s contract a misconduct clause, whereby the city manager cannot be fired, even if convicted of certain felonies.

Watch for Part 2 of Ury’s record, including council votes that explain why the city is into its third year of deficit spending. Ury has consistently supported redevelopment, and he authored the effort to establish the city’s Housing Authority. His irresponsible acts on the council also led to the city being sued by the state.