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Primary Election Update A Casta del Sol resident who attended Casta’s so-called Republican candidate forum emailed this blog with a request to expose the May 6 sham. It wasn’t just a sham forum; the sham has been going on for two years. A political club in the Casta HOA – where homeowners pay for their clubhouse and the exclusive right to use it – has been taken over by outsiders. The outsiders are either on the payroll or under the thumb of a political operative, Frances Akhavi, who is known for attacking the Republican Party in Orange County. She recently made her debut in Los Angeles ( http://missionviejoca.org/html/article212.html ) by ruining a Tea Party. On May 6, the Casta club invited only hand-picked candidates. Among the Central Committee candidates, the organizer selected herself. Two years ago, the same Casta club held a sham forum for the three OC Sheriff candidates – Sandra Hutchens, Craig Hunter and Bill Hunt. Approximately 75 people attended, but few were Casta residents. Instead of having Casta homeowners ask questions, the panel consisted of Akhavi’s hand-picked GOP Central Committee challengers. Jack Anderson was in the audience, and he immediately saw what was going on. Craig Hunter caught on as well, calling the event an ambush. Hunter and Hutchens received “gotcha” questions from panelists who read questions that had been prepared for them. They threw softball questions to Hunt. In OC, three groups are vying for control of the Republican Central Committee, and only one is genuinely Republican. Some members of the two non-Republican groups changed their voter registrations in order to run as Republicans in the Primary elections of 2010 and 2012. Formerly, it was one group, but it split last year. The original group called itself SOC912, and it was funded by Akhavi. SOC912 members publicly acknowledged her financial support – it was no secret. What’s the harm if this new group took over the Orange County Republican Party? In the 2010 Primary, Akhavi’s candidates said their first goal was to get a majority of their members on the Central Committee. Their second goal – openly stated – was to shut down the Orange County Republican Party headquarters. Does anyone need further information? In days of old, Democrats were the ones trying to remove Republicans from office. Some of the non-Republicans dress up in Colonial costumes (literally) and pass themselves off as Tea Partiers. In the election next month, all three groups have slates of candidates in the Republican Primary. SOC912 has a slate of seven candidates, which they call the Tea Party Seven. With no financial backer, they’re all long shots. SOC912’s Central Committee candidates were not invited to the May 6 Casta forum. The other group of non-Republicans was in charge. That doesn’t mean there were no Republicans there, but the organizers were Akhavi’s pretenders. According to those who know them, they are mercenaries posing as volunteers. Why else would five outsiders come back to Casta again and again to manage, organize, collect email addresses by “registering” attendees, serve food and clean up after Casta homeowners leave? Casta del Sol could bar the door, but the outsiders are providing entertainment, refreshments and labor. If they expect a return on investment with Casta votes, it didn’t work in previous elections. |
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June 5 Voter Guide Below are recommendations for Republican voters who support freedom of religion, family values, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, limited government and secure borders. In the U.S. Senate race, Elizabeth Emken received the California Republican Party endorsement, and Al Ramirez is endorsed by the California Republican Assembly. Incumbent Congressman John Campbell has a good but not perfect conservative voting record. His only real competition is a liberal Democrat. Conservative Voter Guide – California Primary Election, June 5, 2012 Recommendations by Mission Viejo Conservative Voters President: Mitt Romney County Central Committee, 73rd Assembly District, vote for all six: Alice Anderson, Norm Dickinson, Tony Beall, Jon Steven Fleischman, Nancy Padberg and Mary Young U.S. Senator: Elizabeth Emken or Al Ramirez – both candidates are Conservatives. |
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Non-government Events Following is a sampling of events and activities that are not funded by taxpayers or promoted by the Nanny State. Please support private enterprise and non-profit groups. OC Greek Fest, Fri.-Sun., May 18-20, Fri., 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sat.-Sun., 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m., Greek food, live music, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 405 N. Dale St., Anaheim, (714) 827-0181, http://ocgreekfest.com/ Mount of Olives Church, Free Electronic Recycling, Sat., May 19, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at The Rock, Mount of Olives Lutheran Church, 24772 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo, (949) 837-7467, http://www.moochurch.com . For anyone needing help with oversize items, call Jeff at Living Green Recycling, 866-674-3177, ext. 100. Safety Day at Pretend City Children’s Museum, Sat., May 19, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., activities for infants through age 10, story time and cars for children, 29 Hubble, Irvine, (949) 428-3900, http://www.pretendcity.org Doheny Blues Festival, Sat., May 19, and Sun., May 20, including Gregg Allman, Steve Miller Band, Buddy Guy, Doheny State Beach, buy tickets at http://www.omegaevents.com or (949) 360-7800. Israel Expo, Sun., May 20, 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Samueli Jewish Campus, 1 Federation Way, Irvine, free admission, (949) 435-3484, http://www.jewishorangecounty.com Soka University Concert, Jazz Monsters featuring Dmitry Baevsky and David Hazeltine on Wed., May 23, 7:00 p.m., and Italian Opera Festival onWed., May 30 – Fri., June 1, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://www.performingarts.soka.edu/news_events/events/default.aspx Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, Fri.-Mon., May 25-28, Fri., 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Sat.-Sun., 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Mon., 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., parade, rides, food, live entertainment, free admission, Village Green at Main Street and Euclid Ave., Garden Grove, (714) 638-0981, http://www.strawberryfestival.org. Mariachis at the Mission on Sat., May 26, 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., second and fourth Saturdays each month, free with paid admission to the Mission, Central Courtyard, Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 234-1300, http://www.missionsjc.com/ May Fairy Garden classes at Cottage Home and Garden, Sun., May 27, 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m., 31720 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, (949) 493-3920, http://cottage-home-and-garden.com Movies, Edwards Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 in Mission Viejo, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy, (949) 582-4020, get show times, watch movie trailers, see what's coming soon at Big Bucks Bingo, Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. early bird and 6:45 p.m. regular games, Mission Viejo Elks Lodge, Marguerite and La Paz, Mission Viejo, 949-830-3557. |
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Political and Government Events Calendar Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Mon., May 14, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Wed., May 16, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Thurs., May 17, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees, regular meeting on Mon., May 14, 7:00 p.m., 33122 Valle Road, San Juan Capistrano, agenda and supporting documentation are published on the website 72 hours prior to a meeting, (949) 234-9200, http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/ ACT for America, Mission Viejo Chapter, will meet on Mon., May 14, 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the meeting begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Featured speaker will be Joe Carey, founder of the Radical Truth Ministry. His topic will be “Women in Islam: what Islamists don’t want you to know.” ACT meets at the Norman P. Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo. Capistrano Valley Republican Women Federated, Wed., May 16, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., featured speaker will be Mark Isler, 30800 Golf Club Drive, San Juan Capistrano, RSVP to Sue Schultz, (949) 240-6799, esue39@cox.net Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., May 17, 7:00 p.m., election of board members. SRA meets on third Thursdays at the Norman P. Murray Community Center, 24932 Veterans Way, Jacaranda Room-B, Mission Viejo. For information call (949) 360-1717. Santa Margarita Water District meetings: Finance Committee Meeting on Fri., May 18, 7:30 p.m.; Board of Directors will meet on Wed., May 23, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com/about-us/meeting-agendas.html Concert at the Nixon Library: Sun., May 20, Placentia Yorba Linda Chamber Music. Doors open at 1:15 p.m., and concerts begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Concerts are free and open to the public. Schedule is subject to change. Richard Nixon Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 464-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org/concerts/ South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, Mon., May 21. Meeting times unless otherwise posted: open session convenes at 5 p.m., followed by adjournment to closed session, open session reconvenes at 6:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m., adjournment by 9:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan Board of Trustees Room, Room 145, Health Sciences/District Offices Building, Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo, (949) 582-4999, https://www.socccd.edu El Toro Water District meetings: Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., May 22, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., May 24, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com/ Orange County Board of Supervisors, Tues., May 22, 9:30 a.m., (no meeting on May 15) Board Hearing Room, First Floor, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, (714) 834-3100. http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Government/Board%20of%20Supervisors/Meeting%20Schedule Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees will meet on Tues., May 22 “if necessary,” 6:30 p.m., at the district office, 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234. The next regular board meeting will be on Tues., June 12. http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ Aliso Viejo Republican Women Federated, Thurs., May 24, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., featured speaker will be Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, plus a tribute to men and women in uniform. Aliso Viejo Country Club, 33 Santa Barbara Drive, Aliso Viejo, RSVP to (949) 859-2818. Spring Fashion Show, Laguna Niguel Republican Women Federated, Fri., May 25, champagne reception starts at 10:30 a.m., program begins at 11:00 a.m., El Niguel Country Club, 23700 Clubhouse Dr., Laguna Niguel, (949) 496-0884. Commemorate Memorial Day at the Nixon Library, Mon., May 28, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., patriotic concerts, wreath-laying at the memorials of President and Mrs. Nixon, book signing by Ed Nixon and a performance by the Placentia Symphonic Band, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org/ai1ec_event/commemorate-memorial-day-at-the-nixon-library/?instance_id=350 Republican Party of Orange County 13th Annual Flag Day Celebration, Mon., June 11, VIP Reception 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., dinner 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., keynote speaker Gov. Jan Brewer, Hyatt Regency Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Blvd., Irvine, for tickets or information call (714) 453-0900 or visit http://www.ocgop.org/flag-day |
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The Buzz The May 7 council meeting was a bad one for residents. Despite objections from their constituents, the council voted 4-1 for high-density housing and an overpriced redecorating project for a library room – new lights, wallpaper and fake trees for $500,000. Information came out during the meeting that the city is $9 million in the red for the year. *** Residents who have been watching the UDR project said it proceeded because the city needs the developer fees to make ends meet. The council majority has overspent on the tennis resort expansion (at Casta Drive and Marguerite Parkway), and the library room’s cost is already at $500,000, well exceeding the published figure of $358,334. The city’s bank account is upside down, with $9.4 million more in cash disbursements than cash receipts through the first three-quarters of the fiscal year – no denial from the city manager or city treasurer on this. If not for the shortage of cash, why would the city ask UDR for park fees upon granting the building permits? *** UDR has been trying to get high-density housing approved for the site since at least 2005, relying on its point man on the council, Frank Ury. The project’s directors haven’t done a good job of selling residents on the idea, and their reports to their own corporation may have lacked full disclosure about the site. UDR’s stated corporate objectives include placing its projects in the vicinity of commercial enterprise and access to freeways. The property is below an earthen dam. Is it true that UDR’s managers for this project incorrectly identified the earthen dam as “open recreational space”? The adjacent toll road is not a good match for the economic level of those who will occupy the apartments. Do UDR’s board of directors and investors know the true picture, including the struggling marketplace next door and the risks of building on property with an easement for a spillway? *** The Planning Commission meeting on May 14 at 6:30 p.m. includes a request (Agenda Item No. 10) for The Shops of Mission Viejo: a Special Sign Permit to construct a sign 30 feet high to attract the attention of those on the freeway. Agenda Item No. 11 is a presentation by Kaleidoscope on its proposed sign program, including large electronic signs. Residents can send comments to the commission by emailing the director at cwilson@cityofmissionviejo.org *** How does the state keep going despite its massive deficit? By refusing to pay its bills! OC County Supervisor Shawn Nelson’s May 11 newsletter summarizes the county’s lawsuits against the state: “Last week, the Board unanimously authorized the law firm of Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk to litigate on behalf of interim Auditor-Controller Jan Grimes against the State’s VLF revenue lawsuit. The State Department of Finance and the Community Colleges Chancellor are asking the court to let the State continue taking the County’s VLF revenue and force the County to pay the State property tax currently withheld, as well as future property tax. This week, the Board authorized filing a claim against the State for approximately $23 million, the difference that the County was shortchanged in FY 2010-11 from accepting declining VLF revenue due to lower vehicle sales instead of property tax from increasing property values since 2004. In fact, the County has experienced an average $23 million shortage per year for the past seven years.” *** To vote in the statewide Primary Election on June 5, citizens must register by Mon., May 21. To register to vote, either pick up a voter form at the post office or visit the Registrar of Voters website, http://www.ocvote.com/registration/register-to-vote/ Voters can also find their polling place on the website. |
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