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Protect Casta Golf Course Neighbors of the Casta Del Sol Golf Course are watching the Nov. 6 city council race. Councilman Frank Ury wants housing on the golf course, and he is up for reelection. Following are the six council candidates along with their positions, if known, about housing on the golf course. Two seats are open, and both incumbents are running. The incumbents – Cathy Schlicht and Frank Ury Cathy Schlicht says she’ll preserve the golf course – NO HOUSING. Cathy is the only council member who consistently represents the residents, often voting in the 4-1 minority. When she first ran in 2008, her motto was “can’t be bought, can’t be bullied.” She has taken no special interest money or donations from housing developers. Frank Ury blatantly wants housing on the golf course. He opposed Measure D, which would have given voters the right to vote on rezoning decisions, such as housing on the golf course. Ury wants more high-density apartments, electronic billboards and other atrocities that enrich his out-of-town friends. Ury is running on developer and special interest money. His running mate is Wendy Bucknum. The four challengers are Ed Sachs, Wendy Bucknum, Desi Kiss and Richard Coleman. Ed Sachs says he’ll preserve the golf course – NO HOUSING. Ed has a business background, and he was president of Pioneer Electronics. His political associations are with the Tea Party, and he’s a fiscal conservative. He opposes the electronic billboards in south Mission Viejo that Ury and the other council majority members want to approve. Wendy Bucknum works as a lobbyist for Property Management Co. Her backers include Sherri Butterfield, Susan Withrow and Roger Faubel. What more does anyone need to know? Faubel is the P.R. guy for Sunrise, the developer that proposed housing on the golf course. Bucknum is running on special interest money, including a donation from the developer of the proposed electronic billboards. Desi Kiss is relatively unknown. He isn’t fond of City Hall or the way projects are rubber stamped. He seems on the right side of things, but his campaign has yet to unfold. Richard Coleman is unknown. His ballot statement says he wants to learn on the job how the council operates. Kiss and Coleman are registered as No Party Preference, and the other four are Republicans. This council race will be among the nastiest in history, with mud-slinging mailers paid for by Ury and Bucknum’s supporters. Two years ago, Bucknum’s group included real estate agents led by Dennis O’Connor. A former Olympian, Brian Goodell, put his name on slanderous hit pieces that maligned Mission Viejo residents. Goodell had been out of work for a long time, and he suddenly got a lucrative real estate job after signing the attack pieces. |
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SRA Meets on Sept. 20 Saddleback Republican Assembly will meet on Thurs., Sept. 20, 7:00 p.m. SRA meets on third Thursdays of the month at the Norm Murray Community Center, 24932 Veteran’s Way, Mission Viejo. The public is welcome to attend SRA meetings, which are free of charge. The guest speaker will be John Moorlach, who currently serves as chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. He has been on the board since 2006, representing the Second District cities of Costa Mesa, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Stanton and a portion of Buena Park and Fountain Valley. Prior to 2006, Moorlach served as the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector for nearly 12 years. He has the distinction of having predicted the largest local government investment portfolio loss and the second-largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. He has been a voice on major fiscal issues facing the county, state and nation. He is a noted and respected long-time advocate for public employee pension reform, and he serves on the California Foundation for Fiscal Responsibility Advisory Board. Moorlach previously worked for an accounting firm, and he has served on numerous nonprofit and industry-related boards during his 18 years in public practice. A California history enthusiast, Moorlach served as vice president of the Gold Discovery to Statehood California (1848-1850) Sesquicentennial Foundation Board. He has photographed nearly all of the state’s historical landmarks, a program under the auspices of the State Historical Resources Commission. Moorlach graduated from California State University in Long Beach in 1977 and passed the C.P.A. exam in 1978. He completed his studies for the Certified Financial Planner designation in 1987. He earned a Certificate in Public Finance, and he has numerous other distinctions in the fields of finance and public policy. Anyone with a question about the meeting or the organization should contact SRA President Dale Tyler, (949) 360-1717, or email him, edt@tylerent.com. |
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Secret Meetings Erode Trust As you may be aware, the Southern California Edison Nuclear Generation Station, located 14 miles south of our Mission Viejo city limits, has been shut down since the end of January. The shutdown was forced by radiation leaks from defective, improperly designed two-year-old generators. Now the games have begun by Southern California Edison. Here are some basic questions you should be asking YOUR city representatives, the California Public Utilities Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Senator Barbara Boxer:
Joe Holtzman |
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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. 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. Ramblin' Rogues' Beginning Square Dance Class, register on Sept. 20, Norman Murray Community Center, 14932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., $6 per class. Couples and singles are welcome; no dance experience necessary. Wear casual attire and comfortable shoes. Class runs Thursday nights through June. For more information, call Sy or Judy, (949) 322-8790. Nestor Torres Concerts at Soka University: Jazz Monsters Series on Fri., Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.; Cuban Spirit on Sat., Sept. 22, 8:00 p.m.; Classical favorites with Aliso Niguel High School on Sat., Sept. 29, 8:00 p.m., 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, (949) 480-4278, http://soka.reachlocal.com/?scid=2695430&kw=19071058&pub_cr_id=16539318546 Big Orange Book Festival, Fri.-Sat., Sept. 21-22, book vendors, authors, lectures and panels, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, (714) 289-3140, http://bigorangebookfestival.com/ Festival of Children through Sept. 30, South Coast Plaza, activities and events, back-to-school fashion show, skateboard event, puppet shows and amazing sculptures built from cans, (877) 492-5437, http://www.festivalofchildren.org Lake Eeerie Halloween activities, Fri.-Sat., Oct. 19-20, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, Lake Mission Viejo. Limited to lake association members and their guests. Call or visit the website for information, 949-770-1313, ext. 311, or http://www.lakemissionviejo.org Old World Village Oktoberfest through Oct. 28, German bands, dancing, beer, German food, Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 895-8020, http://www.oldworld.ws Michaels, ongoing and new classes: sewing, painting and crafts, 25310 Marguerite Pkwy, Mission Viejo, (949) 770-5001, http://locations.michaels.com/CA/MISSION-VIEJO/8513/index.html Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, ongoing and new classes, 26672 Portola Parkway, Foothill Ranch, (949) 588-7420, http://joann.shoplocal.com/joannsalesflyer/Default.aspx?action=entry&pretailerid=-99845&siteid=228&storeID=2412281 |
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Political and Government Events Calendar Moulton Niguel Water District meetings: Engineering and Operations on Mon., Sept. 17, 9:00 a.m., Finance and I.T. on Wed., Sept. 19, 9:00 a.m., Board of Directors on Thurs., Sept. 20, 5:30 p.m., 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-2500, http://www.mnwd.com/board-of-directors/agenda.aspx Saddleback Republican Assembly, Thurs., Sept. 20, 7:00 p.m. Guest speaker will be John Moorlach, Orange County Supervisor, Second District. 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 on Fri., Sept. 21, 7:30 a.m.; Board of Directors on Wed., Sept. 26, 7:00 p.m., 26111 Antonio Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 459-6420, http://www.smwd.com Concert at the Richard Nixon Library, Sun., Sept. 23, concert pianist Jerry Wong. 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) 364-1161, http://events.nixonfoundation.org/concerts/ South Orange County Community College District Board of Trustees, Mon., Sept. 24. 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 Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees regular meeting on Mon., Sept. 24, 7:00 p.m., district office, 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/ Orange County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tues., Sept. 25, 9:30 a.m., 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., Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m., “if necessary.” On Tues., Oct. 9, the district will hold a board workshop to discuss board policies (open to the public) at 4:30 p.m. and a regular board meeting at 6:30 p.m. District office, 25631 Peter Hartman Way, Mission Viejo, (949) 586-1234, http://www.svusd.k12.ca.us/ El Toro Water District meetings: Engineering, Finance, Insurance Committee on Tues., Sept. 25, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.; Board of Directors on Thurs., Sept. 27, 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. ETWD, 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, (949) 837-0660, http://www.etwd.com/ Wake Up America! Sun., Oct. 7, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tea Party and other conservative and reform-minded groups are presenting speakers and live music: Dennis Prager, Bill Whittle, Stephen K. Bannon, Mark Meckler, Alfonzo Rachel and rock band Madison Rising at the West L.A. Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd, West L.A., 90024, http://www.WakeUpAmerica2012.com Mission Viejo Chapter of ACT for America, Mon., Oct. 8, program to be announced, Norman P. Community Center, 24932 Veteran’s Way, Sycamore B Room, Mission Viejo. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Meet Larry Elder at the Nixon Presidential Library, Thurs., Oct. 18, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Live KABC radio broadcast, free admission, Richard Nixon Presidential Library, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, (714) 364-1120, http://nixonfoundation.org |
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The Buzz SOC912 is presenting a candidate forum on Fri., Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m., Christian Mission Church, 27812 Forbes Road, Laguna Niguel. Candidates include Cathy Schlicht and Ed Sachs for Mission Viejo City Council, Andrew Blount, Bill Hunt and Dr., Raghu Mathur for Laguna Hills City Council and Jim Gardner, Dwight Robinson and Adam Nick for Lake Forest City Council. For information, contact Steve Magdziak, (949) 874-1258, steve@volantiscorp.com *** Rasmussen announced the latest presidential polling numbers, with Romney at 47 percent and Obama at 46 percent. The three-day tracking poll was posted on Sun., Sept. 16. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2012/president/us/general_election_romney_vs_obama-1171.html *** Summary of Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, Prop 30: vote NO. Political analyst Dr. Barbara Stone writes, “PROPOSITION 30 is Governor Brown’s four-year sales tax increase of ¼ cent and seven-year income tax increase of 1% to 3% on high income tax payers. Since we already have a 1% surtax on anyone making over $1 million, this would make the top rate in California 13.3%. All the money would go into the state general fund. The measure should be considered in conjunction with Proposition 38; even if they both pass, only the one with the highest vote will take effect. The current state budget is built on the assumption this one will pass. There are major problems with this measure. It affects the top 1 per cent of filers, who already pay 40% of the state’s Personal Income Tax. These people make most of their money from investments and businesses, not wages and salaries. The fact that the state already depends on them so much is what is leading to the wild swings in state income in bad times. Furthermore, these people can and do move out of state; Tiger Wood doesn’t live here anymore. It is short sighted, stupid policy aimed at solving a very short-term fiscal problem.” *** City administrator Keith Rattay gained prominence during the Easelgate fiasco of several years ago. Rattay got tangled in his own web about who built hundreds of easels for a city festival and how much they cost. After a watchdog photographed the trashed easels on city property, Rattay tried to convince the public that volunteers had built them. Not so. Public records showed city contractor Jamie Clark built all of them. A blog reader recently inquired why no one had followed up on leads about Rattay’s other activities. Here’s the original complaint about Rattay, which was emailed to this blog: “ … Jamey Clark Inc. also goes by the name Complete Detail. Someone should look into how many times Rattay sent them to work on his church in Irvine on the city’s dime. What about a past city contractor, C+D Electric, doing work on Rattay’s home?” Other allegations surfaced about city maintenance funds being used for parties and festivals, and the practice of falsifying billing records. It is true, watchdogs didn’t follow Rattay’s money trail to Irvine. *** There are not enough watchdogs to investigate all of City Hall’s shenanigans. As an additional obstacle, City Manager Dennis Wilberg effectively put a gag order on Saddleback Valley News. That’s why SVN editor Freda Freeman stopped publishing letters to the editor that had anything to do with city politics. Instead of investigative reporting, SVN only aids Wilberg with puff pieces and weekly photos of Dave Leckness, Frank Ury and other pro-government mouthpieces. The OC Register’s cub reporter assigned to Mission Viejo does not write anything unfavorable about City Hall, as per Wilberg’s orders. This blog captured Wilberg’s emails to Freeman and OCR personnel when he demanded they cease publishing negative news. With City Hall’s full-page ads at stake, the newspapers complied. *** Idea on creating jobs from a blog reader: when dealing with customer service or technical support, if a company’s representative is difficult to understand, ask their location. If is Bangladesh or any other foreign place, ask to speak with a supervisor in the United States. Imagine the economic difference it would make if corporations transferred their customer service and technical support departments back to this country because of popular demand. *** Mission Viejo Tea Party Patriots are endorsing and supporting the Oct. 7 rally, “Wake Up America.” Republicans, Tea Partiers and other conservatives are uniting to present speakers and live music: Dennis Prager, Bill Whittle, Stephen K. Bannon, Mark Meckler, Alfonzo Rachel and rock band Madison Rising, at the West L.A. Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd, West L.A., 90024, http://www.WakeUpAmerica2012,com |
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