This week the absentee ballots arrived in the mail.
A great many people have asked me who I am voting for in this upcoming Mission Viejo City Council Election. My first suggest is to toss out those junk—"paid for endorsements" you get in the mail. Better yet—write REJECTED & RETURN TO SENDER and put them back in the mail box.
I have been an active observer, critic and yes a cheerleader for Mission Viejo since I moved into the community some 26 plus years ago. This year we have a clear choice on our potential council candidates.
With this said there are six candidates running (for two openings) for Mission Viejo city council. Two of these six candidates have not filled candidate statements nor have I ever seen them a council meeting. Therefore I have nothing of value to say about the missing two candidates.
Viable candidates are: Cathy Schlicht, Neil Lonsinger, F. Ury and R. Atkinson.
Both Cathy and Neil have been active in city politics and government. Both Cathy and Neil have been contributors for the betterment of Mission Viejo. Both Cathy and Neil have the time and desire to serve the all of our community---not just the special interests. Cathy and Neil can’t be bought and can’t be bullied!!!!!
I am voting for Cathy and Neil.!!!
I will NOT VOTE for F. Ury or his running mate --- R. Atkinson.
Why NO on Frank Ury
- Frank Ury has been a great disappointment since taking office. He has done nothing for the four years he has been on council. He was even rejected by his fellow council members for the standard rotation into the mayor position. His performance is similar to his school board performance--where he was dumped after one term by the voters.
- Frank joined a number of us who were fighting the Southern California Edison installation of the Viejo System transmission lines. Quite honestly I can see now it was a ploy by Frank Ury to use his friends and not fulfill his promises.
- Frank Ury headed up an Ad Hoc committee to pursue the issue of excess EMF from these Edison power lines. Frank Ury sat on his hands and did nothing to involve the community or get the problem fixed. In other words--MORE broken promises...are Ury's only results. Obviously Frank Ury could care less about the EMF health issues outlined by Sage and Associates in a special report to the city
- Frank Ury voted in a cell tower contract in concert with ATS that is nothing more than a fleecing of the tax payers. It does however take care of him and his buddies along with the special interests they represent.
- Frank Ury just voted to sell very valuable city assets at fire sale prices. Some say this was to benefit his campaign funding.
- Frank Ury claims to be a fiscal conservative--but sat by and watched the expenditures on the Murray Center expansion triple---without saying or doing anything.
- Frank Ury--- voted on Oct 6, 2008 to double his own city salary—all this while city reserves and tax revenue are shrinking due to the present financial crisis. He called those citizens who objected ---“Schizophrenics.”
- Frank Ury lied on his ballot statement concerning the completion of the expansion of Crown Valley Parkway.
Why NO on Rich Atkinson
- Rich Atkinson, until Trish Kelley anointed him seldom if ever attended a city council meeting. Atkinson is Trish Kelley’s planned “auxiliary” to oust/replace Gail Reavis. He has already received major funding from city vendors—highly unusual for a first time/unknown candidate.
- Rich Atkinson while being a Planning Commissioner has made few contributions. The meetings I have attended Rich Atkinson never spoke.
- Rich Atkinson has no understanding of the key traffic issues in the city. When tutored on Modern Traffic Circle-he failed to understand the basic concept of traffic flow and thru put.
- Rich Atkinson has publicly flipped flopped on a number of city issues. Example: He was against the Rose Parade float—before he was for it.
- Rich Atkinson has propagated election tampering charges involving the city of Mission Viejo. These charges have been sent to the Orange County DA, the Grand Jury, and the Fair Political Practices Commission. Charges include stating that the city of Mission Viejo staff endorsed him. This is a violation of the FPPC for all involved. In addition Atkinson appeared before an authorized committee of the city on a non agenda topic/visit…asking “what the council could do for that committee” and making offers he conveniently forgot. That is a violation of the Fair Political Practices Commission rules/standards of conduct.
I will not vote for either Ury or Atkinson who have demonstrated that their core values---are negotiable.
Joe Holtzman
