After running one of the nastiest and most partisan campaigns in recent Yorba Linda memory, Anderson, Lindsey and YLRRR now have achieved a City Council super-majority with their new four member voting block. Not since 2005 – 2006 has the City Council have been controlled by a more homogenous group.
Anderson and Lindsey were supported by the North Orange County Conservative Coalition. This group is run by members of the Republican Central Committee. This is a group that operates anonymously like YLRRR. They lack oversight and transparency.
The City Council is a non-partisan position. Its primary purpose is to conduct city business and represent all residents not just Republicans. Anderson and Linsey made it clear they were running on the Republican ticket. Lindsey even disparaged Horton for not being affiliated with any political party.
Anderson, Lindsey and YLRRR not only outspent their rival Jan Horton by a three to one margin, they participated in the smear campaign to discredit her integrity and reputation. Throughout their campaign, Anderson and Lindsey maintained they were not responsible or connected to the negative campaign conducted by YLRRR but the facts tell a different story.
- Anderson’s campaign treasurer, YLRRR board member Matt Guptil, owns property in Town Center and donated over $2,300 to Anderson’s campaign and contributed $1,500 towards the YLRRR smear campaign against Horton.
- YLRRR leader Ed Rakochy contributed design services for mailers and literature to both Anderson and Lindsey valued at $1,440 plus a $200 cash contribution. Rakochy owns property in the Town Center Redevelopment Zone and loaned YLRRR $500 to fund the smear campaign against Horton.
- Lindsey’s last campaign mailer was a direct attack against Jan Horton and contained false statements and was likely designed by Ed Rakochy.
- Lindsey contributed to a YLRRR fundraiser to raise funds for YLRRR’s smear campaign against Jan Horton.
- Those who funded YLRRR’s smear campaign actively supported Anderson and Lindsey and campaigned for them. Click here for more
One of the more poignant moments in the campaign occurred on the morning of November 2nd on election day. Ten Jan Horton supporters were holding her signs and waving at commuters at the corner of Imperial Highway and Yorba Linda Blvd.
John Anderson came carrying a large sign depicting the disgraced Bell City Manager with the words “No Bell In YL”s. Above the large sign, Mr. Anderson held one of YLRRR’s “Horton Opposes Ethics Measure Y” signs but positioned the sign so it read “Horton opposes ethics”. Ed Rakochy, Jeff Winter, Wally Curl from YLRRR also held “Horton opposes ethics Measure Y” signs.
What does this election mean to Yorba Linda?
First of all there will be four City Council Members who are closely aligned to special interests. We will find out soon if they view this relationship as a conflict of interest or whether they will cast their votes in favor of those who contributed to their campaigns.
- Yorba Linda Country Riders President Dee Dee Friedrich is part of YLRRR and wants the city to build $10 – $12 million equestrian facility.
- YLRRR leader Ed Rakochy formed a new group to purchase and restore the Janeway House and other old Town Center houses on Lakeview Avenue. YLRRR’s treasurer Jessie Sioson is treasurer of this group.
- YLRRR’s treasurer Jessie Sioson wants to purchase the Janeway House and other old Town properties for rehabilitation and resale. She also owns property in the Town Center.
- Many who supported the four member majority Council own property inside or adjacent to the Town Center Redevelopment Area.
What will they be voting on in the near future?
To name a few:
- Whether to give away the east end sewer system to the Yorba Linda Water District.
- Whether City owned Town Center houses are historical or just old and can be torn down.
- Whether to sell Town Center properties for rehabilitation to those who contributed to their campaigns.
- Whether to spend millions on a equestrian facility.
- Whether to promote partisan issues for future political gain.
What will change?
Probably not much. For the last two years Anderson, Schwing and Rikel have controlled the City Council. They have wasted money on expensive studies and investigations that went nowhere. The Town Center project has languished as they postpone deciding whether or not old structures are worth saving.
Newly elected Tom Lindsey will undoubtedly continue his lovefest with John Anderson. During the campaign he was completely aligned with Anderson and offered no distinction in positions or views. He jettisoned his integrity along with Anderson when he joined in the smear campaign against Horton. There is no reason to think he will be any different.
Lindsey has said he wants to bring more national issues into the council chamber. Just like Anderson’s Arizona Proclamation, we will find our council waisting time and resources on issues they cannot control and unrelated to city business.
Yorba Linda lost a really good Councilwoman when Jan Horton was defeated. She stood for what she believed was right even when it would clearly harm her politically. She stood up against a flawed ethics ordinance and senseless spending by the council. She refused to respond in kind to the smear campaign Anderson, Lindsey and YLRRR waged against her.
We can only hope this new council will conduct themselves as advertised in an honest, ethical manner, staying away from any appearance of conflicts of interest and represent all Yorba Linda residents, not just those individuals and special interest groups who supported their campaigns.