On December 7th, John Anderson’s term as Mayor and Nancy Rikel’s term as Mayor Pro-tem will expire.  The new City Council must decide who becomes the new Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem.

In Yorba Linda, the City Council nominates and votes for the Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem every year during the first meeting in December.  More times than not the Mayor Pro-tem is chosen to be the new Mayor.  Two years ago this did not happen.  The Anderson, Schwing and Rikel council majority vindictively denied Councilwoman Jan Horton the opportunity to be Mayor even though she had been Mayor Pro-tem.

During an election year being Mayor is a coveted position that can account for a  5 -10% bump in votes.  This was part of John Anderson’s strategy for his own 2010 re-election bid.  He made it a point of having Mayor John Anderson on his signs, campaign literature, ballot statement, and website.

I predict that  John Anderson will be Mayor for another  year and Councilman Mark Schwing will be the new Mayor Pro-tem.

Why would I think this?

This will position Mark Schwing to become Mayor for his 2012 re-election to the City Council.  Tom Lindsey will then become Mayor Pro-tem and then Mayor in  2013.

This brings us full circle in four years when John Anderson, if he decides to run again, will be Mayor for his 2014 re-election bid.

So what happened to Nancy Rikel and Jim Winder you might ask?

Jim Winder is will be termed out in two years and has no influence with the new four member council majority.  They have no reason to make him mayor again.

Councilwoman Rikel will be the sacrificial lamb so to speak. There is little doubt that Anderson and Schwing cringe at the prospect of spending a year under the “leadership” of a Mayor Nancy Rikel.

Nancy Rikel has not shown any of the spunkiness she displayed for decades prior to her election to the City Council. She has become a cheerleader for the status quo who continually announces “I second that motion” in response to any motion made by Schwing or Anderson.  The unscripted Nancy Rikel seems to be lost unless Anderson or Schwing provide her with clues on how they will be voting.

If my prediction is wrong and there is a Mayor Rikel then City Council meetings should be more entertaining in a kind of perverse John Gullixson redux sort of way.  If I am right . . . who cares?

Share a comment with your picks.

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.

When YLRRR first formed, I was there. When the name was chosen, I was there (it was my idea). When the name was adjusted later to accommodate other issues, I was there (that name was mine, too).  I was at every board meeting, every general meeting, and behind most of the events planned by YLRRR.

Our group was diverse, energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate.  We each had strengths to bring to the group.  My strengths were to keep the big picture in mind, to analyze actions and words for unintended consequences, and to remind everyone that we always needed to take the high road.  Together, we accomplished a great deal to inform and involve the public in local government activities.

When it came to the 2006 election, we vetted all candidates after they pulled papers and chose to support the two that most closely represented what we had been fighting for – candidates that believed in low-density, transparent government, and listening to the citizens. Those candidates were Jan Horton and John Anderson, who both won.

The Hortons left the board, as was the proper thing to do.  The honeymoon was short.  Fairly soon after the election, the rest of the board decided that Jan Horton no longer deserved support.  The board started arguing with me, as well, as I was the only one left who was still talking to Jan.  I was perplexed, as I cannot imagine batting 1.000 with anyone when it comes to voting on issues.  I was happy for .850 rather than .100 with the previous council.

As time went on, relations became more and more strained.  In March of 2008, the board of YLRRR decided to support candidates for the November, 2008 election, months before candidates pulled papers. Instead of vetting those who chose to run, YLRRR made the decision to control who ran.  Since I had severe issues with this radical change of ideology, I resigned.

Since I left, it appears that no one who was involved wanted to keep the greater good, big picture in mind, and that the high road was off the table.  In fact, in looking at the attacks in the current election, it seems to me that the current YLRRR has morphed into what the old YLRRR worked so hard to fight. There is less transparency, more conflicts, and a lack of manners on the council that is controlled by three members currently supported by YLRRR.

The old YLRRR would have been appalled at the half-truths promoted by the current YLRRR.  An example is the council and the chamber of commerce. Ms. Horton was ostracized by YLRRR and Mr. Anderson early on for approving an amended contract with the chamber with details and a performa instead of the rather loose agreement that had existed for years.  Currently, Mr. Anderson, Ms. Rykel, and Mr. Schwing all enjoy an alliance with the chamber at an even higher level than before.  That is a flip flop that none of them seem to realize.

Mr. Anderson vowed in 2006 that he would sit for one term.  Apparently, on the last day available, he forgot that as he filed papers.  That is a flip flop. And, unlike the Hortons who left YLRRR after the 2006 election, Mr. Anderson and Ms. Rykel are still heavily involved with the group.  So much for transparency.

Therefore, despite my heavy involvement with the old YLRRR, I am no longer a member.  Despite my support for him in 2006, I am no longer supporting John Anderson because his personal agenda has made it impossible for him to make good decisions for the whole city.

Pat Nelson Former Board Member of YLRRR

Background

On November 9th, 2006, after Jan Horton and John Anderson won two City Council seats, YLRRR board member Ed Rakochy wrote:

“The positive publicity from community involvement in this process will benefit any candidate this organization endorses to City Council.  Can you say three person majority?”

Rakochy and others in the new YLRRR inner circle wanted newly elected Councilwoman Jan Horton to appoint Hank Wedaa to fill the vacated City Council seat.  When she refused to be told how to vote, she immediately became persona non grata and her removal from the City Council became YLRRR’s top priority.  Click here for more. Rakochy’s desire for a three person majority would have to be put on hold until the 2008 election.

YLRRR endorsed candidate Hank Wedaa went on to win the 2007 special election.  A year later YLRRR dropped their support for him when he did not vote their way.  Hank became their first priority for removal from the City Council since he was up for re-election the next year in 2008.

The 2008 campaign.

In 2008 there were three City Council seats up for grabs.  Incumbents Hank Wedaa and Jim Winder were running for re-election. Alan Castellano decided not to run again.

Nancy Rikel and Ed Rakochy, both YLRRR board members, and long time YLRRR supporter Mark Schwing, decided to run as a three candidate block for the Yorba Linda City Council.  The plan was to  join Councilman John Anderson and form a four person super majority on City Council.

During the campaign, Mark Schwing, Nancy Rikel, and Ed Rakochy  were supported by both YLRRR and Councilman John Anderson.  All three candidates campaigns were coordinated with Anderson’s positive campaign and YLRRR’s negative campaign against their opponents.  This came in the form of negative newspaper ads, a mailer, and phone calls maligning the two incumbents character and records.

Below I have listed the contributions, expenses and debt incurred by each candidate and YLRRR.

Yes, you read it correctly.  YLRRR and their candidates spent $82,293 to win two council seats.  Ed Rakochy lost by one vote.  They collectively incurred $49,879 in debt.

What did they gain?

Even though Ed Rakochy lost to Jim Winder by one vote, his goal of achieving a three seat council majority was realized.  John Anderson, Mark Schwing and Nancy Rikel, all closely associated with YLRRR board members took control of the City Council. Ed Rakochy returned to his position of running YLRRR so he could continue influencing council decisions and council policy.

Fast forward to the 2010 campaign.

For the 2010 City Council election, YLRRR is supporting John Anderson and Tom Lindsey.  YLRRR board members are closely intertwined in both John Anderson, Tom Lindsey and YLRRR campaigns.  YLRRR board member Matt Guptil is John Anderson’s campaign manager and others in the YLRRR inner circle are actively campaigning for both candidates.

While Anderson and Lindsey are running a joint positive campaign, YLRRR is conducting the negative campaign against Councilwoman Jan Horton.   They know if they can discredit and defeat Councilwoman Jan Horton they can continue their three person majority and possibly  gain a four person council super majority. Click here for more

Below are the contributions, expenses and debt incurred by all three campaign committees through 10/21/2010.

Even though there was two weeks left until the election when these numbers were reported, the per candidate cost is exceeding that of YLRRR’s 2008 three candidate campaign.

The total spent to date to achieve YLRRR board member Ed Rakochy’s goal of maintaining  a  three person majority on the City Council will exceed $136,131.

Why should you be concerned?

• Too much control, power and influence will be placed in the hands of a small, anonymous group of people who lack transparency and accountability.  Think City of Bell.  Click here more more
• John Anderson’s Measure Y does not place limitations on political action committees like YLRRR.  They can essentially launder donations to a council candidate or council member to avoid detailed reporting and accountability. Click here for more
• No political action committee or their members should have this kind of control and influence over our city government.

What can you do?

Elect candidates who represent all Yorba Linda Residents on the City Council.

YLRRR, Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation, would like you to think they are a large organization who represents the people of Yorba Linda. The fact is they are financed by ten people who loaned or contributed money to the group with the balance coming from garage sales put on by the same people.  One is John Anderson’s campaign treasurer.  One is the President of the Yorba Linda Country Riders who wants the city to build a multi-million dollar horse facility.

This group is using their money to purchase newspaper ads and mailers to smear Councilwoman Jan Horton’s record and reputation.  Click her for more

YLRRR supports John Anderson and Tom Lindsey.  Anderson and Lindsey claim they are not responsible for the smear campaign but neither one has denounced YLRRR for using these underhanded and deceptive tactics. This shows a lack of ethics, honesty and transparency on their part.

Below is the latest finance data from YLRRR’s own FPPC 460 campaign finance forms submitted through 10/27/2010 by their campaign treasurer Josefina Sioson.

The Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation (YLRRR) is a small group of local residents whose primary purpose has become to get their endorsed candidates elected to the Yorba Linda City Council and punish those they do not support.  They have taken positions on various city issues and have sought to elect a candidate to the Yorba Linda Water District.

Where did they come from?

They originated from the Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment group that began in 2005 to fight against eminent domain, the high density Town Center redevelopment project, and put Measure B, the Right To Vote Initiative on the 2006 ballot.  Among their leaders and board members during 2005 – 2006 were Jan and Jim Horton.

In 2006 Jan Horton and John Anderson were endorsed and supported by the original group.  Jan and Jim Horton resigned from the group after Jan was elected to the City Council to avoid any conflict of interest.  Click here for more

In early 2007, YLRRR changed their name to the Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation.

Who controls YLRRR now?

There is no public list of YLRRR members or board members.   They do not publish their bylaws.  They seldom if ever have public meetings. Only their treasurer Josefina Sioson, who owns property in the Town Center on Lakeview is named on state required FPPC 460 financial reporting documents.

Some of the known board members are twice- failed City Council candidate Ed Rakochy, Matt Guptil who is Councilman John Andersons campaign treasurer and Tom Lynch.  Other close associates are Jeff Winter, DeeDee Fredrick of the Yorba Linda County Riders, Tony D’Amico, Wally Curl, Dave Rosenberger and Earl Carbone.

How are they financed?

From January 2009 through September 30, 2010 they raised $208 from cash donations and $6,282 from garage sales.

How do they spend their money?

In 2008 they spent $5,023 supporting Rackochy, Schwing, Rikel and Rosenberger and campaigning against Jim Winder.

In 2009 they paid back $2,496 in loans from Wally Curl, Claudine Lynch, Anthony D’Amico, Dave Rosenberger and Electronic Model Systems, which is owned by City Councilman Mark Schwing. They spent $325 for flyers that YLRRR members distributed at grocery stores against the Black Gold Golf Course and the Housing Element.

Through September 30, 2010 they have spent $5,252 to purchase flyers, mailers and newspaper advertising for their smear campaign to discredit Councilwoman Jan Horton who is running for re-election.

What has YLRRR accomplished since 2006?

2007 – Hank Wedaa was elected to the City Council.

2008 – Mark Schwing and Nancy Rikel were elected to the City Council.  Rakochy and Rosenberger lost.

2009 – They paid back their loans.

Which candidates do they support, past and present?

In the 2007 special election to fill the City Council seat vacated by Mike Duvall, the group supported former City Councilman Hank Wedaa.

In 2008, the group supported three candidates; former councilman Mark Schwing, YLRRR board members Ed Rakochy and Nancy Rikel.  If Rakochy had been successful in his election bid , YLRRR candidates would have controlled four of the five council seats and have a voting super majority.

In 2010 they have endorsed John Anderson and former failed City Council candidate Tom Lindsey.  YLRRR is again looking to control four of the five council seats to have a voting super majority.  If successful they will have their eye on 2012 to fill the seat of termed out Councilman Jim Winder.  If that happens YLRRR candidates would have complete control of the City Council.  YLRRR is also supporting John Anderson’s flawed ethics policy, Measure Y.  Click here for more

What happens if candidates do not vote YLRRR’s way?

The group or their associates fund negative campaigns to punish those they previously supported.  They did so against Hank Wedaa in 2008 and now against Jan Horton in 2010 because they refused to be controlled by YLRRR.

Should I vote for YLRRR candidates?

Only if you want the Yorba Linda City Council to be controlled by Council members who are closely aligned with and influenced by  a small anonymous group who lacks transparency and accountability.

Related Links

Jan Horton’s response to allegations and misinformation circulated by her opponents. Click here

Mayor John Anderson’s Ethics Ordinance is an incomplete and gerrymandered policy that should never have gone to the ballot.

This ordinance and measure was rushed to ballot by a council majority-voting block comprised of Mayor John Anderson, Councilwoman Nancy Rikel and Council member Schwing for political purposes to benefit Mayor Anderson’s re-election campaign.

Full Text of Measure Y (PDF) -  Ethics Staff Report (PDF)

Two key components of the measure, Sec. 2.44.050. Adoption of a code of conduct for elected and appointed officials and Sec. 2.44.060. Adoption of a “whistleblower” procedure, were not completed in time and are to be added later by the council as a resolution and ordinance.  Now we will have to trust the politicians to fill in the blanks after we voted.  No thanks, I want to see all of it before I vote on it.  My wife raised objections to this from the beginning.

The most troubling aspect of this measure is that it only targets contributions to council members from someone who is the applicant, the contractor or the direct recipient of the approval involving a license, permit, contract or other land use entitlement.

Measure Y does not prohibit or disqualify a council member from voting who received a contribution $250 or more from neighbors or other parties who oppose an approval involving a license, permit, contract or other land use entitlement.  This seems unfair, wrong and unethical on so many levels.

Ironically this actually did happen. Mayor John Anderson and Councilwoman Nancy Rikel accepted $1,000.00 campaign contributions each in 2008 from an individual who opposed a project near his home and succeeded in stopping the project.   And guess what? Under Mayor John Anderson’s Ethics Measure this will continue to be perfectly legal.  So much for being “honest and ethical”.   A yes vote limits you to a $249 contribution, vote no and you can get a $1,000.00 or more.  How will this law promote ethical behavior in the future?

Measure Y does not prohibit or disqualify political action committees such as Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation (YLRRR) who are independently controlled from taking contributions of $250 or more and giving them directly to council members.  This loophole allows political action committees to launder contributions and circumvent Measure Y.

Measure Y can only be amended by a majority vote.  Any modifications to correct its deficiencies or inconsistencies will require another election costing thousands of dollars at the taxpayer’s expense.  At the very least, the public should have been given a complete measure that does not contain loopholes that benefit Mayor John Anderson, his council majority or the political action committees that support them.

The bottom line is that Measure Y is about politics, not ethics.  Real ethics reform must be complete and not be riddled with political loopholes.  It should have been good enough to be supported by the whole council, not just ramrodded through by Mayor John Anderson and his voting block.  It should have been implemented as a workable solution that was proven to  hold up to the test of time before going to the public for a vote.

I will not be voting for this flawed and incomplete measure.

Click here for Councilwoman Horton’s Comment about Measure Y on her campaign website.