1990s: a time divided, yet united
(Part 4 of a five-part series)
Even as Yorba Linda’s nearly three decades of explosive population growth slowed considerably during the 1990s, the City Council continued work on the community’s infrastructure, with a variety of major civic projects and recreational facilities completed at a stunningly rapid rate.
However, these impressive improvements often were overshadowed by the public airing of poisonous personal animosities among council members. The bitter feelings became readily apparent as residents began watching the council’s twice-monthly meetings on cable television.
A decade-long array of achievement included the opening of the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in 1990, the public library expansion in 1992, the completion of the Community Center in 1994, what is now the Thomas Lasorda Jr. Field House in 1996 and the Fairmont Bridge in 1998.
The Bryant Ranch Sports Complex, the Eastside Sports Park, the new Adventure Playground and several other outdoor facilities added to the city’s growing recreational resume in the ’90s. Planning for the high-end Black Gold Golf Club also began in the latter part of the decade.
Most controversial, of course, was the Imperial Highway Improvement Project, which involved landscaping and adding lanes to the aging highway north and south of Yorba Linda Boulevard.
The council’s 3-2 split regarding the Imperial improvements, as well as the massive Vista del Verde housing development along the city’s northern rim, symbolized the divided governing body during most of the ’90s, when nearly every issue became entangled in egos, political plots and intrigue.
Soon after a spirited 1990 election, the astute John Gullixson built a solid three-vote majority on the council. Among Gullixson’s allies at various times were Barbara Kiley, Dan Welch and Gene Wisner, who were often at odds with Mark Schwing and longtime member Hank Wedaa.
Residents became aware of the fierce factional rivalry as they watched live telecasts of council deliberations on the city’s new cable channel, which began airing the meetings in the ’90s. Many citizens trooped to the microphone to add their voices to the discord and disharmony.
One evening, a camera caught Wisner using a middle finger gesture during an appointments discussion, and another night saw an example of Gullixson’s superheated rhetoric, as he told his political nemesis Wedaa, “The bottom line is I’m a better man than you. I’m stronger.”
Proponents of the Imperial widening won a 1998 referendum 12,596 to 7,337, with Gullixson leading a developer-financed battle for the hearts, minds and votes of Yorba Lindans. And a couple of years later, the Vista Del Verde homes started appearing on the northern hillsides.
Residents finally got their fill of the constant wrangling when council mismanaged the departure of 27-year City Manager Art Simonian over charges he paid secret bonuses to himself and other management employees. Voters chose four new council members in 2000 and a fifth in 2002.
Today, Wedaa blames the bitter ’90s imbroglios on Gullixson’s ego and arrogance. “Individuals who had policy differences as council members got along well personally until Gullixson came on. He just didn’t understand personal relationships between individuals,” Wedaa said recently.
But Gullixson’s many supporters say the controversial councilman always took the right course of action, even while admitting that his uncompromising attitude cost taxpayers plenty in legal fees.
A FINAL NOTE
Reader Carol Anderson e-mailed me about my Sept. 9 Generations of Change column, which mentioned the role Watergate played in the city’s acquisition of the Nixon library.
Anderson asked, “What did we really welcome into The Land of Gracious Living?” She also wondered, “What does this truly say about the people and the leadership of Yorba Linda?”
Anderson said Nixon’s legacy involves “deceit, betrayal of trust and one man’s quest for power so strong, that he would stop at nothing in order to get elected. I feel that very same energy has been prevalent in the elections and leadership that our city has endured during the last 12 to 14 years.”
Even as Yorba Linda’s nearly three decades of explosive population growth slowed considerably during the 1990s, the City Council continued work on the community’s infrastructure, with a variety of major civic projects and recreational facilities completed at a stunningly rapid rate.
However, these impressive improvements often were overshadowed by the public airing of poisonous personal animosities among council members. The bitter feelings became readily apparent as residents began watching the council’s twice-monthly meetings on cable television.
A decade-long array of achievement included the opening of the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in 1990, the public library expansion in 1992, the completion of the Community Center in 1994, what is now the Thomas Lasorda Jr. Field House in 1996 and the Fairmont Bridge in 1998.
The Bryant Ranch Sports Complex, the Eastside Sports Park, the new Adventure Playground and several other outdoor facilities added to the city’s growing recreational resume in the ’90s. Planning for the high-end Black Gold Golf Club also began in the latter part of the decade.
Most controversial, of course, was the Imperial Highway Improvement Project, which involved landscaping and adding lanes to the aging highway north and south of Yorba Linda Boulevard.
The council’s 3-2 split regarding the Imperial improvements, as well as the massive Vista del Verde housing development along the city’s northern rim, symbolized the divided governing body during most of the ’90s, when nearly every issue became entangled in egos, political plots and intrigue.
Soon after a spirited 1990 election, the astute John Gullixson built a solid three-vote majority on the council. Among Gullixson’s allies at various times were Barbara Kiley, Dan Welch and Gene Wisner, who were often at odds with Mark Schwing and longtime member Hank Wedaa.
Residents became aware of the fierce factional rivalry as they watched live telecasts of council deliberations on the city’s new cable channel, which began airing the meetings in the ’90s. Many citizens trooped to the microphone to add their voices to the discord and disharmony.
One evening, a camera caught Wisner using a middle finger gesture during an appointments discussion, and another night saw an example of Gullixson’s superheated rhetoric, as he told his political nemesis Wedaa, “The bottom line is I’m a better man than you. I’m stronger.”
Proponents of the Imperial widening won a 1998 referendum 12,596 to 7,337, with Gullixson leading a developer-financed battle for the hearts, minds and votes of Yorba Lindans. And a couple of years later, the Vista Del Verde homes started appearing on the northern hillsides.
Residents finally got their fill of the constant wrangling when council mismanaged the departure of 27-year City Manager Art Simonian over charges he paid secret bonuses to himself and other management employees. Voters chose four new council members in 2000 and a fifth in 2002.
Today, Wedaa blames the bitter ’90s imbroglios on Gullixson’s ego and arrogance. “Individuals who had policy differences as council members got along well personally until Gullixson came on. He just didn’t understand personal relationships between individuals,” Wedaa said recently.
But Gullixson’s many supporters say the controversial councilman always took the right course of action, even while admitting that his uncompromising attitude cost taxpayers plenty in legal fees.
A FINAL NOTE
Reader Carol Anderson e-mailed me about my Sept. 9 Generations of Change column, which mentioned the role Watergate played in the city’s acquisition of the Nixon library.
Anderson asked, “What did we really welcome into The Land of Gracious Living?” She also wondered, “What does this truly say about the people and the leadership of Yorba Linda?”
Anderson said Nixon’s legacy involves “deceit, betrayal of trust and one man’s quest for power so strong, that he would stop at nothing in order to get elected. I feel that very same energy has been prevalent in the elections and leadership that our city has endured during the last 12 to 14 years.”
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 AM
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