It's time to start running

If you think you could do a better job running Yorba Linda than the current City Council members, now is the time to begin preparing your candidacy for the Nov. 7 election ballot.

Two positions on the city’s five-member governing body are available this year, but both Ken Ryan and Keri Wilson are expected to seek re-election to the seats they now occupy.

Although you can’t file nomination papers until July 17, to be a serious contender, you must start securing financial support and begin lining up endorsements within the next few weeks to credibly challenge Ryan and Wilson, who were running-mates in 2002.

Before the end of last year, Ryan banked $11,846 for his third-term bid, and Wilson won’t be far behind, as she builds a campaign account for her run for a second term.

You should realize that some of the city’s past ballot battles, in 2000, 2002 and 2004, cost the winners from $25,000 to $40,000 each, for incumbents and challengers alike.

And you might discover that it’s nearly impossible to run a winning campaign on small $50, $100 and $200 donations from friends and neighbors, so you might consider turning to developers or others with deep pockets for financing, depending on your viewpoints.

But remember, don’t donate any money to your own campaign--list your contributions as loans, so that you can eventually use donations from other people to pay yourself back.

Of course, understand that your loans might turn into contributions, especially if you lose the election and can’t attract additional money to pay off those loans. The city is littered with past candidates whose campaign accounts still show debts they owe to themselves.

Also understand that incumbents benefit from a large number of opponents, who would split up what is expected to be a larger-than-usual anti-incumbent vote this year. Two or three well-financed challengers have a better chance to win one or both of the two seats.

And don’t be dismayed if you come in third. Mayor Mike Duvall might win his state Assembly race, and council members could appoint you to his seat after the election.

Even better, Duvall could resign his council seat if he wins the Republican nomination in the June 6 primary, thus allowing voters to select three council members in November.

This year’s election will be an especially spirited contest, due to controversy over Town Center redevelopment and the recently rescinded zoning ordinances. So above all, be ready with clear stands on issues relating to commercial and residential housing density.

A FINAL NOTE--Aside from the thanks of a respectful community, council members each earn a small salary with health and assorted benefits worth about $26,000 annually.

The council salary is $500 per month, plus $30 for each Redevelopment Agency meeting. Benefits include medical, vision, dental and life insurance payments, as well as workers compensation and Medicare premiums, auto and phone allowances and a retirement plan.

They also earn per meeting payments if they serve on the county’s Fire Authority ($100), Sanitation District ($170), Vector Control Agency ($100) and the Toll Road board ($120).

Outside money comes in

Sadly, again this past year, individuals and businesses located outside of the city donated about twice as much money to municipal candidates and causes as Yorba Linda residents.

Outside sources contributed nearly $60,000 to the campaign treasuries of Councilman Ken Ryan and Citizens and Taxpayers to Restore Old Town Yorba Linda, a group that opposed the grassroots drive to overturn the City Council’s Town Center zoning laws.

The only contribution to the cleverly named Citizens and Taxpayers group was $50,000 from Creative Housing Associates, Michael Dieden’s Los Angeles-based firm that prepared development proposals for Old Town.

The group’s expenditures included $21,538 for mailings and advertising and $17,069 for professional services, including $11,058 to consultant Dennis DeSnoo’s Santa Ana-based firm, which previously worked in election campaigns for all five sitting council members.

The developer’s mailings included controversial letters signed by four current council members and Chamber of Commerce president Gary Carter. The developer also paid for telephone calls from individuals claiming to represent the chamber.

Ryan’s $10,598 included $9,749 from 37 individuals and businesses mostly associated with development, planning and similar enterprises, all listing addresses outside the city. His Yorba Linda donations totaled $700 from two individuals and three businesses.

Ryan, the chief cheerleader for Dieden’s downtown redevelopment project, might face a tough battle in his bid for a third term this November. His beginning-of-the-year balance of $11,846 is about a third of the amount he’d need to fight off a credible challenger.

By contrast, Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment, the group that gathered more than 9,000 signatures opposed to the council’s new zoning rules, had only one non-Yorba Linda address among its 48 contributors.

YLRRR’s contributions totaled $28,247 in cash and $5,618 in materials and services for last year. The group spent $10,758 to print 170 petition books, $5,000 for consulting services and $4,534 for mailings and advertising.

Matt Guptill, an engineer and owner of the Olinda Street home and office built in 1926 by Dr. Richard Cochran, was YLRRR’s largest contributor, writing checks for $6,600. He also donated the buttons, banners and signs used for the petition campaign.

Other large YLRRR contributors included longtime Old Town homeowner Jane Adams ($3,100), ERA Real Estate owner Walt Tamulinas ($2,000), Pete Sioson ($1,500), Nancy Rikel’s Starlight Express ($1,000) and Louie Scull’s Yorba Linda Plumbing ($1,000).

Since the petition campaign ran through January, further contributions and expenses might be in reports covering the first part of this year, which are due by July 31.

A FINAL NOTE--Developers and others who favor extending the 241 Toll Road south to the San Clemente area have a stake in Ryan’s upcoming re-election bid, since he needs to hang on to his council position to remain on the toll road’s board of directors.

Ryan supports a controversial extension plan, and his leadership position on the board might draw contributions to his council campaign from entities also backing the project.

For too many years now, various interest groups seem to be more interested in influencing who we elect to our council than the citizens who moved here to enjoy the city’s lifestyle.

Success of petition drive will have wide ramifications

In just 21 days a grassroots group of political neophytes changed this community’s civic landscape for the better by gathering nearly 10,000 signatures on petitions seeking to overturn the City Council’s developer-pleasing Town Center zoning regulations.

The petitioners included both longtime residents and relative newcomers working to preserve Yorba Linda’s rich rural heritage and low-density lifestyle. Their devotion to this city’s historical essence will have the following short- and long-range impacts:

--Current council members are vulnerable if they seek re-election this November and in 2008, despite their proven ability to attract significant campaign cash from deep-pocket developers and other individuals and businesses whose profits depend on council votes.

The costly anti-referendum campaign backfired, as the developer-funded council and Chamber of Commerce letters and phone calls actually drew residents to the petitions.

In future elections Yorba Lindans will look carefully at who is paying for the signs and colorful mailers purchased by candidates. Funding from developers and their political action committees will be a liability rather than an asset in the coming council contests.

--Mayor Mike Duvall’s campaign for a state Assembly seat has taken a bit of a hit in his own backyard. Although he can’t vote on Town Center issues because of his Old Town property, he’s made clear his support for the current developers and their proposals.

A few residents jokingly say they’ll vote for Duvall to get him off the council, but his manipulative rules changes during the council’s public comment periods angered many.

And some Main Street merchants were not impressed with Duvall’s “damage control” visits the day after the high number of petition signatures caught City Hall by surprise.

--The folksy-named Old Town Yorba Linda Partners face bigger problems, even if they present less-dense residential and commercial plans and withdraw their silly proposal to “reposition” historic buildings to make room for more condominiums and businesses.

Countless petition circulators and signers can testify that the developers violated their original mission statement (which is strangely absent from their redesigned Web site): “We shall always have and show kindness toward Yorba Linda residents, will be affable, be compassionate, and always act in a refined manner.”

Council members need to show respect for their constituents and rescind the exclusive negotiating agreement with the Partners and look elsewhere for development proposals. Certainly, the developers’ recent actions have spoken louder than their pretty words.

--Chamber of Commerce leaders have lost the good will of many citizens and some of their own members. Of course, chamber officials represent the city’s business interests, but businesses need support from residents who treasure the city’s low-density identity.

A Final Note--Council members who first took office in 2000 are still claiming credit for the CNN/Money magazine listing of Yorba Linda as the country’s 21^st best place to live.

They should gather surviving members of the 1970s councils, who were really responsible for establishing the policies that led to the nationwide honor, for long-belated recognition.

And happy Groundhog Day: let’s hope the council sees more sunshine than darkness.