Political engagement is high

This year is shaping up as one of the most active political times in Yorba Linda’s 39-year history, with only the spirited debates during the 1970 and 1972 elections rivaling the current citizen concern about future residential and commercial development.

And again at stake is this city’s identity as a refuge from the higher-density and traffic-generating projects approved by other City Councils throughout North Orange County.

Forces already are preparing for the two key political battles remaining this year: the June 6 ballot on the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land-Use Amendments initiative and the Nov. 7 election for two positions on the city’s five-member governing body.

City Council members and individuals and businesses associated with the building and development industries are expected to fight the initiative--which would give voters the final say on major changes to city planning documents--with a tooth-and-nail ferocity.

Meanwhile, leaders of the grass-roots group Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment hope to raise enough cash in small and medium-sized donations from citizens to finance several mailers to voters explaining the initiative’s many merits.

Also underway is a behind-the-scenes struggle to select two credible candidates to run against incumbents Ken Ryan and Keri Wilson in the November City Council election.

YLRRR members are expected to endorse and help finance the campaigns of individuals who meet a list of criteria currently being developed during the group’s public meetings.

Last year, Ryan banked $11,846 for his campaign, mostly in $250 contributions from outside-the-city individuals and firms involved in planning, designing and building. Ryan and Wilson need to raise close to $30,000 each for their re-election efforts.

In 2002, Ryan shared some of his campaign cash with running-mate Wilson. The pair also made joint appearances and hired veteran political consultant Dennis DeSnoo.

The busy DeSnoo also worked for Jim Winder in 2000, Allen Castellano and Mike Duvall in 2004 and former downtown developer Michael Dieden in 2005 and 2006.

Residents also vigorously debated development issues before contentious elections in 1970 and 1972, with voters making especially wise, long-lasting decisions both years.

The ’70 voters turned out three of the city’s original councilmen, replacing them with a slate of low-density candidates, who claimed incumbents weren’t listening to residents.

The ’72 voters added two new members to form a unanimous low-density council and approved a historic General Plan that most succeeding councils used to guide future residential and commercial development in both Yorba Linda’s older and newer areas.

Hopefully, voters will continue their streak of wise decision-making, as they carefully consider the important issues involved in the upcoming initiative and council campaigns.

A FINAL NOTE--Council members admitted they’ve lost the trust of too many residents as they grappled with procedures for selecting members for the ballyhooed “blue ribbon” commission to study ideas for the future direction of Old Town area redevelopment.

Instead of choosing the members themselves, the council will ask 23 city organizations to each select a representative to the body, thus avoiding leaving what council members said would be their “fingerprints” on group’s membership.