Record spending on Measure B
The biggest story for Yorba Linda residents from the June 6 vote isn’t the narrow victory for Measure B, the citizen-sponsored Right-to-Vote on Land-Use Amendments initiative.
Actually, the most significant aspect of the election is that so many Yorba Lindans kept an eye on the ball or, in this case, the money behind the misleading No on B campaign.
Outside-the-city forces opposed to the Right-to-Vote initiative set a new, all-time Yorba Linda election record by raising the largest amount of cash in the shortest period of time.
The Laguna Hills-based No on B committee collected $168,500 in just 10 days from May 23 to June 1. By contrast, the grassroots Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment group took five months to raise $18,829.
None of the No money came from Yorba Linda. The 13 deep-pocket donations included $75,000 from a California Association of Realtors political action committee, $30,000 from the Building Industry Association of Southern California and $25,000 each from the California Building Industry Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
The money paid for at least nine different full-color brochures mailed to voters, 17 endorsements on voter guides (costing $10,210), a big cable television advertising buy, Yorba Linda Star ads, recorded and live telephone calls and dozens of street signs.
Again by contrast, YLRRR’s 74 donations for 2006 included just two from outside the city. The contributions were mostly in the $100 range, with only three exceeding $1,000.
Their money paid for two small black-and-white flyers mailed to voters, four paid endorsements on voter guides (costing $2,700), several Star ads and dozens of signs.
(Full financial details won’t be available until July 31, when reports for the first six months of 2006 are due from candidate committees and ballot measure groups.)
Building industry groups are expected to return to the courts to challenge the initiative, but even if they win, the June 6 results will have a significant impact on future Yorba Linda elections, including the upcoming Nov. 7 contest for two City Council positions.
For too many years, incumbents and challengers recruited by incumbents have run expensive council campaigns, partly financed by donations from developers and other individuals and businesses whose profits depend on decisions by council members.
Maybe the money from these mostly outside-the-city special interests will become an albatross around the necks of candidates who solicit this type of support. And maybe voters will favor candidates who accept only small contributions from city residents.
Such a development should appeal to all Yorba Lindans, no matter their opinions on Measure B.
A FINAL NOTE
I remain firmly opposed to recalling council members Allen Castellano, Ken Ryan, Keri Wilson and Jim Winder. Although they’ve made some major mistakes, they needn’t be removed from office before their terms expire this November and in 2008.
But I hope the Stop YL Recall leaders will identify themselves. They’ve e-mailed me that they wish to remain anonymous to prevent attacks by “recall proponents who seem to lack all semblance of courtesy.”
Only the group’s treasurer--a Betty Presley of Rancho Santa Margarita--is named on a form filed with the City Clerk’s office. The local organizers should also step forward.
Actually, the most significant aspect of the election is that so many Yorba Lindans kept an eye on the ball or, in this case, the money behind the misleading No on B campaign.
Outside-the-city forces opposed to the Right-to-Vote initiative set a new, all-time Yorba Linda election record by raising the largest amount of cash in the shortest period of time.
The Laguna Hills-based No on B committee collected $168,500 in just 10 days from May 23 to June 1. By contrast, the grassroots Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Redevelopment group took five months to raise $18,829.
None of the No money came from Yorba Linda. The 13 deep-pocket donations included $75,000 from a California Association of Realtors political action committee, $30,000 from the Building Industry Association of Southern California and $25,000 each from the California Building Industry Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
The money paid for at least nine different full-color brochures mailed to voters, 17 endorsements on voter guides (costing $10,210), a big cable television advertising buy, Yorba Linda Star ads, recorded and live telephone calls and dozens of street signs.
Again by contrast, YLRRR’s 74 donations for 2006 included just two from outside the city. The contributions were mostly in the $100 range, with only three exceeding $1,000.
Their money paid for two small black-and-white flyers mailed to voters, four paid endorsements on voter guides (costing $2,700), several Star ads and dozens of signs.
(Full financial details won’t be available until July 31, when reports for the first six months of 2006 are due from candidate committees and ballot measure groups.)
Building industry groups are expected to return to the courts to challenge the initiative, but even if they win, the June 6 results will have a significant impact on future Yorba Linda elections, including the upcoming Nov. 7 contest for two City Council positions.
For too many years, incumbents and challengers recruited by incumbents have run expensive council campaigns, partly financed by donations from developers and other individuals and businesses whose profits depend on decisions by council members.
Maybe the money from these mostly outside-the-city special interests will become an albatross around the necks of candidates who solicit this type of support. And maybe voters will favor candidates who accept only small contributions from city residents.
Such a development should appeal to all Yorba Lindans, no matter their opinions on Measure B.
A FINAL NOTE
I remain firmly opposed to recalling council members Allen Castellano, Ken Ryan, Keri Wilson and Jim Winder. Although they’ve made some major mistakes, they needn’t be removed from office before their terms expire this November and in 2008.
But I hope the Stop YL Recall leaders will identify themselves. They’ve e-mailed me that they wish to remain anonymous to prevent attacks by “recall proponents who seem to lack all semblance of courtesy.”
Only the group’s treasurer--a Betty Presley of Rancho Santa Margarita--is named on a form filed with the City Clerk’s office. The local organizers should also step forward.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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