What PACs have done locally
Leaders of this city’s most successful locally financed political action committee—Yorba Linda Residents for Responsible Representation—plan to expand the organization’s areas of interest beyond downtown development plans and City Council election endorsements.
YLRRR board member Ed Rakochy said the grassroots group will be active in the several Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad issues affecting the community and the low-profile elections to fill director positions at the Yorba Linda Water District.
The not-so-surprising announcement came at a party celebrating Hank Wedaa’s special election victory for a vacant council seat hosted by Barry and Sharlene Dunn last month.
Many YLRRRers at the gathering were feeling festive about recent election and petition successes, including Wedaa’s win and last year’s John Anderson and Jan Horton council and Measure B land-use initiative victories.
In the past, two other local political action committees endorsed winners; but they were one-man-run enterprises largely financed by developers and others tied to the building industry, in contrast to YLRRR’s success with small donations and volunteer workers.
One committee is Past and Present Elected Officials Representing Yorba Linda, which, despite an all-inclusive name, is administered by former one-term council member and current fourth-term water board director Mike Beverage.
The PAC—still on the books with a $359 bank balance—raised several thousand dollars from developers and building-related businesses to help finance past council campaigns, including some won by Allen Castellano, John Gullixson and Gene Wisner.
Another local PAC was Safe Streets Are For Everyone, run by former Councilman John Gullixson to oppose 1998’s misguided Measure J initiative to halt an Imperial Highway improvement project, with developer cash assisting the pro-widening win.
A non-local PAC aiding ballot victories for Beverage, Castellano, Mike Duvall, Ken Ryan and Keri Wilson with one or more $1,000 contributions was Lyle Overby’s imaginably named but developer-funded Committee for Improved Public Policy.
Other non-local PACs helping to finance campaigns and oppose citizen initiatives recently include several run by the California Association of Realtors, the Building Industry Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
A FINAL NOTE
First to announce as a candidate in next year’s City Council contest is eighth-term Councilman Hank Wedaa—in a June 14 newspaper ad, during the June 19 council meeting and at his June 23 victory party.
Wedaa asked supporters to save the 500 street and yard signs he purchased for the June special election to fill an 18-month council term to use again in the November ’08 vote.
But maybe the “Had Enough?” slogan printed on each sign might not be the best word choice for a re-election race.
YLRRR board member Ed Rakochy said the grassroots group will be active in the several Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad issues affecting the community and the low-profile elections to fill director positions at the Yorba Linda Water District.
The not-so-surprising announcement came at a party celebrating Hank Wedaa’s special election victory for a vacant council seat hosted by Barry and Sharlene Dunn last month.
Many YLRRRers at the gathering were feeling festive about recent election and petition successes, including Wedaa’s win and last year’s John Anderson and Jan Horton council and Measure B land-use initiative victories.
In the past, two other local political action committees endorsed winners; but they were one-man-run enterprises largely financed by developers and others tied to the building industry, in contrast to YLRRR’s success with small donations and volunteer workers.
One committee is Past and Present Elected Officials Representing Yorba Linda, which, despite an all-inclusive name, is administered by former one-term council member and current fourth-term water board director Mike Beverage.
The PAC—still on the books with a $359 bank balance—raised several thousand dollars from developers and building-related businesses to help finance past council campaigns, including some won by Allen Castellano, John Gullixson and Gene Wisner.
Another local PAC was Safe Streets Are For Everyone, run by former Councilman John Gullixson to oppose 1998’s misguided Measure J initiative to halt an Imperial Highway improvement project, with developer cash assisting the pro-widening win.
A non-local PAC aiding ballot victories for Beverage, Castellano, Mike Duvall, Ken Ryan and Keri Wilson with one or more $1,000 contributions was Lyle Overby’s imaginably named but developer-funded Committee for Improved Public Policy.
Other non-local PACs helping to finance campaigns and oppose citizen initiatives recently include several run by the California Association of Realtors, the Building Industry Association and the National Association of Home Builders.
A FINAL NOTE
First to announce as a candidate in next year’s City Council contest is eighth-term Councilman Hank Wedaa—in a June 14 newspaper ad, during the June 19 council meeting and at his June 23 victory party.
Wedaa asked supporters to save the 500 street and yard signs he purchased for the June special election to fill an 18-month council term to use again in the November ’08 vote.
But maybe the “Had Enough?” slogan printed on each sign might not be the best word choice for a re-election race.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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