Candidates wise to pledge against donations from out-of-town interests
Surprisingly, only three of the nine individuals seeking City Council seats pledged to not take campaign contributions from out-of-town special interests, including developers and city contractors, in the candidates’ statements to be mailed to voters later this month.
The statements are important, since they are included with the sample ballots mailed to all of the city’s 41,650 registered voters along with where-to-vote information from the county’s Registrar of Voters.
Campaigns financed with generous help from outside-the-city developers and the other individuals and businesses whose profits depend on council decision-making have long raised the hackles of many Yorba Lindans.
And developer interest in who sits on the council hasn’t ended with “build-out” because of upcoming decisions on affordable housing, in-fill projects, a General Plan update and an expected builder challenge to the law requiring a public vote on major zone changes.
In fact, one of the reasons for the big wins by challengers John Anderson and Jan Horton in the 2006 council contest is the strong stand they took against accepting donations from developers and individuals and businesses with city contracts.
This year, challengers Ed Rakochy, Nancy Rikel and former Councilman Mark Schwing took the vow, and the other six candidates would be wise to reassure residents by making similar pledges.
Also, six contenders specifically supported “low-density” or decried “over-development” in their statements, which cost $1,800 each for printing and translation to four languages.
Rakochy, Rikel and Schwing, along with Mark Abramowitz, Hank Wedaa and Jim Winder, made the popular density pledges, which have been issued by virtually all council winners since 1970 but to varying levels of actual application in recent years.
In other council election news:
--Four sitting council members signed petitions nominating candidates for office: Anderson signed for Rakochy, Rikel and Schwing; Horton for Wedaa; Wedaa for Abramowitz and Winder; and Winder for Wedaa and Doug Dickerson.
--Three city commissioners signed petitions: Planning Commissioner Mark Abramowitz for Wedaa; Planning Commissioner Jim Wohlt for Abramowitz, Wedaa and Winder; and Traffic Commissioner Mary Carbone for Rakochy, Rikel and Schwing.
--All nine candidates filed routine economic interest statements, but only Winder listed gifts he received in 2008: a $125 golf outing from Placentia-Linda Hospital for a Boys and Girls Club benefit and a $65 golf outing from Black Gold Golf Club for media day.
--Last day to file a write-in candidacy is Oct. 21: see City Clerk Kathie Mendoza at City Hall.
The statements are important, since they are included with the sample ballots mailed to all of the city’s 41,650 registered voters along with where-to-vote information from the county’s Registrar of Voters.
Campaigns financed with generous help from outside-the-city developers and the other individuals and businesses whose profits depend on council decision-making have long raised the hackles of many Yorba Lindans.
And developer interest in who sits on the council hasn’t ended with “build-out” because of upcoming decisions on affordable housing, in-fill projects, a General Plan update and an expected builder challenge to the law requiring a public vote on major zone changes.
In fact, one of the reasons for the big wins by challengers John Anderson and Jan Horton in the 2006 council contest is the strong stand they took against accepting donations from developers and individuals and businesses with city contracts.
This year, challengers Ed Rakochy, Nancy Rikel and former Councilman Mark Schwing took the vow, and the other six candidates would be wise to reassure residents by making similar pledges.
Also, six contenders specifically supported “low-density” or decried “over-development” in their statements, which cost $1,800 each for printing and translation to four languages.
Rakochy, Rikel and Schwing, along with Mark Abramowitz, Hank Wedaa and Jim Winder, made the popular density pledges, which have been issued by virtually all council winners since 1970 but to varying levels of actual application in recent years.
In other council election news:
--Four sitting council members signed petitions nominating candidates for office: Anderson signed for Rakochy, Rikel and Schwing; Horton for Wedaa; Wedaa for Abramowitz and Winder; and Winder for Wedaa and Doug Dickerson.
--Three city commissioners signed petitions: Planning Commissioner Mark Abramowitz for Wedaa; Planning Commissioner Jim Wohlt for Abramowitz, Wedaa and Winder; and Traffic Commissioner Mary Carbone for Rakochy, Rikel and Schwing.
--All nine candidates filed routine economic interest statements, but only Winder listed gifts he received in 2008: a $125 golf outing from Placentia-Linda Hospital for a Boys and Girls Club benefit and a $65 golf outing from Black Gold Golf Club for media day.
--Last day to file a write-in candidacy is Oct. 21: see City Clerk Kathie Mendoza at City Hall.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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