A peek at the YL political scene

Observations on the current political scene:

--Mayor John Anderson told me last week he won’t seek a second City Council term. The decision isn’t a surprise, since an interview reported in this column back in 2007 gave me the impression he would try to accomplish his goals within four years.

“I have no intention of running for re-election,” Anderson stated then. I’ll have more on his retirement and impact on the city in a future column. Filing for his and Jan Horton’s council seats closes Aug. 11.

-A defining issue in the upcoming election could be council’s 3-0 vote for a proclamation supporting Arizona’s illegal immigration enforcement policy. The count of e-mails, faxes and letters to the city since June 1 shows wide support for the council action.

The latest tally stands at 945 for and 34 against, with 311 from Yorba Lindans (split 284-27) and 669 from other places or unknown (split 661-7).

In favor were Anderson, Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing. Horton, not present for the vote, later said she would have abstained, calling the issue “emotional” and “not city business.” Jim Winder left before the vote after speaking in opposition.

Many politicians aren’t sensing the voter anger on the issue and might suffer at the polls for a “fence-sitting” position. A similar voter attitude prevailed with the1978 passage of Prop. 13, which limited property tax valuations and surprised some legislative leaders.

And many Yorba Lindans view the issue as city business with the state taking city cash to repair a big deficit some say is partially caused by services provided “illegal immigrants.”

--Tom Lindsey, a 26-year resident and business owner who chaired “Campaign for Kids” promoting the successful 2002 school bond measure, is joining the race for a council seat.

Lindsey ran in 2000, but his estimable campaign was outgunned by the sizeable cash contributions from developers and political action committees funded by developers parceled out to the winners, especially Allen Castellano and Mike Duvall.

But with growth slowing, 2000 and 2002 were the last council elections to see so much money spent by developers and other outside-the-city interests. Lindsey’s pro-Arizona proclamation and pro-ethics ordinance stances might appeal to voters this time.

--Minutes after a two-hour, 20-minute closed door council meeting July 3, departing City Manager Dave Adams told me the 5-0 choice of longtime resident and 30-year employee Steve Rudometkin as interim City Manger was “brilliant.”

Actually, Rudometkin, a popular and respected leader during his tenure as Parks and Recreation Director, should have been given the top job when 27-year City Manager Art Simonian left, when Terry Belanger retired and when Tammy Letourneau was dismissed.

This time, the city’s revolving door brings more “institutional knowledge” to the position.