"Best," "not-so best" list for 2012 posted
Here’s my annual “best” and “not-so-best” list for 2012:
Most appreciated return of a cherished community tradition: Craig Hall and Carrie Buck led volunteers in restoring the Fiesta Day parade and activities after a three-year absence.
Best news for students and parents: Proposition 30’s passage will negate the need to add four more furlough days to an already shortened year at Placentia-Yorba Linda campuses.
Best decision by voters: The election of two new City Council members in November promises to add fresh, more diverse perspectives to the governing body’s deliberations.
Best election news: “Negative” City Council campaigns prove to be less effective when the targets are well-known and highly respected throughout the community.
Best vote by a new City Council member: Gene Hernandez mercifully put the police contract issue to rest by casting a sensible deciding vote to not reopen talks with Brea.
Saddest loss to city government: Longtime resident and employee Steve Rudometkin’s retirement as City Manager. He’ll now hear appeals to run for the City Council in 2014.
Worst electoral trend: City Council candidates keep their own skirts clean with positive advertisements, mailers and robo calls, while friends and followers finance an avalanche of negative material against opponents through “political action committees.”
Most troubling trend: After a couple of election cycles free from outside contributions, cash-rich unions, builders and real estate interests are back in this city’s political arena.
Least transparent City Council action: A 3-2 vote kept a closed-session audio tape that would have revealed the real reason for a past City Manager’s resignation under wraps.
Oddest election statistic: Of five female City Council members, only one served a second term. Carolyn Ewing didn’t run again in 1976, and Keri Wilson lost in 2006, Jan Horton in 2010 and Nancy Rikel in 2012. Barbara Kiley won a second term in 1996 by 16 votes.
Most fascinating ballot face-off: Will political adversaries Jan Horton and Nancy Rikel run for City Council seats now occupied by John Anderson and Tom Lindsey in 2014?
Earliest political announcement: In remarks he made after being sworn in for a fifth City Council term Dec. 4, Mark Schwing referred to the 2012 election as his “last campaign.”
Best example of bureaucracy: The city’s Redevelopment Agency, created in 1983, was dissolved Feb. 1, but winding down the debt and other obligations could take until 2040.
Narrowest escape from a recall election: The effort to recall Councilman John Anderson gathered 7,856 signatures out of 8,668 required, most collected in the city’s recall history.
Least progress on pension reform: Despite talks, the city continues to pay employer and employee contributions to PERS for city employees and City Council members.
Most reader response: Columns dealing with affordable housing, Town Center and City Council salaries and benefits drew the most email and comments from readers this year, the highest yet for reader reaction. Also, thanks for the many words of encouragement.
Most appreciated return of a cherished community tradition: Craig Hall and Carrie Buck led volunteers in restoring the Fiesta Day parade and activities after a three-year absence.
Best news for students and parents: Proposition 30’s passage will negate the need to add four more furlough days to an already shortened year at Placentia-Yorba Linda campuses.
Best decision by voters: The election of two new City Council members in November promises to add fresh, more diverse perspectives to the governing body’s deliberations.
Best election news: “Negative” City Council campaigns prove to be less effective when the targets are well-known and highly respected throughout the community.
Best vote by a new City Council member: Gene Hernandez mercifully put the police contract issue to rest by casting a sensible deciding vote to not reopen talks with Brea.
Saddest loss to city government: Longtime resident and employee Steve Rudometkin’s retirement as City Manager. He’ll now hear appeals to run for the City Council in 2014.
Worst electoral trend: City Council candidates keep their own skirts clean with positive advertisements, mailers and robo calls, while friends and followers finance an avalanche of negative material against opponents through “political action committees.”
Most troubling trend: After a couple of election cycles free from outside contributions, cash-rich unions, builders and real estate interests are back in this city’s political arena.
Least transparent City Council action: A 3-2 vote kept a closed-session audio tape that would have revealed the real reason for a past City Manager’s resignation under wraps.
Oddest election statistic: Of five female City Council members, only one served a second term. Carolyn Ewing didn’t run again in 1976, and Keri Wilson lost in 2006, Jan Horton in 2010 and Nancy Rikel in 2012. Barbara Kiley won a second term in 1996 by 16 votes.
Most fascinating ballot face-off: Will political adversaries Jan Horton and Nancy Rikel run for City Council seats now occupied by John Anderson and Tom Lindsey in 2014?
Earliest political announcement: In remarks he made after being sworn in for a fifth City Council term Dec. 4, Mark Schwing referred to the 2012 election as his “last campaign.”
Best example of bureaucracy: The city’s Redevelopment Agency, created in 1983, was dissolved Feb. 1, but winding down the debt and other obligations could take until 2040.
Narrowest escape from a recall election: The effort to recall Councilman John Anderson gathered 7,856 signatures out of 8,668 required, most collected in the city’s recall history.
Least progress on pension reform: Despite talks, the city continues to pay employer and employee contributions to PERS for city employees and City Council members.
Most reader response: Columns dealing with affordable housing, Town Center and City Council salaries and benefits drew the most email and comments from readers this year, the highest yet for reader reaction. Also, thanks for the many words of encouragement.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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