Let's
remember Yorba Linda in 2016:
Most
promising political future: Tara Campbell, 23-year-old USC grad and
youngest-ever City Council member, tallied 15,253 votes,
fourth-highest in city history. Allen Castellano still leads with
16,879 in 2004, with Mike Duvall at 16,400 in 2004 and Mark Schwing
at 15,380 in 2012.
Strangest
political twist: Craig Young topped the voting for a county GOP
Central Committee post in June, with Tara Campbell running seventh
for six positions. Campbell led the count in November for City
Council, with Young placing fourth for three positions.
Most
consequential City Council election: While women have held a
majority of seats on the local school board for several decades, this
year produced the first female-majority council in city history, with
Tara Campbell, Beth Haney and Peggy Huang making up the historic
trio.
Best
look into the future: A third General Plan, following 1971 and 1993
documents, lays out a 20-year guide for development that envisions a
16 percent increase in population from 67,637 to 78,389 and an 18
percent jump in housing units from 21,958 to 25,871.
Best
vote by a lame-duck water board member: Recalled director Gary
Melton cast the only vote against a $25,225 raise to $216,900 yearly
for General Manager Marc Marcantonio in a Nov. 21 meeting, the last
before four new directors took office Dec. 8.
Most
stunning election result: Republican Ling Ling Chang's loss by 2,498
votes overall and 3,185 in Orange County's portion of District 29 to
Josh Newman, first Democrat to represent this city in the state
Senate since Harry Westover served the entire county, 1937-1941.
Best
example of an effective community action group: Leaders of Protect
Our Homes and Hills maintain a laser-like focus on issues related to
the 480-home Esperanza Hills and Cielo Vista projects, achieving
impressive results without resorting to name-calling.
Best
continuing trend: Again this year a record number of Placentia-Yorba
Linda school district
students took Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate
exams with pass
rates (AP 83 percent, IB 96 percent) well above state, national and
global averages.
Most
dramatic vote increase: This city's support for Donald Trump jumped
from 45 votes in the 2000 primary for the Reform Party presidential
nomination that was open to all voters to 20,611 he won as the
Republican nominee this year. Hillary Clinton's total was 12,232.
Best
remake: The new Nixon library galleries are drawing more visitors to
the city's most historic site, but the update didn't include an
outhouse the former president told past director and city resident
John Taylor the family used before adding indoor plumbing.
Most
vexing problem: Finance Director Scott Catlett has noted the city's
$14.9 million unfunded pension and $15.3 million unfunded
post-employment benefits liabilities, as he develops options to
target the obligations.