Before getting your coffee we should all drink some Orange Juice.
Now that I have looked at both candidates web sites I am adding text from Dave Leckness which truly confuses the voters.

To refresh where we have been, and where we are today, let me take us back to the Nov 9th interview where Dave said he was “not for the recall” and “did not sign a recall petition” and is “not familiar with the charges.”
He also said he had “no interest in running for city council in 2008″ yet is jumping in today.

He could have waited until the Nov 2010 election where we will have an open seat as John Paul Ledesma is termed out of office. But that’s not what he is doing.

Let’s now look at some text found on his campaign web site which is truly confusing:

“The second measure asks who should replace Lance MacLean on the city council if the recall passes.  It is important you vote on this measure, because there are substantial differences between my positions and those of the other candidate. I think Mission Viejo is in terrific shape.”

Note. Dave’s last sentence is in bold type.
And now let me take you back to the Nov 9th interview where Dave said “it’s time for a change.”
What are you saying David?
You just said we are in great shape!
If that statement is true, and he is not for the recall, why isn’t he on Lance’s team to oppose the recall rather than spending his own money and time to oppose Lance?
As mentioned above, he could run next year when there is an open seat.

Dave’s time for a change comment can ONLY apply to Lance MacLean. He couldn’t be referring to John Paul, Cathy, Trish or Frank as they are not the subject of this recall election.
Therefore Dave is sending us mixed and confusing messages. If it’s time for a change can you please be more specific? Blame this reporter for my failure to challenge Dave on that single statement. I should have but let him off the hook yet there are readers who say I am hard on Dave and favoring Dale.
Folks. There are times when no matter what you say or do you cannot win. The good news is my fallback to my years as a Rotarian and the very first question of the Four Way Test. No matter what readers say, everything written by me in this series is the truth.

I didn’t challenge Dale on any of his answers? Go back and read the post again.
I challenged him on specific points in his candidate statement. Sadly our local media never questioned Frank Ury after he lied to us about the completion of Crown Valley Parkway that was stated in his 2008 Candidate statement which 60,000 voters received in their Ballot book.
Go back and read my interview.
Let me help you out.
In Dale’s statement, as true for most candidates, they point out their accomplishments or areas that they feel they can do a better job. Dale responded to every question without looking for cover. I challenged him on his comments such as cost overrruns, more open government, examples of self enrichment and balancing budgets. I also asked him to respond to allegations in the hit piece circulating in town with wording that is very close to Dale’s candidate statement and Lance’s rebuttal.

As stated several times I was not a party to the recall activity other than to be one of the last of the 50 plus who signed the petition to commence the process. The fact that Dale Tyler’s name appears first does not mean that he initiated the recall effort.
When I was a candidate for city council in 1994-96 I did not wish to sign in the top spot. I left that space open for high profile people in the city with the expectation that it would give me a bounce in voter acceptance from people who did not know who I am.
In fact neither candidate signed their own nominating papers as one of the 30 names.

Even if Dale started the recall effort, there are many residents who applaud that action. Even Dave Leckness told me that while he “was not familiar with the recall” yet at the same time said “it’s time for a change” speaks volumns.
On paper BOTH Dale and Dave have one issue in common. As candidates they both want Lance to be recalled. If not something is very fishy in the Fulton Fish Market.

This morning candidate Dave Leckness posted a comment saying “The best news is that I’m ready to start.”
However, let me take readers back to his Nov 10th comment of our interview where he admits a lack of knowledge and states”I will get the facts on the questions you asked that I need to make decisions on.”
So in the past 18 days he has studied all the many facets of major policy issues and is now ready to serve.
Hmm. What’s funny is that I was just beat up by an anonymus reader claiming that my interview questions of Dale Tyler were “puff piece” yet this critic did not utter a word about Dave’s total lack of knowledge on some of the very same questions. And to claim that I am biased.

As for Dave’s honesty, ask him who wrote his ballot statement, then decide.

Dave. I never accused you of being dishonest and would stand alongside you if anyone even mentions that point.
From our interview you did say that Susan cautioned you on mentioning her name in your campaign. She and Sherri each carry baggage that hinders, not helps, your chances. She was correct.
Looking forward to an interesting 66 days.
Regards,
A happy Kwik Kopy customer. LG.

Am I in trouble for leaving town to attend the St. Margaret’s 35-0 victory over Aquinas tonight as Mission beat Notre Dame 40-14?
It is always refreshing to get away from politics and this keyboard for a few hours.
No. If Lance get’s recalled I am certain that the council will vote to see who get’s that seat.
A bigger question precedes that vote. The recall election occurs AFTER the annual Dec musical chairs activity in which the council votes among themselves to see who will be mayor and mayor pro-tem for 2010. With three votes the majority may give Lance a going away gift and vote for him to be mayor. As such he will face the recall while sitting in the top banana seat.
If that happens we may be able to report watching the biggest tree in Mission Viejo falling next February.
Watch this action. If he is recalled in Feb Lance can run again in the Nov General Election.
That presents additional commentary. Although he could win in Nov and serve 12 years, they would not be consecutive. Unless I am mistaken he would not be eligible for the lifetime health care benefit with that scenario.
Fullerton Council Member Don Bankhead was recalled in 1994 yet was re-elected three more times beginning right after being recalled. He is currently the Mayor of Fullerton.
As Lance’s term was to end this Nov he or his replacement, depending on the outcome of the recall election, would need to run again.
There is also the question of another council seat as John Paul Ledesma cannot run again due to our term limits.
This fact is overlooked by the recall opponents who attempt to scare voters with the threat of a new council majority taking over the city when no one knows who will take John Pauls seat in Dec.
And no. Lance MacLean will not be interviewed by me. The problem I have is that he lied to not only the voters in his 2002 ballot statement but to me as I issue election voter guides to many people who trust my judgement and recommendations. We at the Republican Assembly endorsed him in 2002 which was the biggest candidate mistake I have ever made. I am not proud of my failure to fully vet him out. Prior to someone becoming an elected official it is impossible to “trust, but verify” them.

Here might be another dumb question, if Lance is recalled and someone replaces him, do they becom mayor-pro tem. Or do they just get the counsil seat. Also do they have to re-run in november if they replace his seat? Just wondering.

Without going back to all the recent comments on my stories I will apologize to you by accusing your questioning that I engage in selective inclussion or exclusion of interview details.
As stated previously my goal is to interview all the candidates in the Mission Viejo recall election. As it turns out only 2 of the potential 4 completed processing the required documentation.
Having interviewed Dave Leckness I have a date to interview Dale Tyler which will be my next post on this recall election.
Lance is not a recall candidate. While he has the final say at our city council meetings, and uses that power to paint one side of the truth at every opportunity instead of focusing on the people’s business, I will not give him any ink on the Juice.
My plan is to provide a point by point response to his reply after the Tyler interview.

Think about your request for a moment. Without your being in the same room when I conduct these interviews you would not be able ” to see how he handles your questions.” As such I could not win. Someone would surely say that I was biased in reporting his answers.
And yes, after all the turkey and deserts yesterday I surely did chill today.