I just received the following “press release” from the committee to recall Mission Viejo councilman Lance MacLean. Apparently he has taken a visible role in this ongoing effort.
Press Release
MacLean Harasses Recall Volunteers
Mission Viejo, CA May 13, 2009 – On May 9, embattled Mission Viejo Councilman Lance MacLean attempted to block signature gathering at a storefront. The incident occurred when two volunteer workers were asking Mission Viejo residents to sign the petition to recall him.
In response to the recall effort, MacLean and a handful of people who support him have either harassed volunteers or made threats of violence against those gathering signatures. On Saturday morning, MacLean approached the petitioners’ table and tried to block their activity.
Dale Sandore, a longtime community member, was one of the volunteers asking residents to sign the recall petition. He said, “When Lance came to our table, I asked him if he’d like to sign the petition to remove himself from office. We had recall signs on the table, so our purpose was clear. MacLean instead came to harass us or block residents from signing the petition. He stayed for approximately 10 minutes until another volunteer, Matt Corrigan, got out his camera. At that point, MacLean attempted to leave before he could be photographed.”
MacLean’s effort to avoid being photographed was seen by the recall group as acknowledgement he knew he was wrong to interfere. Corrigan took MacLean’s picture as he was trying to get away from the table.
Sandore added, “While sitting next to us, Lance said he wanted to give his side of the story to residents. He’s had six years on the council to do that. I told him that those who voted him into office felt betrayed. He lied to us and misrepresented himself in his campaign. Matt also told him that being in office gives him the bully pulpit, whereas residents get only three minutes during public comments at council meetings. MacLean has had plenty of opportunity to express himself, and blocking signatures at our table isn’t the place to do it.”
MacLean and his supporters have used bullying and intimidation to interfere with signature gathering. Threats made by MacLean supporters have been reported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Last week, an OCSD officer interviewed a witness and filed the report as a terrorist threat. In each case, MacLean, his family members or others approached recall tables without any signature gatherer speaking to them.
Recall spokesman Dale Tyler said, “MacLean is trying to thwart the constitutionally protected process of recall by intimidation. His actions during the last six years prove that his approach to conflict is to belittle his critics. We’ve had enough and intend to give the voters a chance to remove him from office. It is quite instructive that his supporters use the same tactics of bullying and intimidation that he does.”
Tyler announced that the recall effort reached the halfway point on May 4 with the collection of more than 4,650 signatures. Approximately 9,300 valid ones are needed by the Aug. 25 deadline.
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For information, call Dale Tyler, spokesman for the Lance MacLean Recall, (949) 360-1717.
MacLean has to go, and it’s good to see the tide has turned against him. His ungraceful departure has become amusing. He isn’t in the category of Susan Withrow and Sherri Butterfield, but he’s getting there.
Lance was always impetuous. Too bad nobody dug up his record at UCI before electing him.
Mission Viejo resident.
While there were many of us who worked diligently to remove former councilmembers Withrow and Butterfield, to the best of my knowledge neither of them ever chocked a co-worker and had to be restrained by three or four police officers.
I think he is just a few short steps away from losing it!!!
Larry, you’re right without a doubt (Lance is the first council member to choke a co-worker). My comment should have stayed on point that MacLean is a risk in the community, on the council and in the workplace.
Bigmarkod.
Lance must have skipped the League of Cities new council member class where they were taught not to let the public see you sweat.
One of my city council mentors, prior to Al Gore inventing the Internet or blogs, told me that every elected official runs out the front door in their PJ’s to pick up the morning paper to see if their name appears in a negative light.
So to keep this story on the front pages, especially the blogs that more people in Mission Viejo are reading, Lance MacLean sets himself up and his photo is taken by a volunteer as he stands by a recall table. For someone who was in management at UCI he is not very bright.
As the volunteers have exceeded the half way count of registered voters signing the recall petitions he must be starting to panic.
Cathy Sclicht needs to go before she brings our local government to a complete standstill.