Eye on SJC
Uso Targeted by Hit Pieces Mayor blames firefighter union By Jonathan Volzke The Capistrano Dispatch
M
ayor Lon Uso was the first victim of a hit piece in the 2010 political season, as a glossy mailer resurrecting a 10-year-old misdemeanor driving-while-intoxicated landed in mailboxes, although with other pieces saying he wants to tax children and supports illegal immigrants. The mailers were full of half-truths, innuendos and inaccuracies. The union representing the firefighters was linked to the company that created them, and the other eight candidates in the Capistrano race were quick to condemn the tactic. Uso said the pieces only affirmed his desire to keep office and continue fighting the union over pension costs and efforts to eliminate the volunteer firefighters. The first mailer brought up a 1999 arrest in which Uso ultimately pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, but was found not guilty of another misdemeanor, driving with a blood-alcohol level of more than .08. According to Superior court records, he paid $1,351 in fines and was on three years probation. The mailer does not give the date of the violation and says Uso hired a “highpriced attorney” to fight the charges. Uso was represented in the case by Capistrano’s Steve Rios. The mailer says that Uso expensed a couple of alcoholic drinks on the city tab while traveling on a city-related trip with two other council members in 2007. The mailer’s return address lists a Del Obispo Street mailbox drop, and says it was paid for by “Taxpayers for Safer Neighborhoods.” State-mandated campaign-finance forms show that group has two contributors in recent months: $21,600 from Western Cement Co. of California and $5,000 from the Orange
CUSD Candidates Discuss Decision Making (Cont. from page 8) But effective governance is much more complicated than just doing what the voters want. The responsibilities of the board include setting the long-term vision, direction and policies of the district, establishing an effective and efficient structure for the school district (superintendent and staff), ensuring accountability to the public, and acting as community leaders. The role of the board is to be responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of its community, but it is also limited by funding provided by the state budget and is inextricably bound by the State Education Code. Working with the Superintendent as a governance team, the board must keep the district focused on learning and achievement for all students, operate openly with trust and integrity, and govern in a dignified and professional manner, treating everyone with civility and respect. As an elected trustee during economically stressful times, difficult and potentially
County Professional Firefighters Association. The form also shows a $2,000 payment to Powers Communications of San Juan Capistrano. The city received a public information request regarding reimbursements to Uso from a Brandon Powers in August. Powers is a former Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Jeff Miller and known as a campaign operative. It would not be surprising for the firefighters union to target Uso—they filled City Council chambers last year when Uso supported the volunteer firefighters program, which the union wants eliminated. Uso sat on the OCFA board of directors as Capistrano’s representative. He no longer represents the city on the panel. “I believe that it is the firefighters union whose fingerprints are all over this. Joe Kerr, the union boss, told me that he would put resources against me for messing with his plans to kill the Reserve program and to stop their pension abuse during my short tenure on the OCFA board,” Uso said. “This is union payback.” Two calls and an email to union leader Joe Kerr were not returned. The other pieces said Uso wanted to tax school children—referring to so-called “head taxes” at JSerra and St. Margaret’s schools—and that Uso supported the immigrant-empowerment group, CREER. In reality, the first head tax, on JSerra, was enacted before Uso even took office, and Uso has voted to ensure CREER pays nearly market rate on its city-leased office. Other candidates were quick to condemn the tactic. “I know nothing about this and I do not believe anyone on my campaign had anything to do with it. That is as firm as I can be,” Kramer said in an email. “Consider it to be an absolute denial of
unpopular decisions are inevitable. The challenge will be to ensure opportunities for the diverse range of views in the community to provide input to the board, while maintaining a broad and balanced vision. Employees, students, parents and community members have a reasonable expectation to be heard, and will be more willing to accept decisions of the board when they have been part of the process. Open and honest communication will be the key to maintaining the trust of the public. ELLEN ADDONIZIO Certified Public Accountant, www.cusdfacts.com People are elected to public office on the basis that they reflect the values and core beliefs of their constituency. As such, within legal and financial constraints, decisions of the public servant should reflect the community values and priorities.
Page 10 • The Capistrano Dispatch • October 22–November 11, 2010
Campaign mailer by “Taxpayers for Safer Neighborhoods”
any involvement. Not my style.” Reeve called the piece “down-right slime.” “There is a difference between negative campaigning and dirty campaigning. This is down right slime. Myself, Jim, and Clint had nothing to do with this,” Reeve said. “I am sorry Lon and his family have to go through this. Come on, we are all better than this!” Added John Taylor: “I have no knowledge of this and I can assure you that no one in my campaign had anything to do with this. I did sign the form and this is not how I do things. By the way, the address for my campaign is 31878 Del Obispo St., Suite 118-492. I notice on the hit piece that they left out the box number.” Victor Schneider, a first-time candidate, called it “politics as usual.” “I had nothing to do with this. My thoughts on it are that smear tactics never work, they are offensive, unnecessary and are not in true competitive spirit. More politics as usual it seems. To attack any candidate and any past discretions is lame. We all have made mistakes and no one is perfect.” Mark Nielsen was targeted by hit pieces four years ago. “Having been the victim of repeated hit pieces like this in the past, I can tell you my utter contempt for this kind of
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LARRY CHRISTENSEN Capistrano Unified School District, Governing Board Member, www.cusdfacts. com “Fortunately we still live in a republic where the power of government rests in the body of its citizens, yielded by their vote. This is never to be taken lightly, for any elected official was voted into office by a majority of citizens who trust that person will best represent their views and not be swayed by the loudest special interest group. People are tired of politicians who base decisions upon what will keep them in office, regardless of how that decision affects the constituents through the generations. An elected official does best by not being a politician, by not
campaigning,” Mark Nielsen said. “It is far worse than the misrepresentations and false claims that have been recently thrown about by some candidates and their camps. I am appalled that anyone would attack a candidate in this way, especially with information that has no relevance to the campaign, but is only intended to cause personal pain and divert the voters from the real issues. “My good wishes go out to Lon and especially his family. I know from my own experience the great pain this causes to our loved ones who already suffer from the time public service takes away from them. It is unfair and is a reason that so few qualified citizens will even attempt to serve in public office. I trust the citizens of San Juan Capistrano will focus on the real record of our candidates and ignore this kind of garbage.” Clint Worthington also responded: “ Myself, Jim or Derek would not do anything like this. Absolutely not. I am happy to call out Lon on City Council decisions he has made or issues he takes a stand on that I disagree with but, this kind of politics is dirty and disgusting and not necessary. “The most important focus is that we stick to City Council issues. That is it plain and simple, nothing else.” Candidate Jess Lopez also said it was out of bounds and unfair. CD
doing what he or she “feels” is best, but by what mandate is given for a platform by the majority of the citizens. This holds true for any office, be it the president of The United States or a local school district trustee.” LYNN HATTON Small Business Owner, www.hattonforcusd.com Ideally a person is elected because the voters believe the candidate will do a good job, based upon their background and values, representing their constituent’s best interests. At the same time, to be an effective leader, one must continually seek input and engender collaboration. If an environment of trust, mutual respect, accountability and transparency is present, the decisions the elected officials make and the opinions of their stakeholders will, most often, be in lockstep. CD www.thecapistranodispatch.com