GOP Summons Leece For "Ethics" Probe
KNEE-JERK REACTION
Well, it sure didn't take long to find out what the Orange County Republican Party hierarchy thought about Wendy Leece's votes last night. I'm sure she knew that her decision to support the bargaining unit contracts would get her some flack, but today she found out what the first burst of flack will be.
ETHICS PROBE TOMORROW
(OUCH!)
Leece has been summoned before the Ethics Committee at Republican Party Headquarters tomorrow, Thursday, at 3:00 p.m. to "discuss your vote last night and the promise you made to the Central Committee members at the September 20th meeting."
CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION IN QUESTION
According
to correspondence provided to me, she will consult with Costa Mesa City Attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow before attending the meeting to determine just how much of her decision-making process she can discuss with the Ethics Committee without violating confidentiality rules. Apparently, some of what was discussed in that abrupt closed session meeting last night came into play as she deliberated about her position. And, she will take an attorney with her to the meeting.
GOP HEAVY HAND
Once again the heavy hand of the Orange County GOP shows itself. Obviously,
their attempts to intimidate her via emails and voice mails over the weekend and by having GOP operative Jon Fleishman perch right in front of her last night to give her the old "stink eye" didn't have the anticipated outcome. Nope, Wendy did what she felt what was best for the city and voted, along with Katrina Foley and Gary Monahan, to approve the agreements and the resolution for the executive staff.
BEVER AND MANSOOR - ZOMBIES
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The vote was not easy for any of them - except for Eric Bever and Allan Mansoor, who are not burdened with the need to actually consider issues because their party tells them what to think and what to do. They could just do their zombie routine and vote the party line, and not consider the damage it will do to the city. How very nice for them.
A LOT ON THE LINE
For Leece, Foley and Monahan, though, the decisions they made last night were gut-wrenching. Each of them, but Leece and Monahan in particular, laid a lot on the line when they cast their votes. It was clear to any observer in the audience last night that they each agonized with the decision and weighed it carefully before pushing that button on the dais.
GOP RETRIBUTION
Wendy Leece has much to lose. It appears that she will certainly lose any support for her re-election run for the next week. Whether the OC GOP decides to do more than simply not support her is unclear. It is quite possible, considering their tactics in this election so far, that they might take an active anti-Leece role in the remaining days before the election on Tuesday. I wouldn't be surprised.
MONAHAN DESERVES KUDOS - AND BUSINESS
Monahan also has a
lot on the line. He's not as tight with the GOP bosses, but he does have a struggling restaurant to operate. We'll see how many customers actually understand that what he did with his votes last night was best for the city right now. I hope they will reward his courage by increasing their patronage of his gin mill - he deserves it.
WAITING...
So, now we wait for the decision of the Orange County Republican Party Ethics Committee. Will they scold Wendy, censure her or attempt to toss her out of the party? What other punishment might they dish out to her for not following the party line - which could have led to the bankruptcy of our city, by the way. We'll see...
GOP ETHICS?
Come to think about it, that "Ethics Committee" has probably been pretty darn busy lately if the shenanigans of certain members of the GOP in Costa Mesa are any indication. Intimidation via threatening letters, abuse of power at the DUI checkpoint, frivolous claims of police misconduct, etc. In fact, the very phrase "GOP Ethics Committee" seems kind of oxymoronic.
SHE EARNED MY VOTE
I do know one thing, though. Over the past year Wendy Leece has shown much more gumption than I expected. She's been more conciliatory and seemed to try to work more on actual resolution of issues and not get stuck in the quicksand of party dogma. All of this has been good for the city. A year ago I probably would have told you I wouldn't vote to retain her on the council. Not so today. This afternoon, when my absentee ballot went in the mail, it carried my vote for Wendy Leece for City Council.
Well, it sure didn't take long to find out what the Orange County Republican Party hierarchy thought about Wendy Leece's votes last night. I'm sure she knew that her decision to support the bargaining unit contracts would get her some flack, but today she found out what the first burst of flack will be.ETHICS PROBE TOMORROW
(OUCH!)Leece has been summoned before the Ethics Committee at Republican Party Headquarters tomorrow, Thursday, at 3:00 p.m. to "discuss your vote last night and the promise you made to the Central Committee members at the September 20th meeting."
CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION IN QUESTION
According
to correspondence provided to me, she will consult with Costa Mesa City Attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow before attending the meeting to determine just how much of her decision-making process she can discuss with the Ethics Committee without violating confidentiality rules. Apparently, some of what was discussed in that abrupt closed session meeting last night came into play as she deliberated about her position. And, she will take an attorney with her to the meeting.GOP HEAVY HAND
Once again the heavy hand of the Orange County GOP shows itself. Obviously,
their attempts to intimidate her via emails and voice mails over the weekend and by having GOP operative Jon Fleishman perch right in front of her last night to give her the old "stink eye" didn't have the anticipated outcome. Nope, Wendy did what she felt what was best for the city and voted, along with Katrina Foley and Gary Monahan, to approve the agreements and the resolution for the executive staff.BEVER AND MANSOOR - ZOMBIES
.jpeg)
The vote was not easy for any of them - except for Eric Bever and Allan Mansoor, who are not burdened with the need to actually consider issues because their party tells them what to think and what to do. They could just do their zombie routine and vote the party line, and not consider the damage it will do to the city. How very nice for them.A LOT ON THE LINE
For Leece, Foley and Monahan, though, the decisions they made last night were gut-wrenching. Each of them, but Leece and Monahan in particular, laid a lot on the line when they cast their votes. It was clear to any observer in the audience last night that they each agonized with the decision and weighed it carefully before pushing that button on the dais.
GOP RETRIBUTION
Wendy Leece has much to lose. It appears that she will certainly lose any support for her re-election run for the next week. Whether the OC GOP decides to do more than simply not support her is unclear. It is quite possible, considering their tactics in this election so far, that they might take an active anti-Leece role in the remaining days before the election on Tuesday. I wouldn't be surprised.
MONAHAN DESERVES KUDOS - AND BUSINESS
Monahan also has a
lot on the line. He's not as tight with the GOP bosses, but he does have a struggling restaurant to operate. We'll see how many customers actually understand that what he did with his votes last night was best for the city right now. I hope they will reward his courage by increasing their patronage of his gin mill - he deserves it.
WAITING...
So, now we wait for the decision of the Orange County Republican Party Ethics Committee. Will they scold Wendy, censure her or attempt to toss her out of the party? What other punishment might they dish out to her for not following the party line - which could have led to the bankruptcy of our city, by the way. We'll see...
GOP ETHICS?
Come to think about it, that "Ethics Committee" has probably been pretty darn busy lately if the shenanigans of certain members of the GOP in Costa Mesa are any indication. Intimidation via threatening letters, abuse of power at the DUI checkpoint, frivolous claims of police misconduct, etc. In fact, the very phrase "GOP Ethics Committee" seems kind of oxymoronic.SHE EARNED MY VOTE
I do know one thing, though. Over the past year Wendy Leece has shown much more gumption than I expected. She's been more conciliatory and seemed to try to work more on actual resolution of issues and not get stuck in the quicksand of party dogma. All of this has been good for the city. A year ago I probably would have told you I wouldn't vote to retain her on the council. Not so today. This afternoon, when my absentee ballot went in the mail, it carried my vote for Wendy Leece for City Council.
Labels: Allan Mansoor, Eric Bever, Gary Monahan, Katrina Foley, Wendy Leece
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 10/27/2010 08:09:00 PM
32 Comments:
I was under the impression that city council was supposed to be a non partisan position.
Actually, mike k, not too long ago it was. Then the Westside Improvers brought us Chris Steel and partisanship. It's been downhill ever since. Very sad... this situation with Wendy is the worst, most overt, in-you-face intrusion into our governance that I've seen.
With this county central committee, I think the concept of an "Ethics Committee" is somewhat of an oxymoron.
Maybe they should do something important like looking at the DA and PG.
Bruce Krochman, do I hear an echo there? :-) Way down at the bottom of the entry...
Geoff, enough with the "abuse of power at the DUI checkpoint" BS. That isn't what happened, and you know it - you posted and transcribed the audio! Jim Righeimer stopped, spoke with the officers for just over a minute and left. He didn't demand that it be shut down, he didn't berate anyone, he did NOT abuse any power.
Stating your opinion is one thing, but misrepresenting facts is a whole different story. You weren't there, I wasn't there, but the audio makes it pretty clear what actually happened.
Wendy deserves what she gets. She ran for OCGOP. She begged for their endorsement and got it. I'm glad she's being held accountable for a terrible vote. We took our Leece yard sign down today!!
I will certainly be supporting Leece. If for no other reason, just for having the moral courage to be her own person.
It has been a long time since I have been in Skosh Monahan's. Seems like I am overdue for meal there. I'm glad you even mentioned that Geoff.
I will be re-registering as an Independent after this election cycle. I'm tired of the GOP shenanigans.
After this election I will officially change my party affilitaion from the GOP to "decline to state"...I am getting tired of the party hacks trying to ruin our city.
Geoff -- just like you I wasn't going to vote for Leece, but now I will.
Geoff,
It seems from your reporting that you were in attendance at the special council meeting but I didn’t see you at the podium expressing your views. Can you explain how you often encourage all your blog readers to go to important city meetings and provide an opinion about the subject at hand but never get up the personal courage to publicly tell our elected officials and the interested citizens just how you think?
Some of us that read your blog find it curious that you seem to always avoid the public light to use your three minutes to tell our officials what you think. What are you afraid of? Why do you hide out and only use only your blog or letters and comments the Pilot to tell those that read these two sources how you think? Why are you not more like Mr. Millard and willing to go on camera at city meetings and tell the world what is important to you? You are very critical of Millard and yet he doesn’t seem to be afraid to spend his three minutes to tell the city council and us just how he thinks on city issues – why are you so shy?
Interestingly, those who tried to watch the proceedings on Time-Warner Cable channel 24 were out of luck for the first part of the meeting. The cable service was interrupted at about 6:15 P.M. and didn’t get restored until well after 9 P.M. Fortunately for me I was able to see the meeting online but several people I know weren’t able to do the same for lack of computer access.
Rob Dickson, once again we disagree with events. This, however, is my blog - a place where I present my views, and yours, too.
hammertime, in fact, I was there last night and did, for the first time, intend to speak. However, since I'm still fighting a cold and probably couldn't make three minutes without coughing up a lung and several other speakers covered every topic I hoped to cover, I deferred. I was among more than one hundred other folks who did not step to the podium Tuesday - did you? No? Why not? We each do what we do.. that's how it works. I don't have to meet any arbitrary standard for "performance" that others set. I write what I write and if folks like it they stop in to read it. If they don't that's how it goes. I'm happy you've visited the site, but if you don't care for my views or presentation you will not show up, right?
That other guy just likes to hear himself talk. He's a frustrated bad actor looking for a stage. I've watched him for years - he's become a caricature of himself and less relevant as each day passes. People really don't buy into his racist blather - or do you?
A little rouge and hair dye can go a long way. Just ask Alan "Just for Men" Mansoor and Jim "Face Rouge" Righeimer. Have you seen Steve Mensinger's Gucci glasses? They are totally fab! The GOP has come a long way from Abe Lincoln's disease infested beard and worm holed top hats. It is not about politics, it is about fashion! Vote for the candidate with the best makeup job, vote Jim Righeimer!
Pot Stirrer, OC Register endorses Jim Righeimer!! People in Costa Mesa read the OC Register, not the Daily Pilot blogs!! Didn't see Wendy's name in there or that other guy with the DUI arrest. Way to go Righeimer, it's a tremendous honor.
I told this story on this blog before, but think it deserves repeating under the circumstances. I do not agree with Monahans political beliefs, but he will always have my vote for city council because I trust him as a man of true character.
One time I had a few too many at his restaurant, left my car in the lot and took a cab home. When I wen to fetch it the next day, it had been towed. The reason was, I was parked in front of the Growers Ranch loading dock. The sign mentioning "no overnight parking" was covered up by another advertising artichokes at .89, so I didn't see it. The tow cost me $150 or something to get my car back. I wrote Gary hoping nobody else would have my bad luck and mentioning that really everyone was to blame, me for not knowing there was no overnight parking, him for not making his patrons aware, and Growers for covering up the sign.
He wrote back that he talked with the Growers people and they wouldn't post specials over the sign and would increase the wording to make the notice more apparent. He also sent me a $50 gift certificate hoping that I would continue to frequent his restaurant...and a personal check covering the entire tow bill! it was above and beyond what anybody had a right to expect, and shows what kind of a person he is.
So I might make short jokes, and comment that I am 180 degrees opposed to some of his viewpoints, but I will alwyas give him my support for city council.
City Council elections being 'non-partisan' just means there is no ballot slot designated for a Republican or a Democrat. This eliminates a primary election. Otherwise only people registered 'decline to state' could ever run in a non-partisan race.
Geoff, I hope you're felling better. We need you for Chris and Katrina and Wendy!
Rob Dickson:
Don't take the audio alone for the context of the entire incident. The recorders weren't running from the very instant the contact began. It stands to reason that the contact with Mr. Righeimer was therefore not recorded in it's entirety. I for one would like to see the report made public, so that the officer's written reports as to Mr. Righeimer's statements could be clear. It's a matter of context more so than the actual quotes.
In any case, it's old news, and does little except show a glimpse of Mr. Righeimer's true personality and character. Nobody likes a "hot head".
Les:
I hate the fact that my own party is "eating their own". I always thought the Republican party to be the party of civil liberties. You know, hold to our constitutionally supported freedoms with less intrusion. Apparently Miss Leece's right to freely express her opinion and stand by her belief is only permissible as long as it falls in lock step with the party line. I don't want a party of lemmings who blindly follow only what they are told to follow. If that has become the core principal of the Republican party, it's time I choose "decline to state" or "Libertarian".
@Righeimer's Cosmetologist - LIPSTICK ON A PIG! HAHAHHAH!
Officer Dimel, speaking of the DUI incident again, whatever happened to those officers who leaked that information to the press? Were they disciplind for breaking department policy? How come no one ever talks about that? Pile-on Righeimer while the police break our rules. Becoming commonplace in our Police Department.
RE: Oxymoronic
Hahaha Geoff! Yes, definitely an echo!
I will admit that I have never completely aligned with the Republican Party. I really tend more toward Libertarian, but they really don't stand much of a chance in most elections and I am closer to the Reps than the Dems on many issues.
Still, I find the apparent party requirements for discipline in the ranks very disturbing.
VOTE WENDY!
i have known her for several years and she is a person of conviction.
Geoff, like you i have been a life long republican. this whole farce brings the continuation of that into question.
Gary voted the right way in this case too.
Of course Geoff wont speak before the city council he wouldn't be able to misrepresent material facts. Your a 1 trick pony.
Bubbling Cauldron, we just got a call from "Costa Mesa First" PAC saying to vote for Wendy Leece and Chris McEvoy as the conservative candidates for Costa Mesa. Since when is Chris McEvoy conservative? I thought he wasn't accepting campaign contributions? Those calls cost a lot of money. What gives here? This whole thing stinks. I think I'm voting for Righeimer only. Can you help?
I'll work backwards on this one (some say that's my perpetual state)
Conflicted, it is my understanding that McEvoy did not solicit help from Costa Mesa First, a PAC formed by former Mayor Sandra Genis and some others to provide campaign enlightenment on, primarily, Measure "L". Yes, I did contribute $500 to it - part of the public record - which was specifically earmarked for Measure "L" activities. You have to follow your conscience with your vote. You're paying attention, so your vote will be an informed decision. Personally, I wouldn't sacrifice one of my two votes in the council election just because our racist-laureate - The Mouth From Mesa North - advises you to do so. We have a thin field this year, including 3 carpetbaggers. Even so, my choices became more clear as the campaign progressed. As glib, charming and connected Righeimer may be, it doesn't offset - in my mind, at least - the damage he's willing to do to our city to remain in favor with his pals at the OC GOP. Nope, can't do it.
eastside wig, as I've said before, we each do what we do. Besides, if I'm a 1 trick pony that's not all that bad if the trick is a good one...
Terry Shaw, thanks for being persistent and sending your message the second time - it was worth the effort. :-)
Bruce Krochman, I understand the problem, believe me! I don't disagree with most of the local GOP platform, it's their style and apparent willingness to throw loyal members under the bus that really irritates me. You end up with only lock-step lemmings like Mansoor and Bever filling the ranks. Very sad, indeed.
Thomas, so, you perpetuate the DUI lie too, huh? Shameful. Some folks actually do read the Daily Pilot and it's blogs. I read them all, but have a tough time with the Register online stuff because there are too many nut cases and foul-mouths who post there - can't get through the comment threads.
Righeimer's Cosmetologist and and Marty Kohn, Funny, but pretty tacky stuff. I'd prefer to keep this dialogue at a little higher level.
Les, I'll let Rob Dimel continue to engage you if he likes...
NOTE TO ALL: When I tried to "publish" that comment above I got a dialogue box saying it was "too long to publish". I assumed it would not appear - Wrong! I think some of you have encountered that, too, recently. However, each of those have actually gone through. So, if you send me a long note here and you get that box, please wait before breaking your comment into pieces and re-submitting. I think Google Blogger is just messin' with us. I'll try to review the comments and post them as quickly as possible. Thanks...
Theres too many republicans in Costa Mesa. The city is going to hell.
nancy, hey, hey, hey, girl! Watch that! Not all of us Republicans are arrogant bridge-burners who will lay waste to the countryside to perpetuate the party dogma! Some of us are nice, cuddly fellas who actually DO care about our city. Thanks for your thought, though. No messing around for you - get right to the point.
BC - there are 2 things that don't make sense. You claim to be a repub but act 100% like a democrat. What gives? Also, somebody asked you what your regular day job was and you would only saying consulting. Consulting what?
Jonah, what doesn't make sense to you? Is there a template for Republican behavior? Look, I'm a resident and taxpayer in the City of Costa Mesa first.... My concerns are for the well-being of this city and it's residents - all of them. I've been a registered Republican all my voting life, sometimes voting the party line if it seemed appropriate and not when it didn't. If a bunch of mindless lemmings are just following the LOCAL party line and, by doing so, will drag over the cliff with them, then I won't follow the party line. The OC GOP has insinuated itself into our city politics and we've suffered for it. They're trying to use their heavy hand to control our elected leaders to the detriment, in my opinion, to the safety and stability of our city. That regular day job is long gone. If you believe that racist clown at the CM Press, I sit in my underwear in a cave, wearing a tin foil hat. Actually, he's not far off.. In my working life I was an HR guy while in industry and spent the last two-thirds of my career as an independent consultant, doing mostly retained executive search. I was pretty good at it, made plenty of money and retired early. Anything else I can do for you? Want my hat size?
I've been a lifelong, dyed-in-the-wool liberal Democrat and I sent my absentee ballot in a few days ago with a vote for a Republican: Wendy Leece. She has become a voice of reason.
OK, Flo, that's 2 votes for Wendy... now we'll see.
Her inquisition today was canceled - scheduling problems, I'm told. Don't know what that means now - maybe they will lynch her in absentia! :-)
Officer Dimel, thanks. I have to go with what I heard - which included, essentially, both hello and goodbye statements. I'm not sure what else could have been said. I agree, it would be great to see the whole investigation and answer all of the unanswered questions.
Good idea Rob.
There IS much MORE than reported!!!
CuriousGeorge
You said "There IS much MORE than reported!!!" in your last response to Rob Dixon.
Please, tell us what "MORE" you know and what or who are your sources.
If you have specific reliable information about the check point incident then tell us the details.
We are all courious too. Or are you just blowing smoke?
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