Which one is the fake?
By: Larry Gilbert, Mission Viejo Reporter
Breaking news. With the summer break in Mission Viejo politics I thought we could have a incident free summer. This latest news would be a first. Mission Viejo Councilman Greg Raths wants to demote Mission Viejo Mayor Cathy Schlicht after seconding the Motion to place her in that post last Dec. Amazing!
There are only 5 or 6 meetings left before the next mayor is selected by their peers.
This proposal reminds me of Speaker Boehner kicking FL Rep.’s Dan Webster and Richard Nugent off the Rules Committee.
Mayor Schlicht is a Christian who has not broken any City laws, Ordinances, nor has she been charged with any Misdemeanors or Felonies. When Greg’s idea to demote her first surfaced at the end of June he told me he would not promote her removal from the center seat and I took him at his word.
Even though appointed by the president perhaps the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should lose his position for his votes on Obamacare or the Same Sex marriage case. My point is that to expect 100% unity on tough votes is a pipe dream. Having known Cathy for 20 years and being deeply involved in her two successful campaigns I can report that she is not a rubber stamp.
Several years ago the former city manager hired a central FL facilitator to get into the heads of the new members of the council. I sat in that workshop and heard Lyle Sumak tell the entire council that “if you are voting 95% of the time 5-0 you are not doing your job. You are not representing everyone in your city.”
Greg wants everyone to get along and not make waves which reminds me of D Assemblyman Rodger Hernandez turning off the microphone of R Assemblyman Matt Harper because he didn’t like what Matt was promoting.
Mayor pro-tem Raths is upset because the Mayor does spot check audits on items on the Weekly Check Registers. No matter where she sits, that is her decision to make and is useful to letting voters know how some of our tax dollars are spent.
Cathy Schlicht
Every year the city of Mission Viejo Rotary Club promotes the Mayors Prayer breakfast . A few days before this year’s event I asked if she was working on her speech. She told me they had not contacted her. At the last minute she was asked to pick a favorite scripture. Can you believe it?
The leadership of the Club, who do not support her, would not even permit the mayor to speak a word at what was billed as a mayor’s prayer breakfast NOR read the scripture she chose. As a former MV Rotary Club member I was disgusted . The Four Way test. “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned” come to mind. Cathy attended that event and accepted the slap. She has never missed an event in our city to honor our military.
There are numerous points that could be made in support of keeping Cathy being professional in serving as our mayor.
Looking at a prior mayor I offer the following. Cathy has NEVER put in for re-imbursement for city business travel . A former mayor requested and was reimbursed for a toll road charge to attend a local resident’s funeral in Newport Beach. Cathy and I were there.
The mayor has only missed one meeting (circa 21012) since she was first sworn in. She supports public input. As mayor she has never cut off the 3 minute time to address the council and has not responded when a speaker has verbally attacked her. Simply look at the last or next to last meeting video. One of her peers commended her for keeping the meeting short rather than going on late into the night. Granted Agenda’s and public participation impact the duration of any council meeting.
Mayor Schlicht has not changed from her approach at council meetings for the six years leading up to being selected 2015 mayor. She is the same person today. To propose removing her brings into question Greg’s vote to second her into that seat. Did I mention her getting up before the chickens making coffee and buying donuts for all of the volunteers who stood on Mission Viejo street corners at 6 A.M. holding signs to elect challengers including Greg Raths?
Folks:
I watched Greg Ralph’s comments at the end of the last council meeting.
Just my observations –Greg sounds a little bit like a junior high school kid -whining when he was turned down for a date.
If there is criticism of Rath– he might want to look at his own navel.
He has absolutely no understanding of what the First Amendment is about, and attempts to blame his problems on others.
Rath criticizes others for raising questions, but it appears to me he has absolutely no work ethic –in doing his own homework when it comes to Council agenda items.
I would highly suggest that Rath put his big boy pants on –the long ones —and perform some self introspection —instead of blaming others for his issues.
To quote the Gipper –if the heat is too much get out of the kitchen.
At some point some people have to grow up. Duplicity is soon discovered.
Joe Holtzman
One hell of a lot more mature than Rath
LOL. This is hilarious. Some of the same people who vouched for Raths, Sachs and Schlicht as the “fiscally conservative,” “responsible,” and “best for Mission Viejo” are finding out that getting elected does not mean they’ll behave as you want them to. Some may and they’re of course heroic.
Waiting for the ball to drop on Sachs next. Surely he’ll do something like vote with Ury or Bucknum.
Oh wait, they already did. Approved public funding for private renovations of the Nadadores club. To the tune of some seven million. In a matter of months.
Compared to all the bellyaching about the Tennis Center improvements (also included Nadadores and combined parking) that lasted for years.
The last one to fall out of favor this way was Rhonda Reardon.
Some have been compromised as “fiscal conservatives” and now have to face the music. Is Sachs next? It is hard to believe Ury & Bucknum were left out of this. The rest appears very childish and hilarious. Some must be really amused in local political circles.