OC Blog

Dana Point Council Recalls Anti-Recall 'Resolution"

This just came over the transom from the Harkey Recall campaign:

 The Dana Point City Council attempted to avoid a Brown Act lawsuit last night by taking formal action to nullify a "resolution" signed by a majority of the Council during a recess of the September 4, 2007 Council meeting, that opposes the Harkey recall effort.  The action by the Council last night stated that "if" Councilmembers Lisa Bartlett, Steven Weinberg, Joel Bishop, and Harkey herself, violated the Brown Act by signing a "resolution" opposing the recall, that the "resolution" nevertheless as an action of the City Council is declared null and void.

More Kerfuffling In Dana Point

Not wanting to let too many days pass without a Dana Point post, I'm told by Harkey Recall proponent Jim Lacy that polling is being conducted in Dana Point.

Lacy heard from a resident who had been polled. Most of the questions related to Dana Point: what are the biggest problems, feelings about the proposed Town Center, the City Council, etc. The resident was also asked to rate Jim Lacy and Diane Harkey.

More Harkey Recall Kerfuffle

Yesterday, I got this from Diane Harkey consultant Scott Hart. It's a "resolution" opposing the attempt to recall Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey and is signed by four of the five Dana Point councilmembers (including Diane Harkey, which looks silly).

The three other councilmembers are Harkey allies, so no real surprise there.

Today, an e-mail comes over the transom from giest of the Harkey recall, former DP Councilman Jim Lacy:

Attached is Harkey recall proponents response to Harkey's latest ethically challenged action.  The City will receive this letter on Saturday.  It has 30 days to "cure or correct" the defect, by either setting aside the Resolution, agendizing the Resolution opposing the Recall at a future meeting, and allowing public comment and debate before a vote, or just dropping it.  If it fails to do so, recall proponents will sue the city within 15 days thereafter to declare the Resolution that appears on Total Buzz and OC Blog as "null and void."

Lacy's contention is the resolution is a violation of the Brown Act because is it signed by a majority of the DP councilmembers and there are five signature lines.

Three Dana Point Councilmembers Oppose Harkey Recall

This came over the transom a little while ago from the Diane Harkey consultant Scott Hart: a letter, in the form of a resolution, opposing the campaign to qualify a recall of Harkey and signed by Dana Point Councilmembers Lisa Bartlett, Joel Bishop and Dan Weinberg.

Martin Wisckol posts more over at Total Buzz.

More Harkey Stuff

This came over the transom today from the Recall Harkey folks, who started collecting signatures this morning:

The Harkey Recall team was out in Dana Point at 9 am this morning on their first day of grass-roots signature gathering.  In the attached picture, proponent Robert Traphagen is seen at the Dana Point Albertson's collecting signatures.  By 10 am, Robert had 20 signatures.

The press release -- sent by "boundlesshope@aol.com" -- repeated an allegation from an unnamed parishioner that Harkey made a foul-mouthed phone call to the Sheriff's Department demanding they come down to clear out post-Mass traffic. The press release also impugned commitment to Catholicism.

And Diane Harkey is supposed to be the nasty one, right?

Meanwhile, the Harkey for Assembly campaign chugged along, per this campaign press release that also came over the transom today: 

Third Time's The Charm: Harkey Recall Petition Approved

This came over the transom yesterday from the Harkey campaign:

Yesterday the Dana Point City Clerk informed proponents that their Petition to Recall Diane Harkey had been approved.  Proponents may now formally begin the process of collecting signatures of 20% of registered voters in the City to qualify the recall election. They have 120 days to circulate and submit petitions.

Petitions may be obtained by downloading them at the Harkey recall site at www.dianeharkeyrecall.com, and following the instructions for obtaining signatures.  Only registered voters in Dana Point may sign/circulate petitions.  Signed petitions can be mailed to the recall committee's address at:

Ethics Matter - Recall Diane Harkey
24040 Camino del Avion, #A222,
Dana Point, CA 92629

OC Republican Central Committee Votes To Oppose Harkey Recall

Last night, the Republican Party of Orange County Central Committee adopted a resolution opposing the effort to recall Dana Point Mayor Diane Harkey. Here's how blogpen member, pollster and Harkey consultant Adam Probolsky described the action:

Chairman Baugh during his chairman’s remarks told the committee he was disappointed in the recall effort.  At that time Central Committee Member and Dana Point resident Craig Alexander made a motion to suspend the rules for the purpose of passing a resolution opposing the Harkey Recall effort.  Central Committee Secretary Mary Young seconded the motion.