Mission Viejo Election Integrity
Mission Viejo City Council- Mayor Brian Goodell, Mayor Pro Tem Patricia Kelly, Wendy Bucknum, Greg Raths, and Ed Sachs
As residents of Mission Viejo and/or concerned community members, we are signing this petition to request that Mission Viejo uphold the November 6, 2018 vote of three council members for a term of two years. Fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy, and as patriots and citizens it is imperative that we have the freedom to elect our city council representatives for the agreed upon terms. By deciding to extend their own agreed upon terms of two years to four years for three council members, the Mission Viejo City Council stole our voting rights away and have taken the integrity out of our voting system.
Background:
A general election was held and conducted in the City of Mission Viejo on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. An announcement was made by the City of Mission Viejo (News article posted to city website on November 8, 2018 titled "Mission Viejo incumbents re-elected for two more years") it was stated that "Mission Viejo voters re-elected Council Members Ed Sachs, Greg Raths, and Wendy Bucknum to office, according to the 'unofficial' election results from the Registrar of Voters. The Council Members will take the Oath of Office on December 11 to serve two-year terms. All five Mission Viejo City Council seats will be up for re-election in November 2020."
On December 22, 2018 resolution 18-52 was passed, approved, and adopted by the Mission Viejo City Council that read (section 4) "The City Council does declare and determine that: Ed Sachs was elected as Member of the City Council for the term of two years; Wendy Bucknam was elected as Member of the City Counil for the term of two years; and Greg Raths was elected as Member of the City Council for the term of two years." No exceptions were listed on the signed resolution that would grant the city council the power to extend terms.
During the June 23, 2020 Mission Viejo City Council meeting the council opted to cancel the upcoming November 3, 2020 election for the three council members who were voted in November 6, 2018 (Ed Sachs, Greg Raths, and Wendy Bucknum) and extend their terms for an additional two years without public discussion or vote. Leaving only two seats to be voted on in the upcoming November election (Brian Goodell and Patricia Kelly) instead of the five seat election already agreed upon.
Requested Action:
All five Mission Viejo City Council seats up for election for the November 3, 2020 General Election.
City of Mission Viejo become in compliance with the 2001 California Voter Rights Act to allow minority voters in Mission Viejo an equal standing in the election process.
To:
Mission Viejo City Council- Mayor Brian Goodell, Mayor Pro Tem Patricia Kelly, Wendy Bucknum, Greg Raths, and Ed Sachs
From:
[Your Name]
As residents of Mission Viejo and/or concerned community members, we are signing this petition to request that Mission Viejo uphold the November 6, 2018 vote of three council members for a term of two years and have all five city council seats up for re-election on November 3, 2020. As elected officials to the City of Mission Viejo there is an expectation of integrity, where you will conduct yourselves in a manner that will instill public confidence and trust. Unanimously voting to change city council terms after a public vote stole our freedoms as voters to fairly elect our city leadership.
