Monday, September 11, 2006
Grandma Wendy
As promised, this is another in the examinations of
candidates for Costa Mesa City Council this year. In this
edition we will discuss Parks & Recreation Commission Chair
Wendy Leece, a mother of five and grandmother of one, who has
jumped aboard Allan Mansoor's campaign wagon and is holding on
for dear life.
I had a chance to watch Grandma Wendy at the recent candidate forum, and to hear what she had to say on the issues. Actually, I could have saved myself a lot of time if I just listened to our young jailer/mayor, Allan Mansoor, then penciled in the word "ditto" when it came to listening to Leece. She seemed to have no original thought. In fact, she and Mansoor seemed to be sharing a song book, because their utterances were echoes of each other.
I recently visited Grandma Wendy's fledgling web site to see what new information I might glean. I was looking for something that might persuade someone to support her candidacy. I came away unfulfilled.
Her site greeted me with a photo of herself with Mansoor and Dana Rohrabacher at the Minutechick-sponsored picnic fundraiser for Mansoor this summer. On this page, where one might expect to find some catchy phrase that grabs you and makes you want to know more, she gives us the following words to live by: "This is what I am for: A safe Costa Mesa where all residents can walk on our sidewalks or stroll through our parks and be safe."
Well, now, if that's not a barn-burner of a credo I don't know what is! I found myself thinking of the line from the movie, "Forest Gump" - "Simple is as simple does."
So, in search of more enlightenment I clicked on the "Contact Wendy" page and found a most over-used, trite phrase staring back at me, "Together We Can Make A Difference". Give me a break! Following that inspirational phrase I read further and found that she's concerned about rising crime and is dismayed to learn that three sex offenders found in Costa Mesa were here illegally and that not all illegal aliens are deported after serving their jail time. Wow! She went on to tell us that she supports Mayor Mansoor's proposal and is the only candidate endorsed by him. Let's see, now, Wendy... do you mean his original plan or the one the council approved?
She continued by telling us that traffic congestion, street repair, youth sports fields and good schools are important to her. Oh, and by the way, she is against eminent domain. Well, duh, Wendy - every other candidate is, too.
I then clicked on her "The issues" page and found a rehash of the above plus her perpetuation of the lie she and Mansoor are trying to sell about the $1.5 million in fees provided to the developer of the 1901 Newport Plaza development. It amazes me that a person who says she's strong on education fails to do her homework and just blathers on about an issue which she obviously doesn't understand. It amazes me, but doesn't surprise me.
I've watched Grandma Wendy attempt to conduct Parks and Recreation Commission meetings during the months she has occupied the Chair. She has demonstrated no skills for that job whatsoever. It is very difficult to describe the depth of understanding she has on most issues - because she doesn't have any. It's clear from watching her in action that she operates purely on emotion and makes extremely bad decisions as a result. She has shown us that she's willing to place the complaints of a few residents above the needs of all residents of the city time after time.
Some will recall her tenure on the Board of Trustees of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, during which she was a lightning rod for controversy. Supporters might describe her as a maverick, but detractors will tell you that they didn't like her attempts to overlay her personal religious views on the decisions of the board. There is no reason to think she won't try the same tactics if elected to the City Council.
She's a strong supporter of one controversial activist in town (you know who I mean) who speaks frequently before her commission and for whom she apparently has high regard. She's deferential in his presence and follows his lead on every issue. For that reason alone her candidacy should be rejected.
The only way Grandma Wendy gets elected is if she gets a firm grip on Mansoor's belt and hangs on. Her performance at the forum demonstrated that, once on the council, she would become an echo of Mansoor and Bever - a rubber stamp for their bogus ideas. She, like Mansoor, looks for simple solutions to complex problems - perhaps because those are the only kind they can understand.
Grandma Wendy is not the solution to problems in Costa Mesa - she is part of the problem. To elect her would perpetuate the divisive, intolerant atmosphere initiated by her benefactor, Mansoor. This city deserves much better than that.
Just before posting this entry I re-visited her site and found, much to my amusement, that every page except the Home Page is now "under construction". I assume that means they've found a ghost writer - maybe that activist mentioned above - to help her craft a message that comes close to making sense. We'll check back at a future date and let you know.
***
For those who have not yet seen it, please go to my Useful Links page and click on the "Byron de Arakal's Itchingpost.com" link to view his excellent commentary on 9/11/01. It's a brief, painful, very appropriate reminder of that day.
11:23 pm pdt
I had a chance to watch Grandma Wendy at the recent candidate forum, and to hear what she had to say on the issues. Actually, I could have saved myself a lot of time if I just listened to our young jailer/mayor, Allan Mansoor, then penciled in the word "ditto" when it came to listening to Leece. She seemed to have no original thought. In fact, she and Mansoor seemed to be sharing a song book, because their utterances were echoes of each other.
I recently visited Grandma Wendy's fledgling web site to see what new information I might glean. I was looking for something that might persuade someone to support her candidacy. I came away unfulfilled.
Her site greeted me with a photo of herself with Mansoor and Dana Rohrabacher at the Minutechick-sponsored picnic fundraiser for Mansoor this summer. On this page, where one might expect to find some catchy phrase that grabs you and makes you want to know more, she gives us the following words to live by: "This is what I am for: A safe Costa Mesa where all residents can walk on our sidewalks or stroll through our parks and be safe."
Well, now, if that's not a barn-burner of a credo I don't know what is! I found myself thinking of the line from the movie, "Forest Gump" - "Simple is as simple does."
So, in search of more enlightenment I clicked on the "Contact Wendy" page and found a most over-used, trite phrase staring back at me, "Together We Can Make A Difference". Give me a break! Following that inspirational phrase I read further and found that she's concerned about rising crime and is dismayed to learn that three sex offenders found in Costa Mesa were here illegally and that not all illegal aliens are deported after serving their jail time. Wow! She went on to tell us that she supports Mayor Mansoor's proposal and is the only candidate endorsed by him. Let's see, now, Wendy... do you mean his original plan or the one the council approved?
She continued by telling us that traffic congestion, street repair, youth sports fields and good schools are important to her. Oh, and by the way, she is against eminent domain. Well, duh, Wendy - every other candidate is, too.
I then clicked on her "The issues" page and found a rehash of the above plus her perpetuation of the lie she and Mansoor are trying to sell about the $1.5 million in fees provided to the developer of the 1901 Newport Plaza development. It amazes me that a person who says she's strong on education fails to do her homework and just blathers on about an issue which she obviously doesn't understand. It amazes me, but doesn't surprise me.
I've watched Grandma Wendy attempt to conduct Parks and Recreation Commission meetings during the months she has occupied the Chair. She has demonstrated no skills for that job whatsoever. It is very difficult to describe the depth of understanding she has on most issues - because she doesn't have any. It's clear from watching her in action that she operates purely on emotion and makes extremely bad decisions as a result. She has shown us that she's willing to place the complaints of a few residents above the needs of all residents of the city time after time.
Some will recall her tenure on the Board of Trustees of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, during which she was a lightning rod for controversy. Supporters might describe her as a maverick, but detractors will tell you that they didn't like her attempts to overlay her personal religious views on the decisions of the board. There is no reason to think she won't try the same tactics if elected to the City Council.
She's a strong supporter of one controversial activist in town (you know who I mean) who speaks frequently before her commission and for whom she apparently has high regard. She's deferential in his presence and follows his lead on every issue. For that reason alone her candidacy should be rejected.
The only way Grandma Wendy gets elected is if she gets a firm grip on Mansoor's belt and hangs on. Her performance at the forum demonstrated that, once on the council, she would become an echo of Mansoor and Bever - a rubber stamp for their bogus ideas. She, like Mansoor, looks for simple solutions to complex problems - perhaps because those are the only kind they can understand.
Grandma Wendy is not the solution to problems in Costa Mesa - she is part of the problem. To elect her would perpetuate the divisive, intolerant atmosphere initiated by her benefactor, Mansoor. This city deserves much better than that.
Just before posting this entry I re-visited her site and found, much to my amusement, that every page except the Home Page is now "under construction". I assume that means they've found a ghost writer - maybe that activist mentioned above - to help her craft a message that comes close to making sense. We'll check back at a future date and let you know.
***
For those who have not yet seen it, please go to my Useful Links page and click on the "Byron de Arakal's Itchingpost.com" link to view his excellent commentary on 9/11/01. It's a brief, painful, very appropriate reminder of that day.
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