By Jim Evert
Wayne Eggleston recently penned a column in the San Clemente Times attacking Mike Mortenson. I ordinarily don’t respond to this type of campaign nonsense, but given Wayne’s past prominence I am compelled to do so. Make no mistake, Wayne’s “column” is not to inform. It is intended to smear Mike and divide our community.
Wayne asserts that as a past city councilman, he has a “perspective of what qualities make for a good and dedicated councilmember.” As Mayor I agree with him on this point.
Wayne endorses Chris Hamm and Bob Baker. Tim Brown also supports them and Lori Donchak endorses Hamm—giving Baker a total of two former or current councilmembers and Hamm three.
Mike Mortenson has seven. Seven former council members and mayors support Mike, including Lori Donchak, Jim Dahl, Joe Anderson, Candy Haggard, Susan Ritschel, Steve Knoblock and myself, along with many other city leaders, commissioners, business owners and activists. In addition, Mike is endorsed by the Orange County Republican Party, Orange County Register and Chamber of Commerce, among others. More important, Mike is endorsed by hundreds of San Clemente residents. So using Wayne’s logic, Mike is clearly the better candidate.
Mike Mortenson grew up on the beaches of Orange County. Wayne’s statement that Mike is “from the East Coast and Los Angeles” is completely false and he knows it. Mike paid his own way through college and law school. He lived briefly in Washington, D.C., while working for the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He lived briefly in Redondo Beach while starting a successful small business. Neither Baker nor Hamm have ever started a business, worried about making payroll or created a single job. Because of Mike’s business experience he understands how important our local merchants and small businesses are to San Clemente.
Mike Mortenson wishes to represent all of San Clemente but believes it’s important to provide a representative voice from the northern parts of town, like Talega and Forster Ranch, because they currently don’t have a voice on Council. Mike never said “I wish to represent Talega” as Wayne falsely writes.
Mike Mortenson has been forthright and consistent in his positions. He promises he will thoughtfully consider each issue on its own merits. The OC Register endorsed Mortenson over Baker and Hamm for this reason while noting that Baker “equivocates” on issues. Mike does not “dance around” the issues as Wayne ridiculously claims.
As a successful attorney, Mike Mortenson is not a developer’s candidate. Mike hasn’t received a penny from a developer. Contrary to Wayne’s hysterical accusations, Mike is beholden to no one. But should Mike ever receive donations from a developer, he will not conceal it like Baker and Hamm. Ironically, these supposed “anti-developer” candidates have received thousands of dollars from an out-of-town developer’s PAC. See for yourself who paid for Hamm’s signs ($2,000) and those divisive, outrageous, false mailers ($15,000-plus).
Ask yourself, why would Wayne write an entire column attacking Mike Mortenson when he could have highlighted Baker and Hamm’s ideas? The fact is, Mike is running to unite our community, not divide it. This scares Wayne Eggleston, Bob Baker, Charles Mann and their divisive cohorts to death. Without a divided community they become irrelevant, which is why they lie and attack Mike Mortenson and Councilman Jim Dahl.
It’s time to stop the lies and petty nonsense. Let’s stop tearing San Clemente apart. Let’s focus on solutions—restoring North Beach, creating local jobs, addressing traffic and parking, preserving our village character and restoring our beaches. That is what Mike Mortenson is focused on. That is why I support Mike Mortenson and continue to support Jim Dahl.
If Mike is endorsed by our Mayor, then Mike has my vote!
Mike is “trying to unite this city”—- Please Mr. Mayor— save the old tired cliches—- No matter how one votes NObody buys into that nonsense.
Thank you Mr. Mayor for this informative letter.
I was appalled at how many lies were printed in Mr. Eggleston’s letter last week. The community of San Clemente deserves to know the truth.
I attended a few of the candidate forums, and Mike’s positive energy was uplifting, and just what we need here in San Clemente. It’s unfortunate how many times Bob Baker had the chance to vote yes, and do the right thing for our Village by The Sea, but instead he just couldn’t stop saying NO. We need a council member who’s mind isn’t already made up about certain issues, one who can say more than just NO. That’s why my vote went to Mike Mortenson. His list of endorsements is more than impressive. Thank you Mike Mortenson for stepping up for San Clemente, and thank you to our Mayor for this wonderful letter.
I couldn’t agree more, SC Voter. I’ve met Mike Mortensen and listened to him speak. I believe he will evaluate each issue on its merits without any preconceived notions about what a particular decision should be. He’s intelligent and committed to doing what’s best for all of San Clemente. He’s got my vote.
Mr. Mayor,
Thank you for taking the time to pen this letter. I have been overwhelmed with the sheer number of letters and mailers sent out by Mr. Hamm and Mr. Baker that just sling mud at Mr. Mortenson and Mr. Dahl. Why are they so stuck on the negative? Why can’t Mr. Baker and Mr. Hamm just stop this “attack” and start constructing ideas, ways to improve San Clemente?
It concerns me -and it should concern every San Clemente resident- that this negativity is getting so much attention when there is no affirmative substance (ideas, problem resolution) behind it. Please do not get lost in the attacks. Please, San Clemente residents, look for answers to our problems when you vote! Let’s make San Clemente an even better place to live!!
I really appreciate Mr. Dahl’s and Mr. Mortenson’s sincerity and devotion to the betterment of San Clemente. They both have my vote!
Steph
Great letter Mayor!
Thank you for taking the time to write the letter so the citizens of San Clemente can read the truth, instead of the fiction of Wayne Eggleston. I also appreciate the San Clemente times for printing a pro-Dahl and Pro-Mortenson letter. The paper had been seemingly one sided. Knowledge is power and the best way to battle the intense negative campaigns being run my Mr. Baker and Hamm is to let people read the truth.
I can’t imagine more lies than the very high lie content of the Dahl/Mortensen disaster.
Sadly, Eggleston’s writing was disingenuous. Why say someone is from LA and the East Coast when it just isn’t true and so easy to refute? There’s no point to it other than reflecting poorly on the Baker-Hamm campaign. Wayne used to be a community leader. Now it’s very disappointing when all we see is propaganda and silly lies.
Wayne remains a community leader Bill– you, on the other hand are an failed candidate from a year gone by with dull normal chamber of commerce sleepy ideas.– Please do us all a favor and go away, you have passed your fresh date sir.
And Bill o……When Dahl was taking 150k from the toll road folks AND voting on transportation related issues on council, AND refusing to stand up against the toll road—— who was his master, the toll road payers of 150k or our voters?
Bravo Mayor – you nailed it.
Majority of San Clemente residents moved here because it’s a BEACH town. Not a white-walled-red-tile-roof town. San Clemente Historical Society – what a joke – we have residents that are older than our town. The Miramar has stood decaying for decades because of the added restritions and costs that come with a historical designation. We need sand – not more Ole Hanson tiles, hanging baskets or decay caused by the SC Historical Society
The majority of San Clemente residents moved here because it’s a BEACH town. Not a white-walled-red-tile-roof town. San Clemente Historical Society – what a joke – we have residents that are older than our town. The Miramar has stood decaying for decades because of the added restritions and costs that come with a historical designation. We need sand – not more Ole Hanson tiles, hanging baskets or decay caused by the SC Historical Society
Great letter Mr Mayor.
The silence from Eggleston in regards to the above letter is deafening. Tough to defend one’s own lies I suppose.
Mr. Eggleston submitted a response to the paper. Since I have been posting additional letters we did not have space for today, I have decided to add his response here. Mr. Eggleston has also replied on another thread in his own name but has not done so here. What follows is Mr. Eggleston’s response to the Mayor’s submission. It does not represent the paper’s position or the staff’s position, only his own.
“In response to Mr. Evert’s Guest Opinion, “An Open letter,” there needs to be some fact checking. Mr. Evert, our current mayor, has a habit of calling those who disagree with him liars from the city hall dais in public meetings, and in letters-to-the editor. This is really beneath the dignity of a mayor’s position. So I will not call his statements lies, but assertions/misrepresentations and do some fact checking.
Mr. Evert’s assertion: Because more previous elected officials support Mr. Mortenson than Chris Hamm or Bob Baker #1, that is proof enough that Mortenson is the better candidate.
Fact Check: The previous elected officials he is referring to are the same one who supported selling beach-front public land that was seized/transferred by the city to be used for public benefit (beach park and parking) to a developer for his own profit. This is land that all of us own. Evert, Dahl and Mortenson support this travesty and along with those previous elected officials who need their names on a plaque at city hall called the Wall of Shame.
Mr. Evert’s misrepresentation: Mr. Mortenson never said he wanted to represent just a certain portion of San Clemente and Talega.
Fact Check: Mr. Mortenson has said repeatedly that he wishes to represent Talega and specific areas of San Clemente. Evidence: Mortenson’s own campaign mailers, statements at candidate forums, and SC Times September 27 on Uniting San Clemente. This attitude will divide San Clemente.
Mr. Evert’s misrepresentation: Mr. Mortenson is not a developer’s candidate.
Fact Check: Mr. Mortenson is support by the Marblehead outlet mall developer; otherwise why would he have his campaign signs on his property. Additionally, he received $10,000 from the California Real Estate Political Action Committee of Los Angeles. Case rested.
Mr. Evert supports Jim Dahl, who has been on the city council 16 years, and Mr. Mortenson, a lawyer and recent resident of 2 1/2 years so they can have a super-majority on council to develop our beautiful town into another Huntington Beach. Vote wisely.”
Staff– Thanks for the wise letter—-
Again, that’s Mr. Eggleston’s reply.
And Mr Eggleston prefer we revert backwards. How far back Mr Eggleston? Horse and buggy? How little a box would you like us all to live in? Stop with the HB comparison. we are not central coast OC. Such a BS scare tactic. Mr Eggleston, you live near a train station, you are going to hear trains. You live near downtown, you are going to hear downtown. Just a little advice for you so you don’t feel like you have to constantly patrol downtown looking for any code infractions that would justify yet another call to the local law enforcement.
I think Eggelston’s response nailed it!