WILDOMAR: Council looks to November 2010 election

Staff recommends synching first vote with statewide general ballot

By AARON CLAVERIE - Staff Writer | Saturday, August 9, 2008 11:44 PM PDT ∞

WILDOMAR ---- The Wildomar City Council next week will consider consolidating the city's first election with the general statewide election on November 2010.

That date, if approved during Wednesday's meeting, likely will spark a new legal challenge by Gerard Ste. Marie, a Wildomar resident who asked the courts to force the city to stage its first election this November.

Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz denied Ste. Marie's request on Aug. 1, saying the council needed a reasonable amount of time to decide how the city should be divided into voting districts.

In the February election, Wildomar area voters approved incorporating the city, and a five-member City Council was elected from a field of 14 candidates. The electorate also approved dividing the city into voting districts to elect future council members.

Schwartz said the city should be able to draw up the district boundaries ---- which involves taking into consideration population, topography and "cohesiveness" ---- in time for the upcoming election date in June. In his ruling, Schwartz said the council "should" schedule the election by that June date.

Ste. Marie's representation said their client was vindicated because the city had said, in its response to Ste. Marie's suit, that the council had to wait at least a year after the city's incorporation date before scheduling an election.

The city's legal team, led by interim city attorney Julie Hayward Biggs, has not given the word "should" much weight. Biggs noted Friday that Schwartz's ruling does not require the city to schedule an election on a specific date.

That responsibility is left ---- correctly, she said ---- to the council.

During his comments in court, Schwartz said as much, calling the June date "arbitrary."

Schwartz said the council could argue that it needs more time to establish the voting districts.

Biggs said the 2010 date has been recommended for a number of reasons. By synching the city's election with the statewide general election, Biggs said, turnout would be higher. Also, she said the city could save thousands in election expenses.

Supporters of election by districts say that the council, made up of five people who all supported at-large elections during the incorporation campaign, is doing everything it can to retain control of their council seats for as long as possible.

Biggs, addressing those particular claims, said there is a valid reason for Wildomar voters to support allowing the full council to stay on past the June election date.

As the council makes decisions, the members will build up a revealing voting record that will allow voters to judge them by their actions, she said.

If the November 2010 date is approved, the seats occupied by council members Sheryl Ade and Scott Farnam ---- the two lowest vote-getters in the February incorporation election ---- would be up for grabs. The seats occupied by the top three vote-getters ---- Bob Cashman, Bridgette Moore and Marsha Swanson ---- would be up for election in 2012.

In addition to discussing the scheduling of the city's first election, the council will consider on Wednesday the approval of a $29,000 contract with the Glendale firm of National Demographics Corporation, which Biggs said would collect demographic information for the city and draw up proposed districts.

Some members of the public already have weighed in against the city hiring a consultant, which was mentioned as a possibility by Biggs at the council's previous meeting.

Those residents have said the council could save money ---- one of the stated reasons why the city is synching up its election ---- by appointing a commission of volunteers to draw up the districts.

The council meets at 7 p.m. in open session Wednesday at Elsinore High School, 21800 Canyon Drive.

Contact staff writer Aaron Claverie at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2624, or aclaverie@californian.com.

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WildomarWatcher wrote on Aug 10, 2008 12:27 PM:This is a predictable outcome of electing the present council, and allowing them to hire Ms. Biggs.

They are displaying a total lack of respect for the voters’ decisions, for the letter and spirit of the law, and for fiscal responsibility. Wildomar needs the voting districts drawn promptly, not months or years down the road, it needs to schedule an election in 2009 in sync with the established June elections, and it should have a committee of LOCAL citizens assist in drawing up the districts.

The NDC proposal reads like a political sales pitch for making the drawing of the districts far more complex and costly than necessary. Both the cost and the time frame for completing the work are left open ended to ensure that the task and cost can be expanded. These are the same tactics which Ms. Biggs used in Goleta to defeat the “by districts” vote of the people.

These actions confirm the suspicions that this council never intended to respect the voters’ decision to have their elections “by districts”.

It’s becoming more obvious with every council meeting that Wildomar elected a bunch of members who have no intention of respecting the wishes of the voters or the law. They have the bit between their teeth and plan to do whatever they please – and hang what Wildomar residents want. It’s time to consider recalling them and electing a new council who doesn’t just talk a good game, but delivers on their promises to the people.

In the meantime, this council is sinking Wildomar deeper into debt with unnecessary expenditures with these out-of-control interim contractors and consultants.

WILDOMARTIAN wrote on Aug 10, 2008 2:48 PM:"That date, if approved during Wednesday's meeting, likely will spark a new legal challenge by Gerard Ste. Marie, a Wildomar resident who asked the courts to force the city to stage its first election this November..."
Gerard, please don't. For the love of God, please don't!

To Wildomartian wrote on Aug 12, 2008 7:34 AM:Perhaps you need to redirect your plea for proper behavior to the real source of the trouble...the city council members.

Come to the council meeting on August 13th and watch while they merrily approve spending another $30,000 to $40,000+ of the taypayers' money to hire consultants who’s real purpose will be to undermine voters' decisions...rather than actually getting our districts drawn up.

They are planning do that in tandem with ignoring the judge's suggestions on what are reasonable steps to resolve these issues. Let’s not hear any more ranting about Mr. Ste Marie, when the real problem is with the council and their hired guns.

WILDOMARTIAN wrote on Aug 12, 2008 12:30 PM:To: TO Wildomartian
If what you say is true, then that will be the legacy of the First WCC, bankrupting Wildomar. And, yes, I too hope not to hear any more rantings from Gerard Ste. Marie about costly legal actions against the citizens of Wildomar! (It's their money too!) Maybe Gerard Ste. Marie should run for the second WCC and let the citizens of Wildomar decide if Gerard Ste. Marie's tactics are right! Oh, wait he did that already...well?

To Wildomartian wrote on Aug 12, 2008 12:45 PM:I was referring to your rantings, not Mr. Ste. Marie meritorious actions on behalf of Wildomars residents!

As far as I know Mr. Ste. Marie has never run for any kind of public office in Wildomar. While I'm not a gambler, I would be willing to put my money on the table that he has no interest in doing so in the future.

Come to the council meeting and watch your interim council and their staffers in action. I bet you won't be so ready to defend their actions or plead for giving them another 2 to 4 years to continue down their present path.

WILDOMARTIAN wrote on Aug 13, 2008 8:01 AM:TO; To Wildomartian (Aug 12, 2008 12:45 PM)
"...meritorious actions on behalf of Wildomars residents?" Sounds like something a trial lawyer would say (or Saddam). Besides, who asked him??
After checking my sources, I found out that Gerard Ste. Marie did not run for office (only at the mouth). I had mistaken him for one of the other canidates exibiting the same attitude, my apologies to the other canidate.
If you would have read earlier postings, you would know that I am NO fan of thw WWC. However, they do deserve their chance to prove their commitment to Wildomar! If you give them enough rope, they will hang themselves. BUT don't go out and lynch them before that!
As far as the "rantings" go, well that's up to Ste. Marie's limelight obsession. He stops, they stop :)

To Wildomartian wrote on Aug 13, 2008 1:26 PM:Come to the council meetings and observe with an open mind for yourself. You sound like a very intelligent, concerned individual most of the time, and the true circumstances should become very clear to you without further urging or argument on my part.

However, your objectivity has obviously been seriously compromised when it comes to judging those of us who are so concerned about what is happening to Wildomar. How dare you liken me or other community activists to Saddam. You are as wrong about this are about Mr. Ste. Marie having run for office. Shame on you for stooping to such a low level of attack.

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