Petitions Are Filed for Recall Election in Mission Viejo

Petitions bearing 12,001 signatures were filed at Mission Viejo City Hall on Thursday to recall City Councilman Robert A. Curtis, who maintains that he is the target of “a blatant power play by a large developer.”

If at least 7,770 of the signatures are verified as valid, a special election probably will be called some time between late February and early April next year, City Clerk Ivy J. Zovel said.

“I think the recall has started because I’m viewed as a possible threat to the interests of the Mission Viejo Co.,” said Curtis, a Riverside County deputy district attorney.

“I expect a quarter million dollars in contributions by developers (to the recall effort) to silence my independent voice on the council,” Curtis said. “I hope the money and deception will backfire at the polls.”

Helen Monroe, who heads the recall effort, said because twice as many voters signed recall petitions than voted for Curtis in 1987, it demonstrates a broad-based opposition to the councilman.

Curtis received 6,174 votes out of 13,463 cast in the 1987 election.

“We feel basically he does not represent the citizens of Mission Viejo,” said Monroe, who also was involved in the successful effort to incorporate the city in 1987.

She said Curtis has been “extremely derisive” in his dealings with fellow council members and rude and callous with the public. She criticized him for favoring the annexation of the Aegean Hills area.

“The people of Mission Viejo choose to maintain their planned community,” said Monroe, who along with the Mission Viejo Co. and a majority of the City Council oppose the annexation of the wedge-shaped, already-developed strip of land along Interstate 5.

The Mission Viejo Co., which is a subsidiary of the Philip Morris Co. and which built the planned community of 75,000, opposed the Aegean Hills annexation as fiscally unsound and as being against the wishes of 15,000 Mission Viejo residents who signed petitions protesting the annexation.

Mission Viejo Co. spokeswoman Wendy Wetzel said the number of signatures submitted by recall proponents is “a strong indication there are a lot of residents . . . that believe in planned communities, and if there are going to be any changes in the community, they want to vote on it.”

“Trying to push it past without a vote is not going to work in this community,” Wetzel said.

Curtis remains in favor of the annexation, which was rejected by a 3-2 City Council vote last spring. He maintains that the annexation would benefit the city financially.

“Voters should take the opportunity,” Curtis said, “to send a loud message to the Philip Morris Co. that they intend to take control of City Hall and end developer domination.”

Curtis’ father, Robert Curtis Sr., was among about 20 supporters of the councilman who showed up at City Hall on Thursday when the recall petitions were filed. The elder Curtis said he had expected a large number of signatures.

“It’s not surprising with all the misrepresentations,” he said, referring to what he said were misleading tactics used by people paid by recall proponents to obtain the signatures. “I feel confident in the good sense and judgment of the people of Mission Viejo . . . (that they) will sustain Bob and not sustain the Philip Morris Co.”

Monroe denied that petition circulators had misled voters. Instead, she said, the large number of signatures represents public sentiment on Curtis’ political stances and “extremely rude” attitude.

Full financial reports must be filed with city officials by recall backers within 21 days of the petitions being filed, according to City Clerk Zovel.

However, separate campaign donor filings by large individual donors also must be filed semiannually with the Orange County registrar of voters office.

Those reports show that two developers who have worked as subcontractors for the Mission Viejo Co.--William Lyon Co. and Kathryn Thompson Development--plus another developer, the Baldwin Co., each had donated $10,000 to the recall effort. Moreover, the Mission Viejo Co. has loaned the services of Lynn Wessell, a campaign consultant.

Monroe said she expects the recall campaign war chest to far exceed the amount that had been collected as of the beginning of the week.

Zovel said her office has 30 days to count and verify the 12,001 signatures turned in by recall proponents Thursday.