MISSION VIEJO : Curtis Will Recall Last Election Fondly

Final financial statements filed this week show that pro-recall forces raised $498,657 in a failed attempt last February to unseat Councilman Robert A. Curtis.

The documents also show that the Mission Viejo Co. contributed almost $300,000 to the Alliance for Mission Viejo, a citizens’ group that spearheaded the recall drive.

Angered by Curtis’ slow-growth advocacy, the development company joined several other builders in providing about $470,000 of the money raised by the citizen group.

Curtis reported receiving $58,455 in contributions. Curtis himself was the largest contributor to his campaign, with documents showing $5,500 in personal loans that are still outstanding.

But Curtis soundly upset his richer opponents, gathering 8,679 votes to 3,835 for the recall.

“My only comment is that I can’t wait to tell my grandkids about this one,” Curtis said Wednesday. “I think it’s a great story for perseverance and sticking to your beliefs in spite of insurmountable opposition.”

The backlash against the Mission Viejo Co. is expected to fall on three incumbent council members who also supported the recall. In the final weeks of the recall campaign, council members Norman P. Murray, Victoria C. Jaffe and Mayor Christian W. Keena, who are up for reelection in November, criticized Curtis and spoke in favor of the recall.

Shortly after the final votes were tallied, Curtis supporters vowed not to forget, saying they would work against the incumbents during the municipal elections.

Within a week after the opening of the candidate filing period two weeks ago, 11 people, including several Curtis supporters, took out filing papers.

Keena is not expected to run for city office again. Murray and Jaffe have taken out candidate papers.