The San Juan Capistrano hosts a special meeting at 4 p.m. today to consider a new plan for the 241 South toll road, but beleaguered Councilman Derek Reeve won't be there.
But Reeve, dismissed from a teaching job at Concordia University in the wake of plagiarism allegations, a lightning rod for debate after announcing from the dais that he'd named his dog Mohammad and scorned by many after suggesting Capistrano lift its ban on firearms in city parks, won't be there.
Don't draw anything into it though:
"Since rumors have run amuck the last few weeks, I thought it would be prudent to inform you that I will not be attending the special city council meeting tonight. This meeting was scheduled rather quickly and it is my understanding it had to take place no later than Wednesday. Unfortunately I have an unavoidable conflict today at 4pm. I assume one or more of the other council members had conflicts on Monday and Wednesday. I will see you at the regular scheduled meeting next Tuesday."
Derek Reeve
The "rumor" that Reeve is talking about, best I can figure, is actually one started by his own supporters, who contend all of this is a plot by other council members to get Reeve, a first-term councilman, to resign.
The reasoning: Mayor Sam Allevato and Councilwoman Laura Freese are up for re-election in 2012. With Reeve on the five-person council, one supporter opined, those two seats can actually swing the direction of the council by creating a Reeve-included majority.
Reeve, as you recall, ran with Jim Reardon and Clint Worthington.
So, if Reeve resigns, that will allow the counci to appoint a replacement, presumably thinks like they do. That would lock up control of the council, a supporter told me.
As it is, I suspect Allevato and Freese aren't too worried about Reeve sharing the dais with them. The votes are usually 4-1 on any contested item, and Reeve certainly hasn't made any allies up there the past few weeks.
The election will be interesting -- to see if anyone seek Reeve's endorsement or aligns themselves with him in the wake of the above-mentioned incidents.
Is there an election coming up soon? Interesting....
May have to update my webpage...
I see water bills are still out of hand....
Posted by: Jim Schneider | October 11, 2011 at 09:36 PM
"Reeve, as you recall, ran with Jim Reardon and Clint Worthington."
That would explain Jim Reardon's unstinting support for Reeve's plagiarism really being the responsibility of a editor/journalist who pointed them out
Posted by: SK | October 11, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Oh how a few can cause so much non-Common Sense grief. We know who they are, loud, illogical, crying wolf on imagined conspiracies, and bringing bad press to our city. They all want thier 15-minutes of fame, and two-minutes of Tuesday podium shock. It's really getting old. It was fun at first, water conspiracies, spending too much, secret deals... Now Reeve has brought National embarassment, by his leadership failing in tactfulness to others and attempting to justify his actions. His few followers keep attempting to justify his acts. I give thanks that my community has at least four stand up councilmembers, (don't always agree with thier decisions); but they are dedicated to us, not thier egos! At least Reeve was the pick of the non-sensible litter backed by the non-common sense folks. Think of the mess we'd have with Reardon or Worthington!!!
Posted by: SwallowView | October 16, 2011 at 04:35 PM