Guide to Candidate Forum

Tonight (Wednesday Aug 19) we have the candidate forum. It won’t be as exciting as the last of the Clinton/Trump debates, but it is local and you can make a difference.

Members of the audience will have an opportunity to ask some questions of the candidates.

Here are some questions the candidates should be asked, and hopefully they will answer.

Frank Wagoner

You have been completely uninvolved in city activities, don’t attend Council meetings, didn’t bother with a ballot statement, don’t know the names of the Police Chief or the City Manager, don't have signs or a website, etc. yet you aspire to serve on the City Council? How do you explain this?

Fahr Semnani

You have been completely uninvolved in city activities, didn’t attend Council meetings until very recently, and even then haven’t ever asked a question or expressed an opinion about pressing legislation before the Council. How do you explain your absence from civic activities and what makes you think you could serve on the City Council?

Your signs have been placed all over the City in illegal places, on private property and on public property, and when asked about it, you denied it. Is this the type of behavior befitting a Council member?

For background on these two guys, Click Here

Francisco Barajas

You’ve missed more meeting of the Parks Commission than any member of any Commission or the City Council. What does that say about your commitment to the City?

You rarely attend city events, even events that are part of the Parks Commission. Until very recently your Facebook page didn't contain a single City event, even while you were at political events and developer sponsored events. How do you reconcile this apparent lack of commitment with wanting to govern the City?

You spent nearly a year and a half on the Parks Commission but never made a single motion. Is that the kind of City Council member you intend to be?

For background on Barajas, Click Here

Dwight Robinson

In 2012 you made 6 campaign promises but kept none of them. In some cases you did the opposite of what you promised (e.g., promising a Traffic Commission and then voting against it, promising to have more schools and reduce school classroom size when in fact schools closed and classroom size increased). Why should people believe you now?

In your 2016 ballot statement, you lied when you claimed that you helped “eliminate” Mello Roos in Portola Hills. The OC Tax Treasurer made it clear that Mello Roos was “dissolved” because the people paid off the debt. Why did you lie on your ballot statement? Why should anyone believe anything you say?

You’ve endorsed the youngest candidate, Francisco Barajas, as your “running mate”, even though he has missed several Parks and Rec meetings and failed to even make a motion or a second on the commission. What does it say about you that you endorse someone with so few life experiences and so many knocks against his leadership?

Adam Nick

You’ve been criticized for your use of volatile language while on the dais. If re-elected, what can we expect to see from you over the next four years?

The culture of City Hall seems to be one of contentiousness among the Council, and between the Council and the residents. What would you do to change the culture at City Hall?

For background on Robinson and Nick, Click Here

Leah Basile

Your opponents say that if you and Adam Nick get on the Council, we will replace one Gang of 3 with another Gang of 3. They say you will vote with Adam Nick and Jim Gardner on issues like a no kill animal shelter and a temporary moratorium on new housing. What do you say to your critics?

For background on Leah Basile, Click Here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.

Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a Town Hall meeting every quarter. The next meeting will be in November at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.