Council Member Reardon: An Apology

If you look at some of my previous posts in the last two years, it'll become clear that I was the most severe and unchained critics of Council Member Rhonda Reardon.  I don't remember all the vitriol I spewed, but it wasn't pretty, and it wasn't warranted, as Ms. Reardon so gracefully proved.

I find myself in that ever awkward position of a offering a public apology.  And the one I owe Ms. Reardon is well deserved. 

Ms. Reardon has served this city in an extremely professional manner.  In the council chambers she has shown every citizen, including myself, the utmost respect. And she has shown the same respect on the street.  She has consistently addressed me as "Mr. Avery," which, given my severe criticisms, always came as a surprise.

There is a 12 letter word that springs from the African-American community which literally means the "white man who copulated with your mother."  Ms. Reardon would not be amiss in calling me that word, not for the literal reasons, but it would never occur to her to use that term. "Mr. Avery" is what she decided to use.  Ms. Reardon has the best interest of our community at heart and, painfully clearly, she is a class act. 

Has she learned a lot over her time in office?  You bet.

Does she have things to learn?  You bet.

She could, for instance, be more concise in her comments, like Mr. Ury is in his.  But then, let's face it, Mr. Ury has a LOT more practice than Ms. Reardon. 

So from the bottom of my heart: Ms. Reardon, I am truly and sincerely sorry that I misjudged you. 

Straight up. Rhonda Reardon loves living in Mission Viejo. It's clear in her every statement.  Has she made mistakes?  Good God, yes.  All elected officials make mistakes.  Have any of her mistakes ruined us?  Not by a long shot.  Far from it. Look around. Don't you love this city?  Isn't there plenty to do for your kids? I mean really?  We are blessed and Ms. Reardon knows that.  We live like very few people in this country live.  It's sad actually. 

It's clear to me that Ms. Reardon has voted her conscience.  She has lived by her moral code.  Have I agreed with her moral code and her every vote?  Not by a long damn shot. But I respect someone who lives and walks their own moral deal. I really do. Walking that road takes guts.
 
Ms. Reardon ignored me and every other critic out there and she did what she deemed right. That is not the easy road.

What the hell do you folks want for your vote?

And,  by the way, a woman doesn't have to give birth to have children or grandchildren.  No, it doesn't swirl the mind...good Lord...open the damn thing...let your simplistically narrow definitions expand to include reality...seriously...turn off Fox News.
 
I would endorse Ms. Reardon in the upcoming election if it wasn't some sort of bizarre political death to be endorsed by "The Insufferable Dan Avery."

"Go Bears."  (I love the movie Fargo.)