No GOP Endorsement of Council Candidates for Now

None of the Republican candidates for San Juan Capistrano will get the endorsement of the local party representatives – at least in time to make a huge difference in the November election.

While a City Council seat is nonpartisan, a GOP endorsement can be a handy tool in catching the eye of Republican voters in slate mailers.

Incumbent Sam Allevato and Planning Commissioner Ginny Kerr were on the agenda Tuesday night before the OC GOP endorsement committee, but neither managed to get the nod.

Three local residents spoke out in opposition to Allevato and Kerr getting the Republican endorsement. Kim Lefner was one of them.

“Both candidates have taken actions in their official city posts that contradict the OC GOP’s values and principles,” Lefner said, citing ever-increasing water rates, a once-proposed “head-tax” for private schools, and a disregard of property rights.

The OC GOP Central Committee as a whole will finalize the endorsements on Sept. 17, but because the San Juan Capistrano City Council candidates failed to get a recommendation, the next chance for an endorsement is at the October meeting, when fellow candidates and Republicans Roy Byrnes' and Kim McCarthy’s candidacies will also be considered.

However, that meeting is not scheduled until mid-October, when most mailers have hit residents’ mailboxes and many absentee ballots are already cast.  

Allevato missed Tuesday’s council meeting to attend the GOP meeting. At the end of the council meeting, council members briefly discussed what constitutes an “excused” absence. New City Attorney Hans Van Ligten said he would research the matter and get back to the council.