Politics & Government

Update: Committee Warned for Election Violations in MacLean Recall

Citizens to Recall Lance MacLean violated state election laws, according to the commission on fair elections.

Updated: Connie Lee is interviewed in the fourth paragraph and below.

Opponents of former mayor Lance MacLean violated two election laws and were officially warned by the California Fair Political Practices Commission in a letter dated Jan. 3.

Citizens to Recall Lance MacLean failed to report the street addresses of people they paid to circulate their petitions, the FPPC said. One donor, Connie Lee, failed to fill out a major donor campaign statement after giving $12,053 to the recall.

Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The commission let both offenders off with a warning. The letter says the CRLM did file the addresses of its street team in time for the Feb 2, 2010 recall election. A separate letter said Lee cooperated with investigators. Neither had prior violations.

Lee said the letter marked a happy end to the investigation.

Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Today was a good day for the recall group," she said. She said the FPPC's findings meant that the charges brought against the group were not substantial.

MacLean lost his seat on the city council by 19 votes. The recall was supported by the Saddleback Republican Assembly, who started collecting the 9,300 valid signatures required by state law in March 2009.

The special election cost the city $227,000, with an additional $40,000 going to the state to verify the required signatures.

Following the recall, small business owner was elected and soon after became mayor.

Recall proponents had wanted to recall current mayor Frank Ury along with council woman Trish Kelley, but decided collecting the required signatures would be too expensive.

One of the violation letters was sent to Dale Tyler, whose name appears first on the list of signatures to recall MacLean.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here