Politics & Government

A Day in the Life: Mayor Rhonda Reardon

What's it like being the mayor of Mission Viejo?

Being mayor means a lot more than voting at City Council meetings. Mayors are the face of their cities, welcoming new businesses, encouraging the work of volunteers and answering their constituents' questions about the city.

Patch asked Mayor Rhonda Reardon to keep track of a day in her life Tuesday, Aug. 6. The following is a record of that day.


Morning


5:30
: Time to wake up.

6:15: Reardon opens the doors for an hour-long prayer meeting at Saddleback Covenant Church. Reardon is a part of the church leadership, so she also spoke to Senior Pastor Kevin Davenport.

9:30: Workout at the YMCA, then home to clean up.

11:30: A drive to Santa Ana to talk to interview the Orange County Sheriff's Department coroner about prescription drug abuse. Reardon is planning to release a public-access television show about the drug abuse problem.

Deputy Coroner Tiffany Williams described breaking the news of a child's death to a mother. "The (mother) said 'I've been waiting every night for the coroner to show up for the last seven years.' I sat there thinking, 'I cannot imagine being this parent."

Afternoon and Evening


2:00: Reardon speaks to kids for the SummerRead celebration at the Murray Center. For the program, over 1,000 kids spent at least 12 hours a week reading.

"I started interviewing the kids," she said. "I picked one little boy, Logan, and he was in kindergarten. He hasn't learned to read yet. He said, 'Well, my mom's reading to me.'

"I said, 'You're exactly right, you're learning to read.'"

3:15: Impromptu meetings at City Hall. Reardon talks to city staff, responds to emails and answers phone calls.

5:00: Interview with Diana Presta, a former youth soccer president and involved Mission Viejo parent whose son Andrew was addicted to drugs as a young teenager. He began taking them when he was 11.

"(Presta) is a wonderful spokesperson," Reardon said. "Because anyone who listens to her, you look at her and go, 'That could be me. I could be Diana.'"

6:45: Attends National Night Out with grandkids and family. The yearly event puts emergency workers in touch with the public for raffles, free food and safety tips.

"I thought the police and the fire, all of our emergency services people did such a good job," Reardon said. "They have kids get into a squad car, get onto motorcycles, see all the guns and that kind of stuff."

Her middle grandson Noah almost won the hula hoop contest.

9:00: Back at home doing laundry and catching up on recorded television. Tonight is "Rizzoli and Isles," a cop drama that emphasizes relationships. In fact her favorite shows—"The Closer," "Blue Bloods," "Major Crimes,"—all fit that theme.

"I don't get to watch much tv but seem to lean toward shows that show law enforcement in a positive light emphasizing relationships," she said.

Reardon also tapes Special Report with Bret Baier.

1:00: After a few final emails, the mayor turns in.


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