Council Candidates’ Last Debate Marked by Rancor

The last debate before Tuesday’s vote on Laguna Hills cityhood quickly disintegrated into a series of insults and charges among the 10 candidates vying for five City Council seats.

Urged on by questions from the audience, the candidates began choosing up sides late Thursday, generally splitting between those who believe they deserve the job because they worked the longest on the cityhood effort and those considered relative newcomers.

Much of the debate, held at Laguna Hills High School, centered around a proposal by candidate William Simmons to rebate to residents a projected $3.3-million budget surplus the city may enjoy after the first year of incorporation.

Longtime cityhood activists Melody Carruth, Joel Lautenschleger, Craig Scott and L. Allen Songstad Jr., joined by Randal J. Bressette, have challenged the legality of the proposal.

Supporting the Simmons proposal are Paul J. Mayjack and David R. Stabbe. Gregory N. Weiler, who previously supported the idea, refused to choose sides during the debate, and David T. Leland said it might be an idea worth exploring in the future, but not now.

Using charts during the debate to explain his proposal, Simmons said the rebate would only go to residents, not commercial businesses, and insisted it was legal.

When Songstad and Scott attacked the plan during their own opening statements, Simmons said “Bogus” loudly, drawing an admonishment from the moderator.

“It’s a fraudulent appeal to selfishness,” Scott said, “and I am pleased to think that most voters won’t fall for that trap.”

During the forum, Simmons also accused the front-runners of being tied to special interests because they received campaign contributions from businesses, including a health-care firm and an ambulance company.

“I want honest and open government with no influence-peddling,” Simmons said.

Mayjack followed the theme when he implied that votes by new council members might be influenced by those who donated to their campaigns.

“A fox knows his own hole first,” Mayjack said.

The four former cityhood leaders who are now running--Carruth, Lautenschleger, Scott and Songstad--have generally ignored the special-interest accusations, but they do not pretend to be running independently of each other.

“I urge you to consider a strong vote for individuals who have committed themselves to this community,” Carruth said.