Tustin City Council Candidates David Waldram and Tracy Worley-Hagen

No sooner than my post went out this morning on Deborah Gavello, than I got an interesting text message saying, “Meet me at City Hall at 3 pm”.

Councilwoman Gavello, as you know, issued a press release last night saying that she would not run for a second term. Citing family issues and the toxic atmosphere created by the Gang of Three, Gavello chose sanity over politics. We can’t blame her as the clowns on the right of the dais have made it almost impossible for political discourse to take place, let alone common civility.

Last week I hinted that I had met with another possible candidate and I was really hoping she would run for office – again. Armed with support from a few of my readers, I asked her to consider running and she said that she would think about it. A few days ago, I got a disappointing email saying, after much soul searching, she wouldn’t be running.

Then, Deborah sent out her press release. And, this morning, I got a the text message.

So, I pulled up to Tustin City Hall where a small cadre of supporters and friends were gathered around former Mayor, Tracy Worley-Hagen, who had just pulled her papers from the City Clerk’s Office. Of course, I smelled photo op and walked right up to the crowd. And, quite a crowd it was.  Tracy told me that, when she found out that Gavello had declined to run another term, she could not let the city council go to the wolves. So, after another (short) soul search, she decided to come out of retirement and put her hat in the ring.

Tracy said that it was sad that politics in our town had come to the bullying and corruption that it has under the eye of former Mayor and councilmember, Jerry Amante. Indeed, Amante has made his mark more for his acerbic style on the dais than the fiscal conservatism he espouses. Costing the taxpayers more than $2 million dollars in legal fees over the past two years was not acting in the best interest of the community at large, she said.

If those in attendance is any indicator, Tracy is off to a great start. Among others, there to sign her petition to run was Councilmember Gavello, former Councilmember Tony Kawashima, the first

Even Tracy’s dog is better looking than Jerry’s

woman Mayor of Tustin, Ursula Kennedy, TUSD President Jonathan Ablelove, and former Planning Commisioner Nathan Menard. Joining Hagen was David Waldram who is also a candidate (and, we hope running mate, so to speak) for City Council. Photos were taken after the signing and we will post a few after we get them from Tony.

So, this horse race is shaping up quickly. We have a few fast and furious months ahead of us.  Hagen starts the season with over $13,000 in the bank to kick off her campaign. She is an experienced and savvy campaigner who know her way around a finance statement. So, this should be a pretty good show. I invite you to sit back and watch the fireworks. Better yet, pick a candidate (I know a couple) and help them get elected.