Published: Nov. 3, 2010 Updated: 12:51 p.m.
Moore: Brea should leave animosity behind
BREA – - Looking back on a City Council election considered by many as the most divisive in recent history, re-elected Councilman Roy Moore said laying animosity to rest will be necessary to move forward with city business.
Among the seven candidates competing for three seats on the council, Moore finished first with nearly 20 percent of the vote; incumbent Ron Garcia was second with 17.2 percent and challenger Brett Murdock was third with 15.8 percent.
Paid political advertisements, blogs and e-mails became weapons of attack throughout the campaign and accusations of sign stealing and harassment created rifts among residents and between current council members.
"We've got a city that is divided and we've got to pull together and it has to start with the City Council," Moore said. "We've got to work together or the next election will be just as bad as this one."
Steven Vargas finished fourth, with 14.7 percent of the vote and Ric Clough finished fifth with 13.8 percent.
Close to $120,000 has been spent on campaigns by the candidates and political action committees, including nearly $60,000 spent by Brea fire and police unions endorsing Clough and Moore.
Garcia raised nearly $24,000, the most of any candidate.Looking forward, priorities include balancing the budget, monitoring the city's recent reorganization efforts — especially in the fire department — and examining the effectiveness of the year-old street sweeping ordinance, Moore said.
When the council voted 3-2 in July to restructure the Brea Fire Department instead of going with a proposal to join with the Orange County Fire Authority, Moore and Marty Simonoff voted against the restructuring.
While campaigning, Moore came across residents inconvenienced by the ordinance requiring residents to move cars off the street before sweepers arrive or risk a $38 ticket.
But many residents are in favor of the ordinance so it might just need to be tweaked, he said
In some cases signs were poorly posted, said Moore, who was one of four councilmen who voted yes on the ordinance about a year ago.
One of Murdock's campaign promises was to do away with the ordinance.
"I'm looking forward to working with (fellow councilmen) Ron and Brett and Marty (Simonoff) and Don (Schweitzer)," Moore said.
The other candidates were Don R. Havard, Jim Grosse and Elleke R. Humphreys.
For City Council election results go to Registrar of Voters: http://www.ocvote.com/live/gen2010/results.htm
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