A large sign with Tony Beall's name provided the backdrop in a backyard where Beall announced his candidacy for Rancho Santa Margarita City Council. To one side of Beall there was a 270-degree view of O'Neill Regional Park and the Santa Margarita Parkway Bridge.
Coupled with the words of a procession of supporters who spoke on Beall's behalf, the message was pretty clear.
Beall sees the big picture.
It's that message that Beall hopes carries him to victory in November. The sitting mayor, he seeks reelection to the city council, hopeful that voters will simply vote on his record.
"Results matter, and we have a proud record of accomplishment," Beall told Patch after he spoke to an enthusiastic group of supporters gathered in the back yard of Chip and Donna Furniss. "Look at what we've accomplished. While many other government agencies are drowning in debt and deficit, we've got a balanced budget, millions in reserve, we're ranked the No. 1 safest city in the state of California for two consecutive years by the FBI, our business community is thriving. ... That doesn't mean we're insulated or that we don't have the same kind of pressures other places do, but we've dealt with them better."
With the proposed Chiquita Ridge project looming, Beall also said that his experience as a real estate attorney would be beneficial, just as it was when he helped negotiate the deal that brought 92 acres of land to RSM that must, as a provision, include the largest regional sports park in south Orange County.
Several supporters, including councilwoman Carol Gamble and planning commissioner Brad McGirr, were among those who spoke. And in the end, they may have sold Beall harder to those in attendance than Beall did.
McGirr quoted H.L. Menken, who famously wrote that "I am strongly in favor of common sense, common honesty and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office."
"Clearly, H.L. Menken never met Tony Beall," McGirr said, going on to point out the $19 million in the bank that the city can draw on, and recent claims against the city's "traffic congestion" and business environment that amounted to critics trying to create "a boogeyman."
"Let me tell you," McGirr said, "there ain't no boogeyman."
Gamble, an original council member when the city incorporated in 2000, had to give up her seat to tend to her ailing father in 2003. At the time, she didn't know Beall, but said that her decision to support Beall to take her place during the appointment process was one of the best decisions she has made.
Other speakers included Capistrano Unified School District trustee Ellen Addonizio, Chamber of Commerce president Suzanne Singh, and former city manager Steve Hayman.
Addonizio said she lived in Mission Viejo and that her city could use someone like Beall. Hayman, who essentially served as the CEO of Rancho Santa Margarita but operated at the discretion of the city council, praised Beall for his commitment to the city.
"Tony Beall cares a great deal about this community, and it has resonated with me more than anything else," Hayman said. "Tony has spent a great deal of time and effort for very little, and is very valuable.
"I told him when I announced my retirement, I'm at his disposal, I'll do what I can to help him be successful."
Beall, whose son played the National Anthem on an electric guitar at the event, introduced his family as well. With children ranging in age from 13 to 23 and his wife, Jennifer, at his side, Beall indicated that every decision he makes is based on whether it helps "to promote or enhance the original vision of this city."
"If we stick to that vision, this will always be the finest place to live and raise your family," Beall said. "That's one of the main reasons I'm involved. Selfishly, I'm involved because I do live here and my family lives here and I want to make this the finest place I can for all of them."
Beall also said he expects the election to be "hotly contested."
"My response to that is 'Bring it on,'" Beall said. "It's not about me if I win. Nothing is about the elected official, it's about you the people we are elected to serve. Look very hard at anyone running for office and see if they're running for you, or if they're running for themselves.
"I have complete faith in the electorate. We have a proud record on which to run upon, and I'll run on that record forever."
Former Veteran, James McCabe
Regarding the military, on the record at the March 4, 2011 special council meeting, Mayor Beall stated he's a vocal supporter of our brave soldiers—including Jesse Petrilla. He voted for RSM's adoption of the Camp Pendleton 2/5 Marines. His family personally adopts a Marine family every Christmas. His father and father-in-law proudly served in the military, and his father-in-law was buried with full military honors. Jesse Petrilla tried to turn the community against Mayor Beall and his council colleagues by questioning their patriotism and support of the military—just as you’re trying to do. It backfired on Petrilla: http://ranchosantamargarita.patch.com/articles/top-stories-of-2011-no-4-captain-chaos . It'll backfire on anyone else who tries to deceive the people of RSM with such misrepresentations. You're obviously a fake. I've never heard of a "Former" Veteran!
It is obvious that you are the same political operative as "RSM MOM" and "James McCabe," spinning on behalf of an opposition candidate. You can continue to post false information under newly minted Patch monikers all day long and it will get you nowhere. Those within the community know the real truth. I have full faith in the voters of RSM to ferret out your noise and reelect Mayor Beall in November, based on his many contributions that have made our city such a great place to live.
Glad to see someone has a sense of humor at the council meetings beside myself!
I would hope people base their vote on the candidates record, and the health of the city, and not on the candidates time in the seat.
As you are aware, I am not a fake poster nor am I a "political operative." Unfortunately, I share the negative opinion of Mr. Beall even though agreed with his vote on the "In God We Trust" debate, however, I have had an extremely negative experience with him on a personal level and do not believe most of what he says publicly. He is a good politician, but I am not voting for the politician, I am voting for the person. And, in Mr. Beall's case, I would vote for a bamboon before I would vote for him.
I am a new commentor on Patch. You caused me to sign on! I believe you are an attorney. It is an attorney's job to argue. You are definitely a political operative for the incumbents! To set the record straight, Tony Beall wanted to replace Lt. Jesse Petrillo when he was called to Ft. Campbell for training. He only issued his statement on March 4, 2011 because he was taking so much heat from veterans and active duty families! I am the mother of a Marine currently deployed in Afganistan. As far as Beall's achievements, which he takes so much credit for, the credit should totally go to the City Hall employees who did the successful work! Do you actually think that the city would be worse off without this incumbent? Try putting your finger into a bucket of water and try to find that spot when you pull your finger out! All of the incumbents have been there long enough!
Additionally,why aren't some of these naysayers mentioning the fact that one of the candidates was recently asked to leave a local restaurant because he was interrupting people's meals with his constant campaigning? Well Mr. McCook? Mr. Huddleston? Ms. McCarty? All three in unison? I vote for the person I feel is most qualified and has offered the most to the city. This might be an incumbent, and it might not; but you don't vote against an incumbent just for the heck of it. I do know this, I've come to see Mr. McCook and his many aliases as a real negative. I add him to my short list of folks I could NEVER support.
I respect that you're posting under your own name, just as I am, and appreciate that there are discussions with varying points of view. I'm aware of your longstanding personal issue with Mayor Beall relating to your opinion on issues within CUSD. I used to live across the street from Arroyo Vista and supported the efforts of Mayor Beall and others who've been concerned with the management within the district. While I respect the teachers, I had a big problem with the administration, Fleming, the union, and the original board of trustees. It was proven that among other things, CUSD officials were diverting millions in Mello-Roos tax dollars out of RSM to pay for the $52,000,000 administration office in San Juan Capistrano: http://www2.ocregister.com/articles/roos-mello-building-1878125-city-money In response to the Mayor’s efforts, CUSD sent a letter to the city of RSM promising they would not divert any additional Mello-Roos tax dollars out of our city. I’m proud that we have leaders such as Mayor Beall, who protected the taxpayers of RSM, and was a leader of the effort to reform the corruption within CUSD. I respect your right to your opinion, but feel that time has shown Mayor Beall was right about CUSD. Since that time, I've worked with Mayor Beall on economic development within RSM, and see the many benefits the city has reaped due to his substantial efforts. He's done a terrific job for our city, and I'm certain his heart is in the right place.
My comments regarding Mr. Beall and his conduct have little do to with the "CUSD situation" and more to do with the behavior of him and his cohorts toward me and many others over the course of many years. It also has to do with personal issues that I would not share on a public discussion board. Whether Mr. Beall was "right" about CUSD is debatable and I will not go into that discussion on this board - it is history.
I have not endorsed or decided to vote for any of the candidates but, I assure you that I will not vote for Mr. Beall, Ms. Gamble or Mr. Holloway. If for no other reason, just how long should a local politician stay in office raking in taxpayer money? 4 years, 8 years, 12 years, 16 years? New ideas will definitely benefit our city.
It's something Tony Beall is very good at and has done countless damage to those who serve on the dais with him at the RSM City Council and those at CUSD's School board for the past decade or so. He's played a lot of people, thinking he's a king maker, he can be puppet master and he can dictate what happens behind the scenes. It would do a lot of good for not just RSM but South County if he just went away.