Lean, Mean Anti-MacLean Machine Closer to a Recall

Grocery store haggling and battling has characterized the fight to recall Mission Viejo council member Lance-No-I-Didn't-Choke-The-Guy-MacLean. Back in February, when Spencer Kornhaber wrote his story about a group of disgruntled Mission Viejo NIMBYS and their relentless efforts to recall MacLean, the only sure thing that was that this fight was going to get dirty (whether or not that resulted in actual petition signatures was beside the point).

Their list of complaints against MacLean included (from Spencer's story):

"VIOLENCE." The rest: "ANGER AND INCIVILITY . . . HATRED AND DISRESPECT . . . SELF-DEALING . . . GREED AND CORRUPT PRIORITIES . . . FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT . . . TAX INCREASE . . . FALSE PROMISES."

It seemed like a fight that would irritate some, and then go away without requiring taxpayers to pay for another election. But over at Orange Juice, Art posted an update from MV gadfly Larry Gilbert, which stated that as of this weekend, the recall folks have gathered 8,000 signatures -- just 1,350 shy of the mandated 9,350 signatures they have until August 25th to collect.

No word on how much the election may actually cost. Estimates (and fights over estimates among council members, MacLean, his supporters and his opponents) are estimated at anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000.