In the wake of the Obama economy and a 30% decline in the Dow Jones Industrial Average since Barack Obama’s election, and in contrast to neighboring Mission Viejo’s recent city council vote to grant lifetime medical benefits to Councilmembers who have served three terms, the Dana Point City Council voted down last Tuesday night, by a close 3-2 vote, a 30% council pay increase and a 100% spike in health benefits for councilmembers.  Under the plan advanced by Mayor Joel Bishop, a former member of the Orange County Democrat Central Committee, and Democrat Steven Weinberg, councilmembers in small Dana Point would receive over $24,000 a year in pay and benefits.  

     Assemblymember-elect Diane Harkey, at her last council meeting before her swearing-in to the Legislature, did the right thing and moved to deny the benefits to her allies on the Council, after missing two prior votes on the issue.  Newly re-elected councilmember Lara Anderson (who received the largest vote in Dana Point history earlier this month) and Lisa Bartlett, all Republicans, made the council majority against the pay spike.   Good for all of them, and the taxpayers.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.