Allevato's Supporters Speak Out at City Council Meeting

After hearing Clint Worthington announce his intentions to recall San Juan Capistrano City Councilman Sam Allevato, several people at Tuesday’s council meeting got up to publicly support the longest-sitting councilman.

Here is some of what they had to say:

Former Capistrano Dispatch Editor-turned-PR-guy Jonathan Volzke actually spoke before Worthington. He said he wasn’t “proud of it,” but many of the people who are backing the recall got their start in his paper.

“But as I watched them I realized that they’re not City Hall watchdogs. A watchdog can heel. A watchdog can lay peacefully. Capistrano Common Sense and that group are nothing more than political bullies,” Volzke said.

--

Allevato’s running mate in the 2012 election, Ginny Kerr, said she learned firsthand the lows their political opponents will sink, calling the campaign the worst 3 ½ months of her life.

“To say I’m appalled does not begin to do this situation justice,” Kerr said.

--

Former San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce Stephanie Frisch noted that the citizens recently got a chance to vote on Allevato’s worthiness for office in the November election.

“The last thing we need is to bring [nasty campaign rhetoric] upon ourselves without a specific reason for a recall,” she said. “The people of San Juan have chosen and they have elected Sam Allevato to sit on the City Council.”

--

Resident Mike Johnson said he publicly has disagreed with Allevato on many issues. But he still doesn’t think the councilman should face a recall.

“I couldn’t stand up with a ‘Stand up for Sam’ [sign]. But as a man, you’ve been right by me. If I had to be for ya or agin ya, I guess I have to be for ya,” Johnson said.