FULLERTON : Council Race Free of Mudslinging

Compared to some election races in Orange County, Fullerton’s City Council race may seem a bit boring. After all, the race is void of any mudslinging and outrageous campaign charges and countercharges.

With only three candidates--two of them incumbents--vying for two seats in the Nov. 6 election, the race has been decidedly low-key.

“I think Fullerton City Council races have traditionally been free of mudslinging,” said Mayor A.B. (Buck) Catlin, who is seeking reelection. “Sure, we all have our philosophical differences, but we talk about them at City Council meetings, and the public knows where we stand. You won’t find any skulduggery or backdoor dealing in a Fullerton City Council race.”

The other two candidates, incumbent Councilwoman Molly McClanahan and challenger Ray Merryman, agree.

“I think Fullerton has had a long tradition of cordiality,” said McClanahan, who is running for her third term on the City Council. “The council likes to deal with issues, not personalities.”

The only spark of discontent comes from Merryman--a longtime Fullerton resident who unsuccessfully ran for City Council in 1988--but even his disagreements with Catlin and McClanahan remain civil.

“I like to stick to the issues,” Merryman said. “I personally believe 12 years on the council is nothing more than a politburo. But I like to stick to the facts.”

Merryman said the council tends to vote the same on every issue that comes before it, a signal, he said, that change is necessary.

But other than fundamental differences with the council, Merryman has refrained from verbally attacking Catlin’s or McClanahan’s character.

Though Catlin and McClanahan disagree on some issues, the two candidates agree on what they called Fullerton’s major issues--the economy and environment.

“It’s no secret that the overall economy is slowing down and leveling out,” Catlin said, “and this will have an effect on our city and what kind of service we can provide.

“The city’s revenue stream is strained. And people in Fullerton are used to getting good service from the city. We, as a council, must be ready to work with the problem.”

As far as the environment is concerned, both Catlin and McClanahan agree that water and air quality and the safe disposal of waste is crucial for the city. In addition, both said Fullerton needs to start working with other Orange County cities in solving these problems.

FULLERTON CITY COUNCIL

These are the candidates running for two seats on the Fullerton City Council in the Nov. 6 election.

A. B. (Buck) Catlin

Age: 72

Occupation: Incumbent mayor; retired.

Background: Served three terms on Fullerton City Council; a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy; served with the Navy until 1961, primarily in submarine forces; a Fullerton resident since 1948; has served on the city’s Planning Commission and Citizen Goals Committee.

Issues: Believes the council must start working with neighboring cities to solve the problems of air and water quality and the disposal of waste; believes the council must also deal with the slowdown in the economy and find ways to keep the city’s services at a premium.

Molly McClanahan

Age: 53.

Occupation: Incumbent; director of Anaheim Youth Employment Services for the YWCA.

Background: Served three terms on Fullerton City Council; has been a resident of Fullerton for 24 years; was named “Woman of the Year” by the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce; served on the Tri-City Park Authority.

Issues: Believes the city must remain fiscally responsible and prudent and stabilize and diversify its economic base; believes the city needs to determine the regional impact on its traffic, air and water quality and find an effective solution to its solid waste disposal.

Ray Merryman

Age: 72.

Occupation: Environmental mechanical engineer.

Background: Has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University and a master’s degree from Washburn School of Engineering in Chicago; attended United States Officer Training School and is a wartime veteran; has lived in Fullerton for 29 years.

Issues: Says he wants to break up the bureaucracy that has gotten a foothold in the City Council; wants to make it a citizens’ council instead of a “politburo”; says city must be made accountable for its economic decisions.