Commentary: Scott Peotter should not be allowed to complete his council term

Scott Peotter is an embarrassment to our community and a failure as our city councilman. He tries to say he is being recalled because of his faith, or that he is politically incorrect and outspoken.

None of that is true.

He is being recalled because of his support for high-rise development, his efforts to deny the constitutional rights of residents to petition their government and his insults to his colleagues and the public.

He strongly supports high-density, high-rise development and even endorsed raising the height limits for developers on Lido Isle. He fought hard to block the Museum House referendum by voting to require the 10-pound petition and then voted twice to approve the project.

Peotter has insulted his colleagues, compared a council member’s argument to a defense tactic used in court by notorious killers, the Menendez brothers, and insulted residents who opposed his high-rise development plans. He disclosed confidential, closed-session deliberations and broke campaign-contribution regulations and political reporting laws, according to the Fair Political Practices Commission. He misused the city seal in his email newsletter and has been rebuked twice by the council.

He proposed speculating in the stock market with city tax dollars, voted for fee cuts and large settlements for his campaign contributors, and, according to the Stu News website, voted against the city sexual harassment prevention policies. Claiming to be a fiscal conservative, Peotter uses his council position to collect compensation from four public agencies.

As for keeping his promises, pension debt is $70 million higher and accelerating faster since he took office. The operating budget is up $22 million, capital spending is down because Marina Park was completed, not because of Peotter. His plan to reduce bonded debt would have increased debt service by $20 million. He was successful in putting a man who would go onto to be convicted of embezzlement on the finance committee.

Our city cannot afford the extremist policies of a councilman who disrespects our laws and who mocks and insults residents who disagree with him. Sign the petition to recall Scott Peotter.

For more information, visit recallscottpeotter.com

NEWPORT BEACH resident Lynn Swain is writing on behalf of the Committee to Recall Scott Peotter.