Dirty dealing

A "whisper campaign," accompanied by denials in the form of statements to residents, is continuing to happen in the Westlake council race and needs some correction for those of you who are being misled.

I have been heavily involved in Westlake Lake Management (WLMA) since 1991 to the present, including stints as president and heading the successful dredging project which was carefully planned and completed over a sixyear period by many talented volunteers with no special assessment to our lake residents.

Now, a council candidate and supporting cast are telling some lake residents that increased dues will force the lake to lose its 40plus year private status in 2015 and the candidate will work to prevent this and even make it more "private." The WLV City Council's long-rang goals, called the 2015 Plan, includes working with WLMA (as always) to enhance areas open for the public to enjoy the lake and add beauty and interest areas where WLMA agrees.

At the same time and completely separate, WLMA has been exploring potential revenues and projects among its overall plans and projections for continued financial health without large dues increases or assessments. By coincidence, the WLMA projections happen to go out to 2015 also.

The lake residents should not allow themselves to be misled by these distortions of some created "2015 event." If WLMA can handle nearly $4 million for the dredging with no special assessment, lake residents and all other Westlake residents do not need a lake-based council member who will save and further privatize our lake and apparently "fix" WLMA.

Piecing together information to create fear is not what we need on our City Council. In my opinion, this is unexpected from a candidate who once served on the WLMA Board. I believe it is important to the residents of Westlake Village that they have the facts. Linda Catlin Westlake Village