Courtesy of The Weiss Report
He argued for a 10-year deal, then said he pushed for five. He proposed “multi stories” downtown, then called it disinformation.
I asked Claude Ai to compile statements made by the Incumbents at City Council meetings during the last few years of service. The report has over 1,000 entries. I’d describe them as a sample of what the incumbents said on the record, chosen to show patterns, and not as a list of their worst moments.
That what the picks actually are. Some are flat contradictions. Others are remarks that show how a member thinks about residents, money or accountability. A few are simply odd things to say from the dais, in their own words. Take a look at the video links and see for yourself.
Every quote below comes from the City’s own meeting videos. Each “Watch” link opens the video at the moment the statement was made, so you can hear it for yourself.
Term Limits: Good for Sacramento, Not for Laguna
Fine for Washington and Sacramento, but not for Laguna.
At the Advocates for Laguna Residents forum (September 15 2026), asked about Measure E, he said: “I support term limits nationally and for the state, but I don’t really see it necessary for the community.” Asked why, he pointed to the money from super PACs at the state and national level, and said “I’m not raising all that much money.”
The record says otherwise. On September 30, the owner of the Surf & Sand gave $100,000 to a committee backing Orgill, Kempf and Rounaghi together. That is exactly the kind of outside money he says makes term limits necessary everywhere else. He also received $5,000 from 15 donors outside Laguna Beach. That’s about 18% of the $28,400 in itemized contributions.
Note: As the Founder of Visit Laguna Orgill has established a good working relationship with the Surf and Sand. He met with executives of the MOM Group there just days after recieving a large check and hired their GM to serve as the head of Visit Laguna.
What He Said, and What the Record Shows
1. Contradiction: “I pushed for a five-year term.”
Oct. 28, 2025: “I pushed for a five-year term in June. The council majority decided to go with the 10.”
At the June 10, 2025 meeting he argued for the 10-year term: “the 10 years is because there’s artist housing issues.” Answering Whalen’s concern about a long commitment, he said: “I used to own a lot of commercial real estate and I did 20-year leases all day long.”
Watch: June 10 · Watch: June 10, leases · Watch: Oct. 28
2. Contradiction: “No plan for a third story downtown.”
April 28, 2026: He complained of “disinformation” and “vileness” online, and per the record’s summary told residents there is no plan for a third story downtown, only an EIR.
Dec. 12, 2023, when Phase II began: “I think that we should probably consider multi stories throughout the downtown.”
Watch: April 2026 · Watch: Dec. 2023
3. Left residents out of the Promenade focus groups.
April 23, 2024, after you pressed him: “I’ve errored… I did not have intentions to mislead the public and I apologize if there was any misperception.” He blamed his private-sector habits.
4. Measure height from the flood plain, not the ground.
Oct. 28, 2025: “it might be worth looking at measuring the height from the flood plane, the 100-year flood plane.” In the Arts District floodplain, that means taller buildings at the mouth of the canyon. He raised the same idea in December 2023.
5. The Dupuis settlement as a business decision.
Nov. 7, 2023: “mine was simple and it was really based on my life’s experience being in business, it was financial… I just truly thought that it would be best for the city to cut bait and move forward.” This was about roughly $440,000 in public money and a report the public never saw.
6. A $30 million figure with no source.
June 9, 2026: “$30 million is probably coming out of our budget that is directly related to day trippers.” He gave no source, and “probably” is doing a lot of work.
7. Blaming COVID for the Promenade’s retail problems.
Feb. 4, 2025: “we’re making assumptions that the drop in retail sales is a direct result of the promenade, but what’s affected retail more than anything is just the fact that we went through COVID.” By then COVID had been over for some time, and merchants were still complaining.
8. “Nefarious accusations.”
April 28, 2026, closing the city charter hearing: “I get a little bit disappointed when I hear all these nefarious accusations thrown at us, but I’ll get over it.” Residents raised questions about a charter, and the Mayor treated them as attacks.
9. “Less restrictions the better.”
Feb. 27, 2024, on minimum standards for single-room-occupancy housing: “closets, each unit shall have a closet space of what, 72 cubic feet, that’s kind of stuff I just don’t think that we need… less restrictions the better.”
10. “Coney Island.”
May 14, 2024: “I’m a free market guy myself… but cities do have the ability to decide what they want to be… you can turn into Coney Island.” This is from a member who ran development for Mo Honarkar.
Why This Matters for Measure E
Put these statements beside those of the other two incumbents and a pattern appears. Positions shift when the election gets close. Promises from one meeting are forgotten by the next. Members talk past residents who object. And all three oppose the one reform that would guarantee new people a turn at the table.
Each gives a different reason. Orgill likes term limits everywhere except here. Kempf says elections are enough, while seeking 12 years. Rounaghi wanted term limits for committees, but not for himself.
At the GOP forum, the moderator noted that 28 of 34 Orange County cities have term limits. Measure E would bring Laguna in line: two consecutive four-year terms, then a two-year break before running again. Nobody is barred for life, and every Council member would still have to win at the ballot box.
Elections are a check. Term limits make sure the check gets cashed. Vote yes on Measure E.
Disclosure: I am a member of NimbleGov PAC, which placed Measure E on the ballot, and I have endorsed Joy Berry, Ashley Cintas and Laura Parisi.