Mayor: Residents Must 'Speak Out' For Lake Forest

Collaboration is key to Lake Forest's continued success, told a 100-plus audience at the Wednesday evening.

"I don't really want to get political tonight ... but this is the time that our city needs your help," McCullough said to a packed room at the on Rockfield Boulevard.

The format of her speech—the annual State of the City address—was an example of the team spirit that she said keeps Lake Forest strong.

McCullough invited the four other members of the City Council to stand at the podium with her, and gave each a short span of time to expound on an issue dear to them.

"This is the team," she said, introducing the five-member group. "These are the people that make the decisions, thumbs up or thumbs down."

The mayor also encouraged residents to reach out to or other council members if she is not immediately available.

During her talk, McCullough focused on a refrain heard frequently at city-sponsored events: Lake Forest's business-friendly climate.

More than 100 businesses opened in Lake Forest in 2011, she said. Since January, 38 more have joined that list.

"We're doing something good here," she said.

Switching tones, she also castigated state lawmakers for eliminating hundreds of redevelopment agencies, including Lake Forest's, which was the force behind the revitalization of the El Toro Road corridor.

"This is one time I'm asking, as your mayor, to get involved, to speak out," she said, encouraging her listeners to write their legislators. "Tell Sacramento that they need to fix this. We want our money back."

McCullough said that the shuttering of Lake Forest's redevelopment activities is a further blow because of the city's thrifty ways.

"Lake Forest is a very conservative city, [we're] conservative with our money," she said.

Representatives from the event host, the , and from the city also spoke, telling the audience of businesspeople about economic resources available through the two organizations.

One event highlighted was the sixth annual Secrets & Strategies to Business Success seminar, which will be put on by the chamber this May.