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Dr Shanks asks us how do we act when we are at our best? We are service orientated, ethical and he believes that in the city of Santa Clara we are better than most places but he admits it is a work in progress. Phew because as I listen to him via the streaming system the city had it makes me wonder if the people running for Santa Clara city council all went to the workshops he talks about candidates went to at the start of the campaign.
We all know that politics is dirty but here in Santa Clara this year it appears it’s dirtier than normal. Clearly the 49ers issue was at stake and as such who gets to sit on our council for the next few years. Dr Shanks clearly wanted to limit the discussion and to address the ‘hit pieces’ and to focus on how the candidates ran their campaigns.
The campaign between, Bouza, Kennedy and Emerson was very amicable and the candidates all spoke well of each other, same goes for Mathews and Lowery. Brian Lowery commended Mr Mathews for pointing out that there are rules that did not allow for his suit to be a deduction. He quickly addressed the fact and he reimbursed his campaign. Mr Lowery used his own money to fully fund his campaign – not one dollar came from an outside organization or individuals. He unlike Mr Mathews did not have money from other groups buying big postcards, making phone calls etc. I commend him for doing a grassroots campaign vs mega bucks. That to me is a person who clearly has our city at heart not the interest of other cities or other large groups. Touche to him – I hope he does well tomorrow. And how fair of Mr Mathews in pointing out this issue – I hope he wasn’t the one that leaked the story to Internal Affairs in the SJ Merc? That would be sad.
Dr Shanks reminds as that this event tonight is to clarify and set the record straight – so here are some questions still:
What is the story on the hit pieces Mr Blair’s supporters had put out on Jamie – Mr Blair said that they were not his hit pieces they were hit pieces by other interested parties and his supporters and went out without his knowledge or agreement. That those hit pieces were not authorized by him. He actknowledges that at his website but he says he would have done them differently. So even though he didn’t authorize them he admits he would have done them but in a different way. Good for him for being honest about how he would have done them had authorized them. However, remember the ethics program says that if there is inaccuracies or anything misleading the candidates need to correct that – he does not refute them even though Dr Shanks indicated that there were mistruths made regarding Ms McLeod’s voting record. After some prodding Mr Blair says he should Apologize – you got to watch the streaming and this little snippet it’s like seeing someone caught and trying to get out of a trap. Bottom line is the pieces were sent out – they were not sent with Mr Blairs approval and they are not factual. They were dirty hit pieces – will they harm Jamie – probably – boy I hate dirty politics.
The other issue is that there were automated telephone calls made by Mayor Patricia Mahan and Don Van Raesfeld. The city did not pay for the calls – but the calls did go out without saying who paid for those calls. So I can understand that people felt that they were misleading and it sounds like they are being investigated. There was obviously some issue regarding the phone calls being made out of State because when they are made out of State they are not regulated. What does that mean? The main issue is that they did not clarify who paid for the calls – so today as the school bell goes off, so to speak, they made a third call clarifying who made the first two calls supporting those three candidates. Wow what would have happened had they not have made that call? Apparently these three candidates were concerned that there would be a hit piece put out on them, according to what Mr Mathews says on line. Which makes me wonder what were they worried could be said against them? Hmmm very interesting. That the three of them amount to a full deck on city council? that the three of them all have connections to one major city family? That should Mr Blair and Moore get elected that with Mr Caserta sitting on council that Santa Clara would now have three employees of one Real Estate office on council? Wow I don’t know what could be said that is not already known by a lot of local residents.
Dr Shanks thinks this process is a work in progress – well I think a work in progress is a city council that is hell bent on stacking the numbers that is ‘a work in progress’ and I hope that the residents tomorrow when they go to vote remember it’s time for Change here as well as in the country.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
So in reading the Santa Clara, the Mission City blog I caught up on the lies being spread on Jamie McLeod. Please read these stories being spread by one of Jamie’s opponents. It’s a shame because if its true that person seems like such a nice guy, I think he probably has a heart of gold. I bet he’d be the first to help out a family member in strife or be willing to pitch in at a school event.
On his free 5 minute comcast interview he said he had no endorsements from large organizations but only local people. What that means is he didn’t go to the parties to ask for endorsements like Jamie McLeod or Mary Emerson did. Why not? Well as I understand it having talked to Mary Emerson about how this works, you have a questionnaire you fill in that the party sends you and they ask for your feed back on how you stand on issues. I’m wondering if that person couldn’t align himself with a party because he just didn’t want to be held more accountable? Food for thought, or perhaps he’s just not a very politically minded person and doesn’t quite understand the whole depth of what’s really going on here.
Though I’m not one for endorsements and I’m certainly not swayed by them – I couldn’t give a rats tail if Mayor Mahan called me up and told me to vote for him. Which she actually did. It made me think why isn’t Ms Mahan more hands off when it comes to endorsing?? I’ve learnt that in politics and in any committee you run it’s always good to have some opposition. You might actually gain a new perspective to what it is you are trying to accomplish. It’s kind of boring have a committee of completely like minded people. I think that there is a name for that. It’s called stacking the odds. Sure the odds are in your favor, but what if your favor is biased. It certainly seems at times that the city council in Santa Clara is biased to one point of view on certain issues. They certainly haven’t heard the residents when it comes to high density, traffic concerns, clean up El Camino.
It’s time for a change, as I’ve said before and Jamie has been the forerunner in Santa Clara politics who emulates change. Let’s have Jamie McLeod, Mary Emerson, Brian Lowery and write in Candidate Karen Hardy on our ballots and in local government this year. Bring in the Change that Santa Clara city council needs.
So as a country looks towards change is it not fair to say that cities should look towards change.
CNN (constant negative news) has done a survey of some of the States that were leaning toward the Republicans before the Wall Street Turmoil and found that those voters are now favoring Democrats.
There are certainly enough candidates in this Santa Clara election to give you reason to look towards change – unfortunately some candidates are either more of the same or been here done that type candidates and don’t necessarily give you the Change that you might be looking for.
Without endorsing any of them I would recommend asking them what is the change they see is needed in Santa Clara? Is it in housing, is it in having the 49ers, is it in cleaning up El Camino …
whatever the change does it warrant them representing you? I may not agree with Jamie McLeod on some of her view points but I rather a person like her that asks questions and thinks than someone who blindly votes as the ‘caucus’ recommends. There are other candidates like Jamie McLeod running who I feel will also ask questions, inquire, disagree and think for themselves rather than be the party ‘hack’.
And remember one vote can make a difference.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
It’s interesting to read the article at Santa Clara The Mission City blog and here there perspective on Karen Hardy. I’ve never met the women but I’m fascinated that someone would take on the challenge of running for a seat without actually being on the formal ballot. She has requested to be on it as a ‘write in’ candidate. So what that means she and her followers are asking voters to write her name on the ballot against the unopposed Kevin Moore. I’m not sure how many people will do this – it is certainly a gutsy campaign and an interesting one. I’m not even sure why I understand someone would do this, but they have. I guess it’s a formal protest against the incumbent Mr Moore (seat 4). So I guess if you don’t like him or you feel he doesn’t represent you – here is your chance to do something different – you write Karen Hardy in the space provided. Perhaps this is how the dog from Sunol got voted in – but it does require some paperwork and nominations. Who in their right mind nominated a dog? and did the dog sign the required nominating forms - or rather did he leave his paw print?
I think Karen at least has a chance of leaving her mark! All good politicians, such as Mr Moore need to have a little wind put into their campaigns and Karen is doing that.
Though I highly suspect Ms Hardy is not a popular vote between the powers that be that seem to hold the balance of power in Santa Clara – I say good luck to her for taking on this somewhat odd way of running for council. She clearly has a more idealistic view of the world than most politicians and in reading what is out there on the web she is not one to be scared of a challenge. It’s a shame she didn’t run out right on the ballot but I’m sure she has her reasons for doing what she is doing.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
So I noticed while wandering the Art & Wine Festival up at Central park there are a number of candidates for the up coming Santa Clara city council election. Here is a chance to get to know them – see how they reflect and plan to support certain issues.
Lets see, this is how I walked by the candidates. At the start of the gauntlet was Cirian O’donnell – I think that’s how he spells his name, he seemed to be doing a fair bit of meet and greet. Then there was Jamie McLeod who is the current council women for seat 7 I believe. Jamie had many supporters around her and was attempting to touch base with a lot of people. Oh and Mr O’Donnell tells me he is running against Jamie the current incumbent and there is one other person competing for this seat but they were not there. Brian Lowery was up there – I didn’t get a chance to meet him – his opponent was also not there.
Then the other big race is the one between Will Kennedy, Mary Emerson and Mario Bouza all of whom were there doing the meet and greet. That race will be an interesting race. Mary Emerson has I believe the only endorsement from the Democrats. Mario seems very passionate about the city and is a long time resident with deep connections to the city and lots of opinions how our money should/could be spent. I didn’t take time to talk to Mr Kennedy – I’m always a little weary of attorneys. I’m am of the same opinion that was in the SJ Mercury news recently – that Attorneys really are an indicator of “No Change” and yet they use that as their slogan this year. So I tend to stay away from attorneys - I don’t know but I wonder if they are even in touch with whats going on in the real world? Just a thought. Perhaps if I have time tomorrow I will return and give Mr Kennedy some time to answer my questions. He was busy talking to others and I did not wish to interupt.
Very interesting, I think what was more interesting was that there was a heavy bit of campaigning on the part of the Democrats in general to register voters and to support the Obama campaign. I should have stopped and asked them about attorneys and why I should vote for Obama? I don’t know attorneys and real estate professionals in politics just send up red flags for me.
I missed seeing the Parks and Trails people handing out there literature and the library information. But it was good to see people discussing the stadium and meet a couple of the school board candidates and the college candidate. There was clearly a lot of people that are not in favor of the stadium – it was apparent from amount of interest in the booth. Oh and that same booth had their own ticket for Santa Clara City council – also very interesting as they recommend a write in for Seat 4 – write in Karen Hardy I believe against Kevin Moore who is standing unopposed. Personally I always like the fact that one year in Sunol a dog was written in as Mayor – in fact years later that same Mayor’s body was stuffed and stood behind the Bar at the Sunol Pub. Excellent way to remember a politician. Stuffed and mounted around a bunch of liquor!
The fact that these people take time out to be there and talk to residents says a lot for them. This is true grass roots politics. I took literature from Noelani Sallings, Albert Gonzalez and Don Borenave all running for the school board and all represented at Politics Alley. I chatted with some of these candidates or their representatives and now have an idea who I am going to vote for. On a side note I like the fact that Albert Gonzalez had no endoresements. I find endorsements odd and rather make up my own mind than having the approval of say a politician or a business person.
Anyway these guys will be there tomorrow no doubt so go and talk to them find out whats important for you and see if you found someone you wish to support. After you’ve done that take some time and relax, drink some wine, listen to the band – Santa Clara puts on a great art and wine festival.
©Letters From Silicon Valley 2008
