Manteca City Council
There are two seats open. I'm going to be voting for:
1. Debby Moorhead: An "outsider" with a fresh perspective. She seems to recognize that "business unfriendly" is really the same as "poverty friendly."
2. Benjamin Cantu:* For lack of any other really good choice. Cantu is the ultimate bureaucrat having spent 30 years in the employ of city government. I had to look past comments at the forum disparaging Wal-Mart (the world's most successful company). To be fair those comments were not entirely clear.
On the positive side, he had the courage to publish his viewpoints in a full page ad in the newspaper. That's refreshing to me. It's not so much if I agree or disagree with him, he's one of the few who has the courage to actually say what he thinks. At least there's the possibility for discussion when someone speaks their mind.
* As an alternative to Cantu, you may want to consider Samuel Anderson. Vote at your own risk because his warranty may have expired. He voiced a desire to roll taxes back to 2006 levels (repeal measure m extra sales tax) -- and that alone is a good enough reason for consideration.This was difficult because both incumbents, Councilman Snyder and Debrum are good men, but terrible politicians. They are both qualified -- but damnit, they are stuck in the "way things have to be" instead of seeing what could be.
Snyder enjoys the wisdom of years. Yet he still insists that we "have to compete" with other cities and what he means is "we have to take more money from our citizens to give to big corporations than other cities do." That's not competing, that's a form of (dare I say) mild fascism and a prescription for poverty. Which has worked to produce poverty exactly as predicted.
On other issues he is courageous. He once asked why all the policemen in town are dressed like thugs and gangsters with their shaved heads and menacing appearance. I admire that kind of courage and it's unfortunate I can't vote for him.
Similarly, Debrum is personable and competent. Yet he still insists that it's government's job to take money from people by force and give it to big corporations. He also pointed to the "measure m" tax increase as "good" even though the money has simply gone to a pay raise (37%) for city personnel with zero increase in "safety" for all practical purposes. He points to boondoggles as "good" -- The "Big League Dreams" park that everyone in Manteca was forced to purchase with their hard earned money ($1000 per person!) whether they liked the idea or not. He justified the $millions taken from ordinary citizens and given to "Bass Pro Shop" and "Costco" as "helping you." We need someone more careful with the public's money.
Are you wondering why I would praise "business friendly" above and yet condemn the gifts to big corporations? That's not a conflict. Business friendly means business has the freedom to open their shop or factory or store with the minimum of costs or hassles from the city government. That is entirely different than giving gifts to business. That's not business friendly because it's profoundly unfriendly to the one not getting the gifts.
And this has been the problem with the current council. They will give gifts to certain favored businesses and other "little guys" get nothing but hassles from the city. The little guy can't open a car wash (no permit for you!), the little car dealer must donate 10% of his land to the city tree program or else he will be denied a permit but the big car dealer gets money from the city. Simply putting a sign on your building is an ordeal. Unless you are favored; in that case you get an exception from the sign ordinance. And so on.
We can do better. We can live as free people. Go out and vote like it means something.
Do you honestly think that Ben Cantu's ad is really something to talk about? This is basically a resume and boring. I decided to check with Samuel Anderson and asked him if you had contacted him about anything and he said, 'no', but he does remember you taking his picture at the forum. So, your mention of "Vote at your own risk because his warranty may have expired," does not hold water, you never checked.
ReplyDeleteYou have failed to contact this person regarding your point and you place him a close second for your choice. I watched the forum on October 16 and he clearly won many voters over. Ben Cantu mentioned in his ad that he is the "ONLY CANDIDATE" with municipal experience. WRONG! Samuel Anderson not only has it, but he has executive level experience.
Ben Cantu mentions Manteca with "Occasional Crime". Occasional? Last Christmas we had a murder in town and just read last week's police blotter. Samuel Anderson has high-level contacts and experience in law enforcement and I have personally gone out with this man. He is genuine and he is engaging to say the least. Ben Cantu is a public bureaucrat retired from the city he says that he was responsible for assisting and creating this mess. So he must have found God in his old age and wants to make amends to our city. Good luck!
Samuel Anderson brings to Manteca an experienced and trained executive in both law enforcement, public safety and corporate business with a life-time of achievement and has served our military for over 20 years as a United States Marine.
I dare you to call him and make an appointment, he'll sit down with you and listen and he'll talk. But, to say that he is a close second or alternative without ever speaking to him is not correct. Yes, I am fighting for him because I like him and I like what he stands for. He's a good man and he really loves our city and people in general and has a vision to make it right.
I'm afraid that YOU lack the ability to choose any candidate because you talk as if all of them are just pawns and typical politicians with no experience and you know all the answers. I got news for you, try pounding the pavement as Anderson did in the 113 degree heat and continue it day in and day out. I did and it kicked my ass just after 20 minutes. You have to be in shape and you have to be determined. Can you honestly tell me that any other candidate went door to door every single day of the week for months? No, you can not. Samuel Anderson is the man for the job and I also choose Debby, even if the Sun Post used her gender as an excuse.
Thanks for the commentary. My list is just that, my list. I welcome anything anyone would like to say or share because I really don't know for sure who is best. No one can. I hope that the combined wisdom of the crowd will pick the best leaders.
ReplyDeleteI have met Mr. Anderson and his lovely wife Akemi at a few gatherings. They are a charming couple. I said "no guarantees" because his positions are at odds with the ML editorial positions on things like the propositions as I'm sure you noticed; but that doesn't disqualify him because the city government doesn't have much jurisdiction over those issues.
And the voters can make up their own minds. I hope our readers will check out the links I've provided to learn more about Anderson and all the candidates. He did make a respectable showing for himself in the last election. But it's now the same problem as then; only two slots open.
-Good luck!
I appreciate your response to mine, but it does not address the fact, you can't choose or say you don't know unless you find out. I truly encourage you to contact him, sit down for coffee and just chat. Yes, I agree with what you said about him and his wife, but unless you have asked the questions, to qualify him as what you have posted just does not add up.
ReplyDeleteSamuel Anderson's qualifications out-due Ben Cantu any day of the week. Manteca will miss out if they do not choose Samuel Anderson for city council. He is the best candidate. He understands economics and deficits including his massive law enforcement experience, something Manteca needs right now. This is my challenge to you.
This talk of “warranties expiring” has much more to do with the incumbents than the challengers. To put any of the five sitting councilman back into office in this election and in 2010 would merely extend the pain Manteca is experiencing. Anyone who believes that high tax rates, huge houses everywhere, and unlimited choices in retail goods and entertainment has anything to do with “quality of life” has completely lost touch with humanity. I agree with Manteca Live’s stance of “vote for two” between Debbie, Ben, or Samuel, but only in regards to the two incumbents.
ReplyDeleteMy preferred order is Samuel, Ben, and Debbie.
Samuel is a man of the people. He’s not perfect*, but his wealth of background experience, both big business executive and small business owner, law enforcement, information technology, municipal, etc., suits him well to start the process of turning things around at City Hall. We need his abilities to see and listen to all parties, formulate a plan, then take useful action consistent with the goal. Manteca needs his capabilities to oversee that qualified personnel are employed, direct the restructuring of decision-making and monetary processes, and ensure that city government provides only the services it should, but at the highest level possible.
Almost two years ago Samuel and his wife struck up a conversation with me (where?) on the street (about what?) my fig tree. Since then we have enjoyed a close friendship, extending to include this 2008 campaign. I have spent time in his home, time with him placing and replacing campaign signs, time helping with communications and debates, and time in Manteca’s neighborhoods where Samuel took his message directly and personally to the people – voters and nonvoters alike. No purchased mailers, no big newspaper ads, just personal contacts and the one candidate’s debate. He truly intends to remake City Hall into Citizen’s Hall.
Benjamin Cantu has EXACTLY the experience Manteca is going to need in the near future. Conventional wisdom upholds hindsight as being 20-20. City Hall is filled to overflowing with brand new department heads and newly minted mid-levels, many of whom “owe” their jobs to someone else, and are being trained according to the current uneven and wastrel policies. Ben will be able to identify and remove some of the embedded toxic elements, and ensure that even-handed policies allow all residents and businesses to flourish within the law.
* If the reader is perfect (or at least better qualified), then please run for city council in 2010, and let us all know where to send our campaign contributions.
I like the fact I am not the only one who has gotten to know Samuel Anderson. His experience is what we need at this time in Manteca. He pointed out to me that the city council has put off the current budget and that we're going to be in for a surprise in January when Steve Pinkerton produces his budget deficit again. It's not going to be a pretty picture. We need an experienced person with budgets and departments to put the city back into shape and on the right path for recovery. Vote Samuel Anderson for Manteca City Council on November 4, 2008.
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