Enquiring minds want to know

Dennis Wyatt's column in Tuesday's Bulletin "Sexual orientation & age should not be campaign fodder," was a potentially juicy read but unless you've followed Manteca politics for the past 25 years, you'd be lost. Wyatt makes insider references to warring "factions" on the last city council but only names some of the parties involved and we're left to wonder who he's not naming. Come on Dennis, don't be coy, enquiring minds want to know!

I've lived in Manteca over 20 years and though I didn't follow local politics closely until about 5 or 6 years ago, I remember there being a lot of turmoil before Mayor Willie Weatherford and his posse gained power. Much of the disagreement seemed to be over Woodward Park and Big League Dreams. No doubt big developer money helped get Weatherford and the rest elected and with the appointment of Woodward Park's biggest supporter, Jack Snyder, to an open seat on the council those two huge projects sailed through with unanimous votes. For years we've heard the Bulletin praise this council for their ability to "get along" and "get things done." They've gotten things done all right.

I don't want a city council that gets along and gets things done. When the government gets things done, that means they're spending your money (our tax dollars). Debby Moorhead is the first new council member in 6 years and I think the voters made a wise choice. It was time for "new blood" on the governing board and if I can step into my feminist shoes here for a moment, it was time for a woman to be on the council.

Wyatt's column brings up the question of ageism in the election since some candidates repeatedly mentioned Snyder's age. Though that probably did factor into some voters' decisions, anyone who knows Snyder or has watched him in council meetings knows that he is perfectly capable of serving in public office and that some of the wisest comments from the dais have been spoken by him. It was just time for someone new.