(Los Alamitos, 7/29/2010) As of noon today, only two people had even “pulled papers” to run for the three seats up for election this November for Los Al’s City Council, and both are incumbents.
Both Troy Edgar and Dean Zarkos have picked up their election packets but neither had returned them yet. Papers must be filed with the City Clerk by nextFriday, August 6, provided that all three incumbents have filed by then.
If not, the deadline is extended to the following Wednesday, August 11.
In order to give the voters a choice, I certainly hope that at least three more candidates file before the deadline.
Not just any candidates, either. I would hope these would be committed, intelligent, independent-minded citizens with some history of civic involvement. Candidates committed to trying to understand and do their best to meet the legitimate concerns of all the citizens. Candidates not obligated to any individuals, neighborhood, or special interest group.
Some men see things as they are and say why? I dream things that never were and say why not?
–Ted Kennedy, in his eulogy for Robert F. Kennedy, paraphrasing his brother’s paraphrase of George Bernard Shaw
Los Alamitos needs City Council candidates with a long-term perspective, who will focus more on the city’s next 50 years than on the last.
Candidates who can see beyond our outdated mismash of industrial, residential, and commercial zones to a better Los Alamitos that too few bother to envision, a Los Alamitos designed to benefit all the community, not just a few landowners willing to invest heavily in Council campaigns.
Candidates who can be peacemakers and bridge builders as they seek to do what’s best for the community, not candidates whose very running for office would bring further division and bad publicity to our town.
Candidates who respect citizens and, yes, even Commission Chairpeople who disagree with them. Candidates looking out for what’s best for our citizens first and foremost.
If you know someone like that who lives in Los Alamitos, you might want to encourage them to run. . . and stand by them with your time and money.
My purpose here is not to criticize the two incumbents who have pulled papers. While we certainly see many things very differently, there are areas where I agree with them both, and they have invested significant time seeking to fulfill their responsibilities.
My purpose at this point is to encourage at least three additional well qualified candidates to run. Our citizens and our town deserve a choice of at least five good candidates.
That might just be the best way to celebrate Los Alamitos’ 50th anniversary year!
Related posts:
You would think at least one (1) of the supposed hundreds of Edgar-haters would step-up and take a bullet for the team? Or are the (4-5)people that repeatedly take the podium and voice the “Concerns of ALL the citizens” actually all there is? Just wondering?
What happens if we only get two candidates. what happens to the 3rd seat? Does the Council then fill it
Dave: As this is the perfect chance for Dean grose to show up at the last minute and embarrass us all please keep us up to date on this. Also, how can we check who has pulled papers or returned them. thank you
Can you give an example of any of the 5 or 6 regulars who have ever spoken on behalf of anyone, but themselves at a city council meeting?
Certainly none of the people who constantly voice their opinions at all the council meetings would qualify as peacemakers. We need people who have never been involved in the politics of the city. It used to be that such people were abundant in the city.
Oh yes, lets have a resident who has never been “involved in the local politics” jump into that pit with the four headed snake.
Dave,
Where is the common ground of which you speak? We were all elected by the same people. We all took the same oath. We all sat on the same dias. We were all presented with the same issues. We were all asked to make a decision. So why the polarization on the city council? Why the take no prisoner attitude for differing opinions? Why the lack of respect when you addressed the council? Why the award of a trash contract to the higher bidder at a direct added cost collectively to our residents of $9million.
The common common ground you seek will only be manifested if you share common core values with the other person. If you do not share common core values then “commity of ground” will only exist to the degree you either compromise your core values or the otherside adopts your core values.
What part of your core values are you prepared to give up to be peacemaker?
*Respectfull attention when the public speaks? Why?
*Respect for the right of free speech, inlcuding placards by people who elected you.Why?
*Allowing looting of the public of $9 million by ignoring city ordinances.Why?
*Eliminating Transparency in council actions by ordering the city clerk to report only motions and votes in official minutes. No brief memorialization of dissenting council and public comments.Why?
*Allowing the Hospital Specific Plan to progress at the expense of the long range planning in the city. Why?
The common ground that we should all be able to agree upon is the trust of the people. You earn that trust by your actions and not your words.
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
And yes, people with no political experience need to “jump into the pit” with the four headed snake and take the heads off one at a time. Or maybe all at once.
As Art DeBolt put it:
“The common ground that we should all be able to agree upon is the trust of the people. You earn that trust by your actions and not your words.”
I agree. Stated succinctly, if the people trust you based on your actions or philosophy, they will re-elect you. If they don’t like your actions on the council, and come to distrust you, they will replace you.
My dear Watson,
Perhaps it’s not that elementary:
What if the people have no other options to vote for?
What if the people are ill informed?
What if the local press doesn’t cover much of what’s going on?
What if the people who are informed don’t have the time, desire, or interest to get involved?
My dear Watson,
Perhaps it’s not that elementary:
What if the people have no other options to vote for?
My Dear Sherlock,
With all the campaign literature that is distributed prior to the election, people are well informed – that is, if they can read.
You don’t need the press, which is usually biased, to inform you. Besides the campaign literature, there are also campaign debates that you can attend.
If people don’t have the time, desire or interset, they shouldn’t be voting in the first place.
As you can see, it is that elementary.