The League of Women Voters had their regular Council candidate forum the other night. I couldn’t make it, but had a note-taker and a videographer in the audience. Based on what was conveyed by the candidates, here’s some highlights and additional on the impressions I previously spoke of (supplemented by the article in the Chico ER about the event):
Kim Rudisill – Supports Prop 215 marijuana use, and says the businesses that have left Chico wouldn’t have made it anyway. Regarding Walmart being run off by the current Council, Kim whined, “I don’t even like shopping there anyway.” Regarding community safety, she wants to educate the college students on where is safe to go, and where is not….but not scare them….really? It sounds like she, Ann and Randall have a great new idea for Chico instead of a Police Department: Nannies, who are service oriented ambassadors (without an enforcement aura)….ya, that’l do it Kim! Kim also wants to move ahead with the Chapman annexation…and we’ll “figure out” how to deal with the financial piece. It’s that kind of action that has put us where we are now….we annexed all of this area through the 90s, made plenty of plans to accommodate the extra poop that would be generated (two multi-million dollar sewer plant expansions), but no plans whatsoever to meet the other increased service demands. Finally, Kim also noted that she prefers Chico Fire arriving first at medical calls over ambulance-based EMTs….I guess that explains why IAFF is endorsing her. Kim sounded like she met with some of her Prop 215 friends again on the way to the forum. Her grade stands.
Andrew Coolidge – Redeemed himself a bit after my harsh evaluation from the other night, but I’m still suspicious of this guy. I’m told that this evening, he appeared to have “waken up,” both literally and with his perspective on the issues. He opposes medical marijuana, and he correctly observed that the City failed to plan forward back when the economy was good. This has been one of my complaints about the City for years: There is an absolute absence of forward thinking in the top leadership! Coolidge acknowledges that the City permit process must be streamlined (I have seen it in action, and agree!), and recognizes that “the bleeding” of businesses leaving the City must stop. I still have a concern though: If budget wasn’t an issue, his #1 priority would be roadway infrastructure. He needs to get more in touch with what’s really going on in Chico. His grade stands.
Tami Ritter – She’s OK with marijuana collectives because they mean less crime….uhhhh….I don’t think so ….the only people who really believe this are (drum roll please) …the people who run the marijuana collectives. This kind of thinking is wrong! Tami also wants to use student volunteers and “Butte College police cadets” to help protect the City. WHAT!?! Most feel gooders (like Tami) have no clue how policing is accomplished in a community. Her suggestions reinforce that perspective. I can see it now: Let’s get a bunch of college students to deal with the armed suspect who held his wife in the house and shot at the cops a few weeks back. And I’m sure the Police Academy students would love to volunteer their time to cover shifts after they have spent 40 hours that week in class and another 20 at home studying. Nevermind the fact that they haven’t completed their police training or police field training. It is nice that Tami wants better radios for the police, but if there’s nobody there to use them, the nicest radio system in the world doesn’t get calls for service handled. Tami’s grade stands.
Sean Morgan – As with the other night, Sean demonstrated that he knows and understands the issues. Public safety, and policing in particular, would be his top priorities, and he appropriately recognizes that if marijuana is to be legalized for medicinal purposes, it should be treated like other medicines: Distribute it via prescription from a pharmacy. Morgan continues to emphasize business and economic development, and clearly recognizes that fiscal stability in local government is dependent upon a solid local economy. He’s all about realigning City priorities, and no more feel-good initiatives. And he gets that we should not annex the Chapman area until we have enough staffing in the Police Department. Sean’s grade stands.
Dave Kelly – Not sure if Dave is having second thoughts about this City Council thing, or if he’s really in the game. He was again lackluster. Of note, he wants a committee to address Downtown issues….really? And what exactly will they do? His top priority of funding wasn’t an issue would be downtown parking and tourism….really? Dave’s grade stands….and since he really has nothing of substance to say about the real issues, I have nothing more to say about him as a candidate.
Bob Evans – Bob let some of his real views get exposed when he suggested that the cops should be asked to take a pay cut in order to help the City afford more cops…..All I’m gonna say about that is they have already taken pay cuts, and be careful what you wish for because it is proven over and over again: you get what you pay for. I don’t want to disrespect our area agencies by using them as examples, but the truth is that there are very few in policing in our region outside of CPD that could make it at CPD. CPD has always paid well, and that has allowed us to attract and retain the best people. Attrition based on people seeking greener pastures is very low at CPD. If you reduce pay further, there will be in increase in departures to greener pastures, and a decrease in the quality of people policing our community. As much as Bob seems to want to believe this, a cop is not a cop wherever you go. In terms that Bob can understand: Would you expect a guy to be a lieutenant colonel on first lieutenant wages? If the answer is no, I would point out that you aren’t going to have good Chico cops if you pay Orland PD wages. And regarding pension reform, I’m not sure what is going on at City hall, but the two unions at PD have been pursuing a second tier of retirement for the last two contract cycles….it is the Council and top City management that has resisted it. It’s disingenuous to make it sound like the unions are at fault for us not having it. Sorry Bob, your politics concern me. I’m dropping you to a Grade C.
Ann Schwab – Ann remains most comfortable in reading from her resume, and in that regard this forum was more of the same. The things that Ann is now speaking are not totally consistent with her demonstrated actions of the past. She advocates now for more cops, downsizing events and keeping them local….I like these things, but Ann has not demonstrated leadership in these areas historically. She says her top priority would be public safety. I really, really hope she is committed to these things, and is not just giving lip service. Ann understands the issues related to annexation of Chapman as well, but the wishes of the citizens in that area cannot prevail if they are pushing for annexation and the City does not have arrangements to meet the increased policing demands. I’m glad Ann is saying her top priority will be public safety…I hope it really will be. Her grade stands.
Toby Schindelbeck – Toby has done his homework, and understands the issues the cops are faced with in trying to police this community. I like that he’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind…too bad that he ruffles a few feathers…it’s time that people in this town started getting comfortable with straight talk…it’s the only way we will make progress in addressing these difficult issues. Toby’s commitment to not wasting any more time on feel good initiatives until we can get our public safety needs taken care of is also much appreciated…obviously, his perspective is in line with my personal bias. Toby keeps his Grade A.
Dave Donnan – Dave spoke again about priorities, and making decisions…two things our recent Councils have been reluctant to do (does anybody remember the Council priority setting debacle a few years back with the colored dots and the charts? It was such chaos that they ultimately abandoned the effort, and established none!). Dave talked again about taking away from Fire. This has made him a clear enemy of the IAFF (fire union), but his ideas should not be totally dismissed. As this community discusses future priorities (if they do), they should decide if they really want the Fire Department responding to all medical aids. I don’t deny that it saves lives, but in the scheme of all we do, do we want to continue the practice? When I came to Chico in the mid 80s, Fire did not respond to medical aids. Dave mirrored his performance from the CPOA forum, and his grade stands.
Randall Stone – With his responses tonight, Mr. Stone reinforced that as a City we should do everything in our power to insure he is not elected to the Council. He is pompous and arrogant, and showed his true colors tonight. Recall a week ago when he clearly demonstrated no knowledge of policing issues in Chico and that he had made no efforts to contact anyone in the CPD before the forum? Contrast that with tonight, where the topic of medical marijuana came up. Stone’s response? “ I have spent extensive time with owners of marijuana collectives, and I support them.” He doesn’t have time to talk to the cops, but he has time to talk extensively to the owners of the marijuana stores that are operating in violation of federal law….ya…..that’s the guy I want sitting as my City Council member….NOT! He must have been fresh from one of those visits with the collective owners when he made one of his next comments: “The people coming out of Chico State are not prepared for employment.” And his priority if elected: “Corporate personhood.” Un-flipping-believable!!! This guy clearly demonstrated tonight that he is a snake in the grass. His grade stands.
Do I have emotion and passion about this election, and the state of the City? You betcha!! Are my opinions difficult for some? I would expect so…but they are my opinions. I’ve been called bitter after my first posting on Council Candidates. I’m no more bitter than the CSUC professor who didn’t get his way and the university went ahead and built a parking structure. Just as he is passionate about community gardens, riding bicycles around Chico and no parking structures, I am passionate about policing and public safety. If you don’t like what I have written, you are welcome to hit delete….and I promise I will have no hard feelings.
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