Results tagged “Elections” from RCNow

That was the first sentence to a New York Times article alongside this photo: scores of people waiting in line to buy a newspaper.

In a time when jittery reporters are all nervous about losing their jobs, it was refreshing to feel that our work is still important.

Readers told us it was difficult to find a copy of the Daily Bulletin anywhere. In our newsroom, even editors couldn't get their hands on a copy. Around 6:30 p.m., long after our newsroom closed, a woman came banging and yelling, demanding a copy. She had just put 50 cents into our machine without looking to see that it was empty. I guess she had hope that a newspaper would automatically appear, if she risked two quarters.

But try finding a copy of yesterday's Daily Bulletin for 50 cents. On Ebay, our paper is being sold for $49.99. If we keep this news interest up, I might just get that raise I've been wanting.

That feeling of being relevant and loved was a foreign one. It seemed that for a day, at least, our readers liked us. They seemed to be swept up by the change in the air and actually appreciated daily journalism.

But then the phone rang. A reader wanted to know why my article in Wednesday's paper didn't have the local results. I explained that all the precincts in San Bernardino County weren't counted until Wednesday afternoon.

"Well then why did you run that picture of our new president on the front then? Ah!" he said, exasperated. "I'm just calling to complain."

Updated: With all of the precincts counted, incumbents in the city races were clearly victors.

In the City Council race, Dennis Michael (29 percent) and Sam Spagnolo (26 percent) won the race. Behind them were Dennis Gutierrez (14 percent), Jim Moffatt (12 percent), Joseph McCaffrey (10 percent), Frank Schiavone (5 percent) and Charles Shanks (3 percent).

Jan Reynolds is the city clerk with 75 percent of the vote to Ron Stark's 25 percent.

Jim Frost remains treasurer with 78 percent of the vote to Ryan Orr's 22 percent.

Newcomer Oscar Gonzalez and returning board member Hank Stoy will join the Cucamonga Valley Water District. With all of the precincts counted, Randall Reed (18 percent), Jim Curatalo (15 percent) and Stoy (14 percent) were selected for full terms. Behind them are David Hill (13 percent), Luis Cetina (13 percent), Sharon Baer (11 percent), Floyd Clark (10 percent) and Ed Dietl (6 percent). In the race for the short-term seat, Oscar Gonzalez (59 percent) overcame incumbent Ron Sakala (41 percent).

    

... we're still not sure.

With about 40 percent of the ballots counted in this city, we're still not completely sure who won all the local races. But I think it's safe to assume that incumbents Dennis Michael, Sam Spagnolo and Jim Frost walked away with victories. So did Jan Reynolds. Their leads are wide enough to call it.

With 37 of 85 precincts counted in the City Council race, Michael took 30 percent of the vote; Spagnolo took 26 percent. Dennis Gutierrez came in a distant third with 14 percent.

Jan Reynolds looks like she'll be the new City Clerk with 76 percent to Ron Stark's 24 percent. Jim Frost, despite being outspent by Ryan Orr, got 79 percent to Orr's 21 percent. Even though just 37 of 85 precincts have been counted, it's obvious who the winners are.

But the water district's race is still tight. With 42 of 102 precincts reporting, Randall Reed, Jim Curatalo and Hank Stoy are in the lead for three open full-term seats. Reed has 18 percent, Curatalo has 15 percent and Stoy has 14. Close behind is David Hill and Luis Cetina with 13 percent. In the partial-term race, Oscar Gonzalez with 57 percent of the vote, has a considerable lead over Ron Sakala, who has 43 percent. 

 

If you voted today and wondered why Rex Gutierrez was on the ballot, you probably didn't read your mailers.

Apparently, there was a fear that voters might get Councilman Rex Gutierrez, far right, confused with Dennis Gutierrez, a Riverside County sheriff's deputy who's running for City Council. So the Committee for Effective Government, backers of incumbents Sam Spagnolo and Dennis Michael, sent out a flier over the weekend that read, "Don't be confused by their similar names! City Council candidate Dennis Gutierrez is NOT our city councilman Rex Gutierrez."

As if that wasn't clear, there was a quote from Rex that read, "He is not related to me and I am not supporting his candidacy."

This sheepish reporter should disclose here that the Daily Bulletin indeed ran a photo of Rex in a story about Dennis Gutierrez. The paper printed a correction and the accurate photo but who knows how many people were confused because of our mistake.

Rex said he didn't write the quotes in the mailer but gave the committee permission to use his name.

"I'm flattered that the incumbents thought my alter ego could beat them," said Rex.

Having lived in so many places, I've encountered many different kinds of polling stations. I've done the electronic thing, the ink stamp thing and the turning of the dial thing. I've cast my ballot at a person's garage, fire station, school and today, a little pizzeria on Garey Avenue.

The first time I voted for a president was in 1996. I cast my vote at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, where I was studying Mandarin that year. I had to surrender my passport and go through several metal detectors before waiting in a room for my provisional ballot. It all seemed very suspicious having to write in the candidate's name on a piece of paper. I never got the "I voted" sticker that year.

In 2004, I was studying journalism in New York and voted at an elementary school in South Harlem where the room was cold and the poll workers colder . Inside the voting booths, you are ensconced in a thick curtain and the candidates names are clearly displayed next to little knobs for you to turn. Once you're done, you say, 'Yup, that is my final answer," then you use all your weight to pull on this gigantic lever that go "KLANK KLANK!" You feel like your vote counted. You feel like you made a difference.

This morning, the pizzeria where I voted was less exciting. But I was able to get a 92 cent coffee at the nearby Hamburger House -- a price that's hard to beat in New York.

Staff photographer Thomas Cordova and I began following Rancho Cucamonga couple Alison Bowen, left, and Laurie Roades shortly after the California Supreme Court lifted a ban on same-sex marriages. We wanted to put a face behind one of the most controversial issues of this election season.

They are a down-to-earth couple, not one who would normally invite perfect strangers into their personal affairs. But if seven judges had a say in whether or not their dream could be fulfilled and if Californian voters could suddenly take that away, they knew their very private story had to also be a public one.

Their wedding took place on Sept. 6, fulfilling their girlhood fantasy of getting married.

"You don't say, 'Someday when I grow up, I want a domestic partnership,' " Bowen said.

The article about the Rancho Cucamonga newlyweds follows.

Most of the propositions this year will be overshadowed by Prop. 8, the initiative that would put a Constitutional ban on same-sex marriages, if passed. It has been hard this week to get a spokesperson from either side of the debate to return calls because they've been so busy. A spokeswoman from Yes on 8 told me, "We're running this like a White House campaign."

When it comes to raising money, the Yes side was ahead during the period of January to September with $25.5 million. The No side trailed by about $10 million. Since then, celebrities and other No supporters have stepped up to match funds and the California Teachers Association put in their own $1 million. 

Pockets of the Inland Valley, like the Chino Valley, are Yes strongholds. The Chino Valley Unified School District has approved a resolution supporting the proposition and Calvary Chapel has given at least $2,000 to Yes on 8. That means plenty of Yes placards for parishioners to display.

Not all churches think alike, of course. The article in today's paper highlighting the views of one Loma Linda Adventist follows.

Saturday is a day for political expression, it seems. The No on Prop. 8 camp will be staging a rally near Victoria Gardens, countering the yes camp that is planning on rallying throughout the city. To join the no camp, meet at Day Creek and Foothill at 11 a.m. The rally will go on for a couple of hours.

Remember, yes on Prop. 8 means you are against gay marriage. No on Prop. 8 means you're for it.

7 p.m.: The Yes on Prop. 8 group will stage rallies on Saturday as well but organizers requested the information be removed from the blog.

The candidates' forum hosted by the Alta Loma Riding Club on Tuesday will have a Q & A portion that will allow residents to ask questions. This week, the City Council candidates received one question selected by the riding club in advance to be answered on Tuesday. Most of those questions are about open space, equestrian trails and other issues pertinent to the Alta Loma neighborhood.

The first candidates' debate of the season hosted by the Chamber was relatively lackluster. Councilman Dennis Michael said the local election season so far has been strangely quiet.

"I wonder if it's the calm before the storm," he said.

To find out, attend the forum at 7:30 p.m. but get there early for a seat. The event is located in the Heritage Park community building on 5546 Beryl St.

 

When I interview voters outside polling stations during past elections, I come across many who are too shy to talk about their picks.

Council gadfly John Lyons, however, has no qualms about that. He listed his endorsements tonight at the City Council meeting, the last meeting before Election Day.

For the record, Lyons announced his support for Sam Spagnolo (whose nickname, we learned, is "Spaggi") and Dennis Michael. No surprise there since he had a baseball cap made that reads "Michael Spagnolo." Lyons is also endorsing Jim Frost for treasurer. "Jim is the longest person I've known in this room. ... My wife knows his wife. Women used to stay home after they have babies." He's endorsing Bob Dutton for Senate. "I go way back with Bob." Other endorsements include Jim Curatalo for Cucamonga Valley Water District and John McCain.

"I have a political joke tonight," Lyons ended, a cue for me to take out my notebook. "You want change? You got it, here's 50 cents!"

Lyons, of course, wasn't the only one gabbing about Nov. 4. Candidates used their five minutes to announce their qualifications and Web sites. Jan Reynolds, Ryan Orr, Jim Moffatt all took turns. Reynolds, who's running for city clerk, said city clerk duties are a lot of work.

"There's no time for on-the-job training," Reynolds said, evoking McCain, you know, Lyons' pick for president.  

The newspaper's editorial board has endorsed Dennis Michael and Frank Schiavone for City Council. Schiavone, a virtual unknown, is a surprise pick.

I consider Schiavone as the green candidate. When I asked him to e-mail me three reasons why he's running, Schiavone's first reason was a page long and full of ideas on protecting the environment. The other two reasons were several sentences long.

Schiavone, a strong opponent to hillside development, will likely participate in the next candidate's debate since open space issues typically dominate forums hosted by the Alta Loma Riding Club. It should be a good opportunity to meet the six other candidates as well.

Staff photographer Will Lester caught this street scene today at the corner of Archibald and Baseline. Nobody is violating the new sign ordinance, which allows one sign per candidate per parcel, but this certainly looks like the kind of blight that the City Council hoped to avoid.

It's easy to forget that Rancho is a small town. Growth is always hammered into the city's description and you certainly feel it driving on Foothill.

But when election season rolls around, the small town feel returns. Candidates start courting the residents, reminding them that despite being in a crowd of 180,000, they somehow matter.

Take the candidate's statement from Jim Frost that ran in today's paper, for instance. The city's first mayor and current treasurer is seeking re-election and hoping to fight off challenger Ryan Orr. In the statement, he gives his e-mail address and tells Inland Valley readers that he's listed in the phone book and feel free to call.

Cucamonga Valley Water District board candidate Hank Stoy one ups Frost by having his home number printed in the sample ballot book. But City Councilman Sam Spagnolo might have won the accessibility contest when he told voters his cell phone number at the last debate, which is being broadcast on channel 3 all month. 

The second City Council debate of the year will be on Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The Alta Loma Riding Club, which doesn't endorse any candidate, will host the forum at Heritage Park located 5546 Beryl Street.

The riding club forum is typically more intimate and less structured than the one sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. It's held in the small community building and seating runs out quickly.

All seven candidates have been invited to the event. Each will be asked a question that concerns the equestrian community and residents living in the foothills -- mainly open space and quality of life issues. There will also be an opportunity for the public to ask some questions as well.    

The deadline for candidates running for election on Nov. 4 to file their campaign statements, or 460, was 6 p.m. yesterday. City Council candidates Dennis Gutierrez and Charles Shanks missed their deadline.

Incumbent Dennis Michael was the biggest spender of the group, having raised $6,800 and spending $17,245 in the period of July 1, 2008 to Sept. 30, 2008. Other candidates follows:


Joseph McCaffrey 460.pdf
L. dennis michael 460.pdf
Jim Moffatt 460.pdf

A wrap-up of the Thursday debate among the candidates running for City Council and the Cucamonga Valley Water District appeared in Saturday's newspaper. It was a tricky article to write partly because the debate lacked debating.

Each candidate had 90 seconds to introduce themselves and two minutes for a closing statement. Each candidate was asked three questions from a list that was handed to them earlier in the week. The candidate had the option of either answering a new question or rebutting an earlier response. But there was hardly any rebutting, just more reiteration of their platform.

This didn't please some voters, who wanted to spring unexpected questions at the six council candidates and 10 water district candidates. "The way this was organized doesn't do anything for me," said Rancho resident Al Florez.

The more interesting part of the forum came from the water district candidates, which shows you how lackluster this election season is. There were some mildly intriguing discussions about safeguarding the water supply but all in all, they were soft ball questions among a panel of polite politicians. It appeared that incumbent Ron Sakala exhausted all his opportunities to explain his platform and only had this to add, "I've never missed a board meeting or subcommittee meeting."  

For a brief moment, council candidate Dennis Gutierrez reminded me of the 2006 election when he brought up the fact that the current council consists of two former firefighters. Gutierrez, a police officer, inferred that the fire interest is overly represented. Gutierrez failed to mention that if elected, there could be two Dennises and two Gutierrezes on the council. Talk about over representation.

If you didn't know that an election is going on in 46 days, you'll know tomorrow morning, when a slew of political signs are likely to line the city's streets. Under a new city ordinance, candidates will be permitted to post their signs starting tomorrow. In previous elections, the city allowed signs to be erected 30 days prior to the election but extended it to 45 days thinking more people are casting their ballots early as absentee voters.

Trang Huynh, who heads the city's building and safety department, said so far, so good -- not many people have violated the ordinance by posting signs early. But he thinks enforcing the ordinance on private property might be trickier. Under the new rules, only one sign per candidate can be posted per parcel. That means you can't put 23 McCain signs in your front yard, just one.

Candidates running for City Council or the water district who weren't at the council meeting last night were probably doing some last-minute cramming for tonight's debate. The Chamber of Commerce gave the political hopefuls a list of 25 detailed questions without indicating which one will be asked of the candidates. Some of the City Council related questions are tough, especially if you're not an incumbent. I scanned the questions and wondered if any dropped out of the race after reading them.

Some stumpers:

* Now that we are in the process of updating the city's General Plan, what modifications, additions and or deletions would you propose?

* The economy has slowed considerably. How has this affected the city's budget and do we need to take measures to fill some shortfalls?

* What's your vision 20 years out on the community's transportation needs?

There were some interesting questions that I wouldn't think to ask:

* Enrollment in our elementary schools has been declining, therefore funding is declining and teachers and other supporting personnel have to be terminated.Would you support the idea of a unified school district so that the business community only has one district to communicate with and help insure all schools are adequately funded?

* Around California, there appears to be a trend toward campaign reform. Is the city itself in need of campaign finance reform? Are there any other changes you would propose to the City Council election process?

To hear answers to these questions, attend the City Council forum, sponsored by Southern California Edison, at 5:30 p.m. The debate will be followed by a water district panel at 7:15 p.m. at the Central Park community center.

I thought tomorrow was the unofficial start to the local campaign season but council gadfly John Lyons kickstarted it tonight by wearing a baseball cap at the City Council meeting with the words "Michael Spagnolo," indicating his support for incumbents Dennis Michael and Sam Spagnolo.

"Who is Michael Spagnolo?" Michael jokingly asked.

"Maybe he's your cousin," suggested council candidate Jim Moffatt.

If you would like to join Lyons by wearing a similar hat, well,  you can't. Lyons had just one made.

The Chamber of Commerce hosts a candidates' forum every election year which serves as an unofficial start to the local campaign season. The City Council candidates discussion will start at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18 at the Central Park Community Center. The debate, expected to last until 6:45 p.m., will be followed by another one from the candidates running for the Cucamonga Valley Water District board.

If you're a close follower of local politics but can't make this, don't fret. There will likely be other debates. The Alta Loma Riding Club and senior center have hosted similar events in previous elections. Thursday's debate will also be televised on Channel 3 for the month of October.

Update: Everyone should be seated by 5:15 p.m. for the City Council debate and 7 p.m. for the CVWD debate. For more info on this event, call Norm MacKenzie at the chamber (909) 987-1012 ext. 105.