Campaigning without the signs
Of the 10 challengers in the City Council race, five were in the audience at Wednesday's meeting.
One sat in the back and watched quietly, one sat and watched not so quietly. Another worked the room, hoping to get on the good side of the three council members who would have a say in filling the vacancy in December.
Marc Steinorth, who came in second in the mayoral race and is eyeing Michael's seat, told the council he had a "solemn duty" to represent the 13,455 voters who backed him. Bill Hanlon thought this ridiculous since Steinorth ran for mayor, not council. Hanlon likened it to seeking a seat on the water board after losing the mayoral race.
What is this, campaign season?
Why yes it is.
Campaign season version 2.0 brought out former gadfly Leslie Grimes out of the woodwork. Grimes hasn't visited the council chambers since May 2009. (Yes, I keep track of these things.) Grimes is no fan of the council making appointments to fill a vacancy but if they must, she said, they should appoint Steinorth.
Happy campaigning, candidates.
One sat in the back and watched quietly, one sat and watched not so quietly. Another worked the room, hoping to get on the good side of the three council members who would have a say in filling the vacancy in December.
Marc Steinorth, who came in second in the mayoral race and is eyeing Michael's seat, told the council he had a "solemn duty" to represent the 13,455 voters who backed him. Bill Hanlon thought this ridiculous since Steinorth ran for mayor, not council. Hanlon likened it to seeking a seat on the water board after losing the mayoral race.
What is this, campaign season?
Why yes it is.
Campaign season version 2.0 brought out former gadfly Leslie Grimes out of the woodwork. Grimes hasn't visited the council chambers since May 2009. (Yes, I keep track of these things.) Grimes is no fan of the council making appointments to fill a vacancy but if they must, she said, they should appoint Steinorth.
Happy campaigning, candidates.
The City Council should appoint Mark Steinorth to the Vacancy on the Council. IF they can take applications from those who didn't run they sure should appoint the person who got 36% of the vote. This would be the right thing to do. It is time to get over the election and do what is right for the people who live here. I think those people that supported Mark Steinorth should count in this selection.
Jerri Lee,
Under your analysis then Diane Williams should not be on the council since she 24% of the vote. Elections are not transferable to other offices.
He ran for the Mayor's seat NOT for City Council by his choice. So don't come begging to get appointed on the City Council now!
Those saying he got the next amount of votes are absurd. There were really only 2 legitimate Mayor candidates who actually ran a campaign so to say that the other council candidates didn't get more votes it's because the votes were split between 10 people not 2.
I am hoping that we get Mark Steinorth.
We need his business experience and contacts.
So that was Mark's trick? To get a few people to pretend to be multiple individuals?
That's shady...
Geez people, are you all watching too many soap operas or reading the LA Times? How about the city council select a true, un-biased person to fill the vacant seat....maybe someone like...Satan...I'm sorry, wrong sitcom. If you ran for mayor and lost...tough doody! If you came in 3rd for the council and you're a retread from the past...ditto. Name someone like Rich Fletcher to the council who has no dog in the fight.
Stephen said:
So that was Mark's trick? To get a few people to pretend to be multiple individuals?
That's shady...
Don't blame him for that. My post did not come up
so I tried with another name.
Please don't be so quick to judge.
Wendy: One of my lifelong ambitions has been to become a gadfly. Since I noted that you described Leslie Grimes as a "former gadfly," I'm wondering if there might be an opening?
Not sure who I should see about this appointment -- but if it helps, I know I got at least 40 votes for fifth grade student council representative back in 1977.
Appreciate any guidance you can provide on this important matter!
Colonies of gadflies have asked me not to call them gadflies and here you are Hugh, wanting gadfly status. There are no limits; you don't have to wait for a gadfly to step down. Just come to the meeting, keep a close watch on the council, say a few words (under five minutes) and boom! you're a gadfly. Buzz away.
Wow, lots of comments on my comments. Sorry guys, the voters gave Marc Steinorth 36% of the vote that should mean something. If he was qualified to serve as Mayor he should be equally qualified to serve on the council. WE need his business experience, his fresh ideas, getting new jobs and all the things that make our city run, he can help with.
I am not sure what trick Marc supposedly played on us but I think he would be a valuable asset to our City Council.
The citizens of Rancho must have the opportunity to decide who runs for the vacant council seat. We should have a run off vote of only those candidates that ran and that are still eligible.
That does seem the most fair considering, let the voters decide