Interesting face spotted at Milligan fundraiser
Although the Sun was not there due to the Route 66 Rendezvous' concurrent opening (Rendezvous trumped politics), the Sun was told by a high level official in Mayor Pat Morris' office that a certain councilman was on hand ...
... presumably to lend his support: 3rd Ward Councilman Tobin Brinker.
When Brinker was elected over Gwen Terry, whom many thought had Morris' tacit support, and the since tragically deceased Randy Lally, most observers in San Bernardino, including this reporter, figured he would fall neatly in-line with the conservative bloc of Neil Derry, Chas Kelley and Wendy McCammack.
That hasn't exactly been the case. Brinker has sided with his Republican mates on some issues (Measure Z for police only, for instance), but frustrated them by rolling with the mayor on others (He opposed Penman's push against parolees, which Derry first brought before the council).
So, Brinker has looked more like a classic swing vote than the fourth vote Derry hoped would push the conservatives to dominance over Morris and his liberal wing.
Last night Brinker was on hand at a local diner to hear Morris rip Penman and proclaim Milligan as just what the city needs to move from the past to a collaborative future. A top Morris office official thought it important to point out Brinker's presence in a late phone conversation with this reporter.
It should be noted that Brinker has not endorsed in the city attorney's race, and probably won't. But the writing looks on the wall: Brinker may be moving closer to Morris than to Derry, and his conservative stripes have lost plenty of luster in the eyes of Derry, McCammack and Kelley.
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
Well, if you want to stir thought and debate as to why Tobin was at Milligan's fundraiser that's fine....but skip on over to Red County San Bernardino and he explains all...
As suggested, I visited
http://www.redcountysb.com/rcsb/2007/09/tobin-flip-the-.html#comment-82821737
and read the thread.
I see the reasons for these posts.
Tobin merely visiting Meet & Greet in the interest of interpersonal relationship skills is A-OK, in my opinion.
These are non-partisan offices.
Being capable of interacting with all participants in the political process is an ability that serves everyone well.
Fine Republican Founding Father and 16th US President Abraham Lincoln said, "The best promise is a broken bad one".
Is not it refreshing to have a council member who follows a method wherein he:
listens;
forms an initial opinion;
continues to listen and learn more;
re-evaluates the initial position;
repeats the process as needed?
It seems to me that model provides a more considered vote than close-minded officials adamantly maintaining their initial stance regardless of subsequent additions to their knowledge base.
What do you think?
Susana Atanasova