Candidates braced for fate
No matter what the outcomes, this will be a historic day in San Bernardino.
Basically, one of two scenarios is likely to unfold: 1) One or more of Mayor Pat Morris' candidates will win, throwing the pendeulum in his favor and paving the way for a very aggressive pursuit of Morris' agenda over the next two years.
Or, 2) Morris will not gain any seats on the council, with Penman holding his spot, and the noxious venom stirred up during this election cycle will set the stage for continued gridlock in City Hall, with Morris being forced to make major concessions to ram even a sliver of his agenda - particularly on anti-crime and downtown development - through the council.
I've been chatting with candidates today, and they're going to be posted up all over town awaiting the results ...
Marianne Milligan is going to be at her campaign manager Frank Schnetz' home on the north end tonight.
With more than two months of battle with the city's reigning warhorse behind her, Milligan said she was "cautiously optimistic" about the vote tally tonight.
“I feel that we did everything we could," Milligan said. "I tried to fight the clean fight."
I asked Milligan if she had any regrets. Predictably, she noted that she wished she had been as assertive and pointed in her first city council chambers debate with Penman as she was in her second.
We covered both here at SBNOW, and Milligan was clearly much improved in round 2.
"I could have come out swinging at the first forum a little more," she said. "I wish I had responded (to Penman's attacks) the way i did in the second forum. I realized after the first forum that keeping totally clean and sticking to the issues obviously wasn't going to work."
***
Talked to 7th Ward incumbent Wendy McCammack also. She will be at The Gourmet tonight with Penman and supporters from both camps.
I asked McCammack if, given the vicious battling at last night's council meeting, there was any hope of her repairing her tattered relationship with Mayor Morris.
She sounded less than optimistic.
"The mayor better learn how to collaborate two ways," McCammack said. "The real question is has the mayor forgiven me over the last 18 months for my support for Mr. Penman. I offered the mayor all of my skills, ability and time when he took office with all the sincerity I have in my body, yet for the last 18 months he's done all in his power to thwart everything I've tried to accomplish."
I asked McCammack to focus on her side. Could SHE work with HIM, I asked.
"I have no idea. You have to ask them," she said. "You can't create this kind of animosity for the last six months and then blame us for the divisiveness, when they're the ones creating it."
She continued, "But there's hope for me because I'm a very forgiving person. But I've got to see two-way sincerity happening. I tried 18 months ago, and I can try again. There's got to be a sliver of an effort on their side of the street to build trust or clean slate."
Can you work together, I reiterated.
"Honestly, I don't know," McCammack said.
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
Looks like worst case for Morris. Gooooooooo Betty!!
Can we get on to the Code Enforcement Investigation now that the elections are over.
We have Code Enforcement? I hadn't noticed?
We have Code Enforcement? I hadn't noticed.
Code Enforcement? Has anyone looked at the condition of our city? Run down cars, dirt for lawns, and trash everywhere. Everyone loves to quote the broken galss theory but not even code enforcement wants to do anything about it.
Shame, shame Milligan. D- for effort in Code Enforcement.