Ladies and gentlemen of San Bernardino, your 2009 candidates
Here's a somewhat longer version of a story slated to run in Saturday's edition on candidates who are set to appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. It's still pretty basic even at this length, but there's plenty of time to give the issues and candidates more ink and electrons. After all, in San Bernardino, we actually like to cover city elections.
By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- Election season begins now that the deadline has passed for candidates seeking the mayor's post and three City Council seats to file for the November ballot.
The coming months promise to be an interesting time for San Bernardino's politicos and voters. The Nov. 3 ballot is set to feature rematches in the race for both mayor and the council's Fourth Ward.
The council seats for the city's First and Second wards will also be up for a vote. In all races, San Bernardino residents will be tasked with choosing which men and women are best qualified to face the challenges of fighting crime, keeping city departments funded in the midst of a recession and establishing policies that can foster economic growth.
The Mayoral Race
As of Friday evening, three candidates have qualified to run for San Bernardino's top job. Qualification was pending for a fourth candidate.
Mayor Pat Morris is seeking a second term, and will compete with City Attorney James F. Penman and contractor Rick Avila.
Security company owner Sir Isaac Lindsay could also have his name on the ballot, pending the verification of signatures on his nomination papers.
Penman and Avila are both veterans of the 2005-06 mayoral race.
Morris won his current term by defeating Penman in a February 2006 runoff election. Both campaigned on anti-crime platforms.
Public safety is just about certain to be the central issue of this year's campaign as well. FBI statistics released earlier this year show that San Bernardino's murder rate declined by about half from 2005 to 2008.
The numbers also showed that over 2008, San Bernardino had the fourth-highest violent crime rate of all California cities with populations greater than 100,000 people.
Morris listed his achievements as including the passage of the Measure Z sales tax hike to fund an increase in the Police Department's force strength and the establishment of the Operation Phoenix program that relies upon inter-agency cooperation and the opening of two new youth centers.
In a basic sense, the choice for voters is whether the Morris Administration has done enough to reduce crime and blight or if its time to give someone else a chance.
"We've got a long way to go, but we won't back down on our crime fighting," Morris said.
Morris said Friday that he looks forward to publicly debating Penman in public.
Penman wants to reverse Morris-supported plans for an eastside redevelopment project that would set aside 100 rehabilitated apartments for low-income tenants, the elimination of the city's graffiti removal contract with a local nonprofit and decision to create a highly-paid city spokesperson's job at a time when Police and Fire positions have been allowed to remain vacant.
Morris and Penman have repeatedly quarrelled over the last few years, but Penman predicted that the fact that the incumbent mayor now has a record in city government makes it more likely that the campaign will be about policies instead of personalities.
"I think this campaign will be a lot more fun than the last one," Penman said.
Avila finished in fourth place in the Nov. 2005 mayoral vote. He also unsuccessfully challenged Fifth Ward Councilman Chas Kelley in 2007.
He said Friday that he wants to lower the city's utility users tax as a lure to new businesses, build a downtown arena and have City Hall hire foreclosure counselors who would advise troubled homeowners on how to keep their property.
"Foreclosures are very important. Nobody wants a boarded up house next to them," he said.
In an interview, Avila compared himself to the Count of Monte Christo. Like the fictional count, he says he was unjustly incarcerated when a judge jailed him for 14 days in 2008 after finding him in contempt in relation to a child support matter.
Avila said he has filed complaints with multiple agencies regarding what he considers to have been an unjust penalty.
Lindsay, the fourth potential mayoral candidate, wants to enlist residents into an expanded police volunteer team and build a stronger rapport between the Police Department and residents who are often afraid of their uniformed defenders.
He said many residents often feel they have been pulled over for nothing more than "driving while black."
"I do want to see a better relationship between the community and the police," he said.
The First Ward Race
The First Ward comprises downtown and a portion of the Westside. The race has two candidates, incumbent Esther Estrada and challenger Virginia Marquez.
Estrada, currently the council's longest serving member, is set to seek a sixth term in office. She said she wants to remain in office to oversee work on important public works projects, such as the future replacement of the Mount Vernon Bridge.
"I want to make sure that that's well under way," she said.
Marquez works as a part-time staffer for Democratic Rep. Joe Baca. She said she is a San Bernardino native former state parole agent and decided to run after living in other parts of the state, most recently Coronado Island, for three decades.
"I left 30 years ago and I came back and it's not what I remember," she said.
The Second Ward Race
The Second Ward contains many of the neighborhoods north of downtown and around Perris Hill park. Incumbent Dennis Baxter faces possibly two challengers, tow company owner Jason Desjardins and Alex Avila.
Baxter agrees with Morris that the city has made inroads against crime and wants to focus on services for young children, seniors and Perris Hill Park.
"I want to see some interesting things in Perris Hill Park," he said.
Desjardins owns Big Z Towing and has recently spoken out against a proposal to create a city-run impound lot. He also contends that the Second Ward does not receive its fair share of code enforcement and other anti-blight services.
"I want to ramp up graffiti cleanup and hold people accountable who are caught doing it," he said.
Alex Avila's nomination papers were still being verified as of late Friday. He said he works as a parent educator for Knotts Family Agency and the city to establish partnerships with local schools and tackle foreclosure-related problems.
"Certain groups are breaking into these houses and using them for drug sales and prostitution rings," he said.
The Fourth Ward Race
The Fourth Ward comprises San Bernardino's northeastern areas, including the 40th Street corridor. The race pits incumbent Fred Shorett against challenger Joe Arnett.
Shorett, who ran on a pro-business platform, defeated Arnett and two others in a special election that was held in March.
Firefighting promises to be a major issue, as Shorett and a majority of the council did not support proposals presented in April and May that would have reversed budget cuts affecting the Fire Department.
Arnett is accusing Shorett of breaking a pledge to support public safety, while Shorett says its also his job to be fiscally responsible.
"My only promise was to the taxpayers, to do the fiduciarily correct thing and be accountable to the voters," Shorett said.
To Arnett an IT manager at Loma Linda University, public safety trumps all other city operations.
"As much as I want nice parks, I want to make sure I have a safe park before I'm worrying about cutting the grass."
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
It will be just as interesting as the elections go to see if the SB SUN can report on this election without being biased towards a specific candidate. Fair reporting without personal interjection is difficult but is needed if the SUN is to maintain any form of creditability. Forget endorsing a candidate and just focus on providing the voters open honest reporting of the facts on these individuals, all of them in a fair and honest fashion. The voters are not interested in what the SUN thinks nor what the reporter thinks or feels. They are interested in each of the candidates and their position on the issues at hand as they, the voters try to sift through the pile of facts and fiction that always seems to mount. Do the job the voters and readers expect and leave the decisions to those who will vote and live with the results of these collective votes. I ask, can this be done? We will soon know as Nov is just a few weeks away.
It will be just as interesting as the elections go to see if the SB SUN can report on this election without being biased towards a specific candidate. Fair reporting without personal interjection is difficult but is needed if the SUN is to maintain any form of creditability. Forget endorsing a candidate and just focus on providing the voters open honest reporting of the facts on these individuals, all of them in a fair and honest fashion. The voters are not interested in what the SUN thinks nor what the reporter thinks or feels. They are interested in each of the candidates and their position on the issues at hand as they, the voters try to sift through the pile of facts and fiction that always seems to mount. Do the job the voters and readers expect and leave the decisions to those who will vote and live with the results of these collective votes. I ask, can this be done? We will soon know as Nov is just a few weeks away.
Andrew, Isn't it ironic that Jason says the 2nd Ward does not receive its fair share of code enforcement services. He owns Big Z towing that appears to have some obvious code violations, like blocking off Broadyway St with what appears to be a spray booth of some sort, broken windows and a lot of other iffy stuff. Looks like a nasty mess to me. This place is disgraceful looking. You get off the freeway and what you see Jason's mess. Don't you think you should have ask him about his own code violations. Come on Andrew, lets get-on-the-stick and start rake a little muck. This is, you know, San Bernardino politics: "Ready, Aim, Fire".
As I recall, and to be correct, Shorett's 72.77% victory in the March 2009 special election against three other candidates, set an all time City record and that should be noted in your reporting.
Is there some reason our current mayor has his cops calling children the "N" word, threatening to kick in children's teeth, throwing their shirts on the ground and then expecting them not to flip them off as they drive through? These Operation Phoenix Raids have GOT to stop!
Here is a idea: After Morris beats Penman, and he will, and remains Mayor, Morris then runs against Penman for City Attorney in two years without having to give up his seat. After beating Penman, and he would, Morris resigns being Mayor, leaving the mayorship open for his son Jim. Once that is done, Morris and Morris do whatever to change the City Charter, making the City Attorney an appointmented office. Mission accomplished.
Morris worshipper GMC: What has Penman done so wrong to you to have that much hatred. You are under the dillusion that the voters would even consider appointed top city officials. Guess you forget the Little Morris' Measure M butt whipping...but even more than that, you might need to check yourself into Patton if you think the voters would have both Morris's in two different elected positions in SB at the same time. Baca's family failures have proved that. But your theory is what many have thought for a long time and voters are smarter than that. Beware of becoming legends in your own minds. The Schnetzs, Holcombs, Carlones, Damerons, Shoretts, Morrises, and Savages of this world think they are so way above the average Joe and Jane voters and that their money can buy elections like the Shorett election. Voters, beware, your futures are being bought and sold before your very eyes. Follow the money and I don't mean public safety money, but good ole' boy money that buys contracts and profit on the backs of the taxpayers.
GMC/Jimmy:
Shut your mouth / stop typing. You're a worthless sack of **** and that's why your daddy still has to take care of you. Don't worry, I didn't miss your contributions to the crimes of your father. You'll be joining him. I'll tell you what...My lawyer wants to take me down to L.A. to turn your father and his cohorts in in about 30 days. I'll give you a 30 day head start on trying to cover your tracks. Once the investigation is opened, he'll go straight to jail. He'll have to await his trial (BTW, I'm hoping to get him charged for all of the foster kids who died because of him, too...So there won't be bail. He's a flight risk) and he'll have to run for mayor of his cell block. How's that, Jimmy Boy?
Come on 2nd ward residents! Let's vote Baxter out of office. He hasn't done anything worthwhile for his constituents.
I think popepaul may not be quite right. If my memory serves: At least two council candidates along the way, Noreen Miller & Neil Derry, received higher percentages of votes that Shorett did, although Shorett's showing was impressively high.
Vote Baxter out of office for a special interest candidate like Jason Desjardins? He doesn't like that Baxter voted to take away some of his towing business so he's going to run for city council? Maybe you think that he hasn't done anything. When my son's football team was trying to raise money to play in the league, he came to the fundraiser. When we had a halfway house try to set up, he helped stop it. When we had a thug attack our neighbor and the police wouldn't do anything, Baxter did. Maybe you need to ask him for some help cause he will.
Charlee's memory is not so good. Baxter was no where to be found when that group home was going up and literally did NOTHING to stop it. Other city hall officials stopped it. Just drive the ward and look at all the code violations, burned down house sites still standing, and most important his lock-step vote with the Mayor to build MORE very low income apartments, like we don't already have enough. And where does Baxter get the right to take away MORE business from the small business owneres like tow companies. Cities should stay out of running businesses. And maybe when you have thugs in your neighborhood, cops should come out, not Baxter. I think Jason what's his name is a retired law enforcement and wants police dept accountability.
Mr. Kimball is correct. Neil Derry and Noreen Miller both had higher percentages than Fred Shorett. Also,David Kennedy had a higher percentage the first time he ran for Treasurer and so did Jim Penman when he beat Stan Tomlinson in 1995, if my memory serves me correctly.
Well OMG, I am glad that you are an expert on my neighborhood. Maybe I should call you? are you running? We did call out the po-po and they would not do anything. We even talked to the Lieutenant and he wouldn't do anything until Mr. Baxter called the chief. Other cities have city run tow yards so what is the big deal? When Mayor Morris took office the voters passed stuff to help his vision. What is wrong with supporting the new chief's vision? He wants to bill back officers time spent on towed vehicles. Doesn't that mean money that goes back to getting more police on the streets. You are very "feet on the streets" when you sit on the dias.
I do live in the 2nd ward near Mt View. And if the po-po ain't gettin it done, maybe Baxter should step aside and let a councilman who knows what should be done, get it done. Baxter does NOT. Sorry if he helped you, but he does NOTHING. I was going to run, but decided Jason was the best candidate to make some CHANGE around here. The status quo ain't cuttin it.