Tag Archives: Chico city council election 2014

Dan Walters: low turnout results in government that is not representative of the people

5 Nov

Sac Bee columnist Dan Walters explains here how low voter turnout affects our political scene.

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article3545823.html

Walters says we set a record for low turnout in June – 25 percent. He then predicted that less than 50 percent would turn out for yesterday’s election. Candace Grubbs warned us too – and they were right, it looks like less than 50 percent turned out.

When I saw the numbers on our city council election last night, I knew right away something was weird. Last night they were reporting totals for the leading candidates around 5,000 votes a piece, when in past, the top candidates have pulled in more than 10,000 votes each. In 2010 the losers were getting more than 5,000 votes – Bob Evans lost with over 10,000 votes. And there were more candidates to spread the votes between in 2010, but they still came out with more votes. That’s because over 20,000 more people voted in 2010.  

Another interesting factor is the number of “blank” and “under” votes, defined here:

From Florida State Division of Elections:

Under Votes: If total votes is less than or equal to the number to vote for, then subtract he total votes
from the number to vote for. If the system counts blank votes (as defined below) then under votes are
recorded only when there is a vote for more than one contest and at least one vote is cast but les than
the required number to vote for.

Blank Votes (optional): If there is no vote selection at all for a contest, then it is counted as one blank
vote.

Apparently, just over 8 percent of the people who bothered to vote at all filled in less than the three requested bubbles for Chico city council. I didn’t vote for any of the candidates, but I wrote in Joe Montes, so I don’t know whether I counted as an “under” or a “blank”. This was my “protest” vote, and I know they heard it. That’s a pretty sad  turnout, hardly an endorsement of the people. I hate to do the math – how much did Coolidge spend per vote? 

At one point Coolidge tried to take me to task for not endorsing him, asking me what I thought he was up to:

“I know you like to think we all have dreams of power, but really, seriously? what is this tremendous power? The $400 a month?? Are all the past council members in Chico rich and powerful and living in big homes because of their time on the council. Andre Grieco? Shelton Enochs?  Ronald Stewart? James Evans? Maragaret Worley?

Really?? Is this the fortune 500 of Chico? Are they living in Mansions off Keifer Road? Have you ever even heard of them in the last five years?? Please stop, it is so wrong to pretend everyone who wants to make their town better is evil…”

Andrew, your actions would be suspicious to anyone. You make fun of me for wondering – why would you spend nearly $30,000 (and that’s the most recent total) to get a $400/month job? Helloooo?  This election has made it clear – Chico City Council is now closed to the average citizen/taxpayer, only the high-rollers can run for this local position.

Like Dan Walters said, our lives are being run by wealthy white men over 50 years of age. 

Butte County Election Results for last night 

http://clerk-recorder.buttecounty.net/elections/archives/eln31/results-1.htm

CITY OF CHICO COUNCIL (3)    
    Total
Number of Precincts   38  
Precincts Reporting   38 100.0 %
Vote For   3  
Times Counted   16452/44289 37.1 %
Total Votes   44071  
Times Blank Voted   704  
Times Over Voted   23  
Number Of Under Votes   3104  
ANDREW COOLIDGE   8887 20.17%
MARK SORENSEN   8280 18.79%
REANETTE FILLMER   7899 17.92%
LUPE ARIM-LAW   6251 14.18%
FOROUGH MOLINA   5839 13.25%
SCOTT GRUENDL   5535 12.56%
RODNEY WILLIS   1299 2.95%
Write-in Votes   81 0.18%

Butte County Election Results 2010:

CITY OF CHICO COUNCIL    
    Total
Number of Precincts   42  
Precincts Reporting   42 100.0 %
Vote For   3  
Total Votes   68907  
Times Blank Voted   2282  
Times Over Voted   14  
Number Of Under Votes   9126  
MARK SORENSEN   13225 19.19%
SCOTT GRUENDL   10717 15.55%
MARY FLYNN   10448 15.16%
BOB EVANS   10320 14.98%
MARK HERRERA   9154 13.28%
BOB KROMER   9005 13.07%
QUENTIN COLGAN   2599 3.77%
BRAHAMA D. SHARMA   1686 2.45%
DAVE DONNAN   1635 2.37%
Write-in Votes   118 0.17%

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Montes responds – still won’t tell. Shame on you Joe Montes.

28 Aug
Joe MontesAugust 26, 2014 at 1:24 pm 

 

Hi Juanita, I would like to clarify the record. I was invited by one person to attend a meeting with him and another person under the premise that important business development demographics would be shared that would be helpful to my campaign – as you know I’m interested in developing business in Chico. When I arrived at the meeting it quickly turned into a POLITE but focused conversation on why I should drop from the race because, as a newcomer to Chico who was gaining popularity, I would very likely end up splitting the vote with Andrew Coolidge. Although I did not like what I heard, I obviously accepted and acted upon the information after speaking with many others over the next two weeks – nearly everyone confirmed that term of residency was important in Chico.

I have not given names because I do not believe it is important. I want to emphatically state that neither Mark Sorensen, Reanette Fillmer, Andrew Coolidge, Sean Morgan or Larry Wahl had any part to play in my decision to drop from the race. In fact, I didn’t even know Reanette until fairly recently, and Mark, Larry, Andrew, and Sean along with many others repeatedly asked me not to drop from the race.

On another point, I never used the term “ambushed” with Melissa, but I can see how she could reach that conclusion. I don’t believe the two people I met with were trying to hurt me, so I don’t think it was an ambush – I think they were simply trying to protect Chico. I haven’t provided much information on these events in the past because I just didn’t know my departure was an issue. Otherwise, I would have provided you and others information sooner. I appreciate the work you’re doing for the citizens of Chico and I hope in the near future I can contribute as much to this wonderful city as you have. Thank you Juanita. – Joe Montes

I’m sorry, this is not clarifying Joe, this is throwing more mud on the situation. We have people trying to cut the voters out of the process, trying to manipulate our elections, and you act as though this is none of the public’s business. Shame on you Joe Montes.

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Happy Fourth of July – let’s start thinking about Election 2014!

4 Jul

It’s a good time to be an American. For one thing, in about 40 minutes,  the Rotary Club, with help from The Work Training Center, CARD, and the city of Chico,  will be offering FREE PANCAKES over at One Mile.  

I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everybody that public participation is the most important part of Democracy, and I’m not talking about a pie eating contest or a horseshoe toss. We have an election coming up in less than two years, I’d like to see some likely candidates step up for the city council race.

Scott Gruendl is talking like he’s running – on the news yesterday he was quoted as waiting for the employee unions to come forward with a better deal to keep the airport fire station open. Yeah, yeah – he’s so full of shit –  let’s not forget, Councilman Gruendl approved the MOU that linked public salaries to revenue increases but not decreases.  He knew exactly what he was doing – the same thing was happening in Glenn County, and over the same time period, his Glenn County salary went from about $50,000 to about $105,000/year – oh my! What a co-inky-dink!  And, in Glenn County, the employer pays the ENTIRE  “employee’s share” for pensions and benefits. That is odd, since Glenn County is in the lowest income bracket in the state, one of the poorest counties in the entire country.

Gruendl seems to have no shame as he strings together an impressive total of public moolah.  In addition to his $100,000+ from Glenn County, Gruendl takes about $8,000/year from Chico State as a part time “lecturer”.  And, contrary to what a lot of people believe, our city councilors are paid and benefitted – Gruendl takes  another $7,800/year for his council seat, plus a $17,000 benefits package for which he pays 2% of his salary,  less than $200/year.

If this guy gets re-elected, you can say GOODBYE to the America you thought you knew. People like Gruendl are moving into position all over the United States, pushing the employee unions into power, taking more public money to feed their war chest. If they have their way, the government will be the only employer out there, and if you don’t have a government job, you will be a slave. You will work 60 hours a week to pay their salaries.

I know, pretty dramatic. Oh well, just sit there, and see if I’m right. 

Happy Fourth! 

 

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