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Articles from
May 2008
My Family
Saturday, May 31, 2008 ::
0 Comments
 My wife and kids have been in Mexico for the past week enjoying a little vacation while I have been working around the clock.
Picking them up from the airport is going to be the best part of my week. This house is empty without Jenn being here and two kids running wild. Can't wait to see them.
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Home for Sale
Saturday, May 31, 2008 ::
0 Comments
My neighbors moved to the other side of Woodland -- leaving a beautiful home right across the street from me.
You can see it here.
We have a great neighborhood. This house is going to be open on Sunday. Come check it out.
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Mel Smith -- Signs
Friday, May 30, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Signs do not win political campaigns. People say they do but it is just not right.
Mel Smith is running against Duane Chamberlain for Supervisor. He has been putting signs up all over the county. The reality is that he is putting up illegal signs all over the county.
He is putting them up on railroad property, or CalTrans property, or on county property. Worse than that -- he is putting them on private property without permission on the land owner.
This is just wrong.
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Ok -- at first it was funny
Friday, May 30, 2008 ::
2 Comments
This is ridiculous. I am now getting hate mail from people for voting against that coffee cart. I am telling you right now --- I will never vote for anything like that coffee cart -- ever.
I am proud that I voted no.
At first I thought it was Art Pimentel playing a joke on me. Now I think these people are serious.
That was not the best use of $90,000.
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That silly coffee cart
Friday, May 30, 2008 ::
0 Comments
So yesterday the Yamada campaign issued a press release about the efforts by EdVoice to question her vote on the coffee cart. You can read it here.
Yep. I voted against it. I would vote against it tomorrow and next week...and any other time as a complete waste of money. Duane Chamberlain voted against it too.
If you read the press release ....there is no mention of Duane. I guess by reference if I voted against it .... it must be good public policy. Oh well.
I will proudly voting against further waste of public resources for the next 2 years.
Note: I just looked at the piece. I was quoted in it but not by name. Shoot -- they should have referenced www.rexroad.com. I will tell Gary Davis and Paul Mitchel I am outraged. Outraged.
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Freedom
Thursday, May 29, 2008 ::
2 Comments
I got an excellent e-mail from Chris Hunt. Hunt's concern is for second hand smoke in apartment buildings in Woodland. The concern is something that I recognize. I can't stand smoking. I have never smoked a cigarette or cigar in my life.
I don't like smoking but I certainly like freedom.
Here are some things that I don't agree with ---
Gun control laws
Anti-smoking ordinances
Seat belt laws
Helmet laws for motorcycles
Do I like accidental weapon discharges? No. Like smoking? Not. Injuries from care accidents? Nope. Head injuries? Nope.
I don't like any of these things but I'm willing to let people be free enough to choose to own weapons, smoke at their own risk, and drive unsafely in ways that only impact them.
When I started law school smoking was allowed in bars. My classmates and I often went to the Rubicon in Sacramento because it was smoke free. We chose to go there and spend our money there to be smoke free.
There is no doubt a demand for smoke free cars, hotel rooms, eating places. and other things.
Government continues to think it can protect us from all the risk of life. We as individuals need to be willing to choose to accept risk and the consequences that come with it.
If you smoke -- you should be able to be discriminated against for health insurance. You also should not be coming to the taxpayers for medical care when you have lung cancer.
If you ride a motorcycle without a helmet and get a brain injury it is your responsibility to take care of yourself and your family. I hope you are well insured.
When you buy a house in a neighborhood and accept CC&Rs -- live by them. You don't have to live there.
Government is not the answer to every problem.
This same equation is why I have some major problems with the Patriot Act. We have crossed the line from protecting society to such an extent that it intrudes on personal freedoms.
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Bobby Harris: Sac Bee
Thursday, May 29, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Bobby Harris is the focus of a great article today in the Sacramento Bee. Here it is.
The best parts of the article are the comments by Gary Sandy and that Bill Jones came rolling up in the middle of the interview.
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Foreclosure Workshop
Thursday, May 29, 2008 ::
0 Comments
LOOKING TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FORECLOSURE? HAVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS REGARDING YOUR MORTGAGE?
______________________________
Then Come to our Yolo County
FORECLOSURE PREVENTION WORKSHOP
_________________________________
Thursday, June 26, 2008
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Yolo County Housing
147 W. Main, Woodland
Call: 530-666-8918 with questions
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Speakers include:
Assemblymember Lois Wolk
And
Commissioner Matt Rexroad
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Bring Your Questions and
Your Loan Documents!!
An opportunity to have your loan evaluated one on one by Lenders and Counselors
Sponsored By:
Yolo County Housing
Yolo County Law Library
Yolo County Public Library
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You don't have to eat with me
Thursday, May 29, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Clarification is needed. You don't have to eat with me at Ludy's. You can take anyone you want.
Warning -- McComas says he is shining up his crystal ball and will enter by Monday.
We may see more entries now that people can eat in peace.
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The mailbox
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Do my Democrat friend showed me mail today.
1) A piece from EdVoice ripping Yamada for the $91,000 coffee cart the Board of Supervisors voted on earlier this year.
2) Another piece from EdVoice ripping Yamada on a pay raise issue.
3) A really nice 11x17 piece from the Cabaldon campaign that is completely white on the outside with a picture of Lois Wolk inside with lots of color. It is a great piece of mail.
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Bobby Harris - at my door
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I came home tonight to find a flyer from Bobby Harris on my door.
It is 8.5x11 black and white tri-fold. Lots an lots of words.
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Yolo County Veterans Memorial Project
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Kristina Maggi is a star. Check out this new site for the Yolo County Veterans Memorial Project.
This is a big deal. The goal is to finish this by Veterans' Day 2008. Once I get the copy I have the artists all set to go. They are going to donate their time. I think the printing should be reasonable -- but I will find money for that.
This has just made my day.
Ted Puntillo is ok too. That is an understatement.
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What a difference four years makes
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 ::
3 Comments
Last night in my mailbox I found a flyer from four years ago. You can see it here.
Does anyone else find it interesting that Bill and Leslie Marcus sent out a release four years ago slamming Kevin Spesert and Art Pimentel for taking campaign contributions from "DEVELOPERS OF THE 'GATEWAY' BIG BOX RETAIL PROJECT"?
The rationale was that Pimentel has been evasive on the question of Gateway and that he would not vote against his biggest contributors.
The flyer, as you can see, then goes on to say that Woodland should vote for Dote, Flory, and Monroe to stop the development.
This is funny for several reasons --
1) Monroe was the one to flip and support Gateway right after the election four years ago
2) Monroe accepted a $999 check from Paul Petrovich this election cycle
3) Monroe accepted a $500 check from PG&E this election cycle (Bill and Leslie are both advocates of pubic power in Yolo County)
So you might say -- Leslie clearly wouldn't like this if she knew Jeff was accepting these contributions. Well actually, she is his campaign treasurer.
Take a look at the bottom of his campaign website. You can see her name prominently listed right there.
Funny how four years ago I opposed Art being on the City Council. Now I support him.
Even more funny is that all of the reasons that Bill and Leslie used to support Monroe vanished right after the election. In fact, the reasons they used to oppose Art and Kevin now apply to Jeff Monroe. Oh well.
Politics makes strange....
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Now we are talking.....
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 ::
1 Comments
Ok. Now I am getting lots of entries. That is more like it.
Most of you think Martie gets third and Art wins it. One person think Jeff is third. One thinks Jeff is the top vote getter.
Our entry from the Navy picked Mel Losoya to be the next Vice-Mayor. That is why they are the Navy.
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Ok -- what gives?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 ::
0 Comments
So far I have exactly one entry in the elections prediction contest. What is going on? One entry. A Sac State Professor I know is going to be eating well at Ludy's.
Last time we did this I had probably thirty entries. Not even the defending champ has sent in a form yet.
Questions too hard? Questions not hard enough? Election not exciting? What if I pull my endorsement of Art Pimentel? What if we mounted a write-in campaign for Flory?
Readership is up so I know you are out there.
This does not look good for voter turn out. You know -- we do have an election next Tuesday.
Hello.
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Woodland Tree Foundation Fundraiser
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 ::
0 Comments
My brother in law is quite a drummer. He will be preforming at this.
Friday, Jun 13, 2008
Woodland Opera House
340 2nd Street, Woodland, CA
Enjoy an evening of local music and support your local trees. The Bottom Dwellers and our friends The West Nile Ramblers, Thomas Cunningham, and Justin Farren are teaming up in a benefit for the Woodland Tree Foundation, a non-profit group of volunteers dedicated to improving Woodland through the planting of trees. Come for the music, stay for the wood! Because a Woodland without trees would just be land.
7:30 PM • All Ages • $15 • Woodland Opera House website http://wohtheatre.org/
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Call for help
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Just got this e-mail forwarded to me. If you have the means to help -- please do.
Hi Friends and Colleagues,
We have a newly licensed Davis family that is opening their hearts and homes to a set of premature twins, a boy and a girl. It is anticipated that the babies will stay in the hospital for the next few weeks; I understand they will be released when they are holding their weight at 4 pounds or more and can be bottle fed for a full 24 hours, … predicated that all else is stable. What this means to the family, they will be required by the hospital to have 2 preemie car seats, we were told preferably new or purchased in the last couple of years, and a double stroller than can hold the car seats. I have looked on line, and the car seats alone seem to range from a low of $100 and go on up. Of course, they are also going to need premie clothes, and lots of diapers and supplies. Yes, they will be given 2 Target Essential Gift Cards and I am hoping that several of us might also have items to contribute to the cause. This family has not had babies in awhile as their daughters are in elementary and middle school; they are starting again from scratch. We are thinking that among us we may know of a family that recently had twins or preemies that we can get a few gently used items. I know many of us would love to offer to go and hold the babies; the hospital has strict restrictions on visitors and I want to assure you that infants are being lovingly taken care of. Our Yolo County foster family is already busy traveling daily to and from the hospital in Carmichael to hold and participate in feedings and changing the little ones; they are in beautiful hands.
As always, thanks to each of you for being there, Cherie
Cherie Schroeder, M.S., Child Development
Foster, Adoption & Kinship Care Education
FKCE Instructional Specialist/Program Director
Woodland Community College
2300 East Gibson Road
Woodland, CA 95776
(530) 574-1964 Cell
(707) 678-8579 Home Office
(530) 661-5772 College
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Bobby Harris
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I just watched some of the video clips on the Daily Democrat website from the City Council candidate debate. It was not all that shocking.
What was clear is that one candidate was far more articulate than all the rest....and it was probably the one that will finish last.
Bobby Harris is an extremely articulate advocate for his positions.
The distractions for the listener are his appearance, his lack of having a job/home, and his history in Woodland with local law enforcement.
However, if you close your eyes and just listen to the words he uses he is an excellent public speaker. He communicates his points very well.
If Bobby Harris had a job, had lived in Woodland continually for a number of years, and was involved in some community activities for a while I actually think he could win at some point in the future. Call me crazy but try just listening to the guy.
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Politiclast is back
Monday, May 26, 2008 ::
1 Comments
I has pretty much given up Politiclast.com for dead. Well -- it is ALIVE.
The site even has a video from that dance show. It has some freaky guy that dances unlike anything you have ever seen.
We need more blogs in Woodland.
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Art signs are everywhere
Monday, May 26, 2008 ::
0 Comments
One of the tricks of some political campaigns is to put signs out only on heavily traveled streets.
If you have 100 signs then it makes sense to put them where people drive.
Go drive down some of the less traveled streets in Woodland. They all have Pimentel signs. They are everywhere.
I am told he has 1,000 signs up in town. That has to be a record in Woodland.
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Dote on the Streets
Monday, May 26, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Yesterday I got a very nice 6x9 postcard on my doorstep from Martie Dote. It was left at some point yesterday.
Martie is out there working. Let's hope she can win this thing.
Go Martie.
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Yamada Sign Teams
Monday, May 26, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I woke up this morning to find a Mariko Yamada sign in my yard. It wasn't there last night.
It is possible that Art Pimentel, Dave Flory, my brother or my wife is playing a joke on me.
I did not look at the sign too closely but it was part of the Independent Expenditure for Yamada.
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California Prisons: Under Pressure
Sunday, May 25, 2008 ::
0 Comments
A few months ago I had a copy of California Prisons: Under Pressure. It is a DVD about the corrections system in California.
The DVD has four 25 minute episodes. I thought it was well done and includes a bunch of really good information.
If you are interested in watching this DVD -- let me know and you can pick it up on my front porch. I will leave it for you.
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Political Picks
Sunday, May 25, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Ok. The last time we did this Mark McComas won something. I don't remember what it was but I remember his picks were about as close as you could get without reading it in the paper after the election.
Not sure what the winner will get yet -- but here are the questions. Just e-mail me the answers. All questions are worth one point unless otherwise noted. My answers below.
Who finishes with the most votes for Woodland City Council? (two points)
Pimentel
Who finishes third for Woodland City Council?
Sieferman
Who finishes fifth for Woodland City Council?
Fred Lopez
Who gets more votes -- [the top two candidates for Supervisor in District 4] or [both the candidates in District 5]?
Fourth District top two
Who finished second for Supervisor in District 4?
Provenza
Does Duane Chamberlain get more than 67% of the vote?
Yes -- 70%
Who finished with the most votes for Davis for City Council?
Sue Greenwald
Who finishes fourth for Davis City Council?
Cecelia
Cabaldon or Yamada? (two points)
Cabaldon
Who gets more votes -- Bobby Harris or Rob Roy?
Harris
Does Judge Fall get more than 60% of the vote?
Yes
Does Prop 98 get more than 44% of the vote statewide?
Yes
Does Prop 99 get more than 46% of the vote statewide?
No
Tie Breaker
What percentage of the vote does Yamada get for the Assembly?
46%
Tie Breaker #2
What percentage of the vote does Walker get for Judge?
32%
Please e-mail me your answers by Monday June 2nd at midnight. Send to matt@rexroad.com
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In the newspaper today
Sunday, May 25, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I love these Sundays right before an election. All kinds of good stuff in the newspaper.
Crystal Lee wrote a great story in the Daily Democrat about the City Council race. Here it is. The Democrat has done a better job covering the City Council election this year than in any time over the past decade. Good stuff.
The Davis Enterprise does not have much political news but they have two really good political ads. The first is by Council candidate Sydney Vergis. She is going on a bike ride around Davis next Saturday. I think that is an interesting idea and seems to fit the community.
The best ad is on page A6 by Stephen Souza. It indicates it is a paid political ad but looks just like those "asked around town" pieces. Souza has Helen Thomson, Lois Wolk, Ed Prieto, the Raven family, and two others answer the question "Why are you voting for Councilman Stephen Souza?" I like that. I think it works.
The Sacramento Bee encourages voters to vote for anyone but Fargo or Johnson. Read it here. What in the world? I just read this a few minutes ago but I am left with the feeling that this is irresponsible.
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Mailbox today
Saturday, May 24, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I got a postcard from Frank Sieferman today.
He tells me that he is going to be my "voice at City Hall" and that he is "endorsed by the citizens of Woodland".
OK. Thank you for letting me know.
I also saw three pieces on the Assembly race. One from EdVoice with an ice cream cone on it hitting Yamada for a pay raise issue. One from an IE that rips Cabaldon for being supported by business interests, and one nice looking piece from Yamada with about 400 words of copy (that is a ton).
Just as I type this some owl on television is telling me that Lois Wolk supports Cabaldon.
I love election time.
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Memorial Day in Woodland
Saturday, May 24, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I am not going to be in Woodland for the ceremonies this Memorial Day...but just got a link in an e-mail from one of my favorite people.
My life was changed by a war but really only on the fringe. I wanted to be there and I volunteered to serve. I knew Neal Roberts from elementary schools but he was not someone that I had seen since high school. Hector Jimenez was also a friend from elementary school but not someone I was close with in the military. Jimmy Arroyave is someone that I never met but his family is very important to me and my family.
The people that I have lost in combat were Marines that I fought with and trained with. The reality is that they all wanted to be there too. They wanted to be right in the middle of the fight -- sending back more than came at them. That is what Marines do.
As I think about the sacrifice that has been made by the people around me I really focus on their family members that were left behind. They are the ones that did not sign up. They are not the ones that enjoyed being in the fight.
If you have the opportunity this weekend -- pray for those that have been lost -- but focus on the family members that have been left behind.
Semper Fidelis.
See story here about SSGT Arroyave. Petty Officer Barney has the story about half way down.
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Who will finish third?
Saturday, May 24, 2008 ::
0 Comments
For Woodland City Council it seems pretty clear to me that Art Pimentel and Jeff Monroe are locks. Despite all the talk about the Daily Democrat endorsement yesterday I still think Monroe pulls it out comfortably.
So who will finish third?
I want Martie Dote to finish third and think she has a chance.
I am betting it will be Sieferman. The people that know the name but have not met him number in the hundreds.
Lately several people have mentioned to me that they think it will be Fred Lopez. In fact, I have a bet with someone that believes it will certainly be Fred picking up the third Council seat.
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Ok --- so now what?
Friday, May 23, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Here are the things that will be unfolding politically in the area over the next ten days --
1) The Sacramento Bee will announce their endorsement for Sacramento Mayor on Sunday. I would love to see it be Kevin Johnson but I think they will give Fargo a slight nod.
2) Jeff Monroe now has "Firefighters support" lawn signs. He will be working hard to get lots of those up. It will probably be impossible to get enough up to match Pimentel at this point.
3) I don't see anything going really negative in the next ten days on City Council races, Supervisor seats, or Judge. Assembly is another matter. I see Yamada, Cabaldon, and gang really beating each other up. The really nasty stuff is on the way.
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The newspaper endorsements
Friday, May 23, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I have to tell you that I still can't quite believe what I read in the newspaper today.
That is really awesome for many reasons. The most impressive thing is the courage it took.
The Daily Democrat editorial page has been with the winners most of the time over the last ten years or so. One incumbent was not endorsed today. The endorsement of that incumbent would have been the easy choice. That incumbent will likely win on June 3rd.
What the Democrat did was support the candidates that are best for the future of Woodland. Very impressive bold step. Bravo.
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Chamberlain endorsed by Democrat
Thursday, May 22, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Chamberlain is the choice in Supervisor in District 5.
I am a little shocked that they went with Kennedy and Provenza.
I am hoping to read the recommendations for City Council in the morning.
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Just one more example for Monroe
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 ::
1 Comments
I read the Daily Democrat article today on the downtown forum for City Council candidates. I was reading along fine until I got to the last few lines.
Read the article here.
This is classic Monroe. The guy has been on the City Council for 8 years. 8 years yet he still sounds like he is figuring out what it going on.
The language is not a loophole. Like it or not that was what was required in the agreement.
Jeff does this all the time. The issue is in front of him. He is there for the debate but must not be paying attention. He doesn't bring up the issue and then after it has been worked on he finds a whole new problem with it.
Other examples include ---
Wayfarer Center
PBID
Flood Wall
Urban Limit Line
Major Project Financing Plan
Public Power for Woodland/Yolo County
Jeff will have more time on the Woodland City Council than all the other members combined when he is re-elected on June 3rd yet will not offer a fraction of the expertise provided by Skip Davies, Bill Marble, or Art Pimentel.
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I like newspaper endorsements
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I like newspaper endorsements. This may seem crazy because people will accuse the local editorial board of being liberal or conservative.
It was funny that when I got the endorsement of the Sacramento Bee in 2006, I got several e-mails from conservative friends saying they were sorry that I had become such a leftist. The same day I got an e-mail from one of my favorite law professors (who is the most liberal man on the planet) telling me that although he was rooting for me he could not possibly support me if a conservative right wing newspaper like the Sacramento Bee would endorse me. Oh well.
I find the reporters generally want the same thing I do. They want people that are willing to stand up for what they believe in. They want people to mix it up a little. It is not a question of right or wrong. It is a question of reasonable arguments.
Newspaper editors are a little different. They look at accomplishments and not going too far to an extreme.
Much of the time I tend to agree with the endorsements of our local newspapers for local races.
I think that the endorsements of the Daily Democrat for example is important in the race for City Council and Supervisor. It gives voters something to thing about.
So where is the Daily Democrat on these races? Jim Smith wrote a column last week about the process they were using. Still we have not seen anything -- and the election is two weeks away.
Attention Daily Democrat - I want to know what you think -- but not on Wednesday June 4th.
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Republicans have a problem
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 ::
0 Comments
The headline on CNN was "Congressman halts re-election bid after affair" -- for some reason I knew it was a Republican.
It seems that with the exception of the dude with the money in his freezer and Governor Spitzer, every time we have a scandal involving a political figure it turns out to be a Republican.
This is just unacceptable.
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Now I know
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 ::
0 Comments
On Saturday morning Abbie and I were heading out to Winters on Road 31 for the EARTH event. We were jamming along singing songs when I see these four or five guys walking along the south side of the road. They were carrying signs. The only word I could read on there was "Chamberlain".
I didn't want to stop and didn't have my camera so I just kept going -- wondering what was going on.
Now I know. Jake Dorsey let's us all know in this article in the Daily Democrat.
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The good guys won....
Monday, May 19, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Today Yolo County Superior Court Judge White refused to grant the Historic Nelson Ranch, Brenda Cedarblade, and Ted Wilson any sort of order stopping Clark Pacific from continuing on with the project.
Order Attached
Until this ruling today Brenda and Ted were in a position to negotiate for something. Not any more.
Now we need to get Clark Pacific employing some good Woodland people.
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This weekend
Monday, May 19, 2008 ::
1 Comments
This weekend I had the chance to speak to several good Woodland people about the City Council and Supervisor races.
Duane Chamberlain wins big. I still predict he gets 70% of the vote.
When I talk to people about the City Council race it is quite funny. People have strong feelings on several of the candidates.
Several people like Art, a couple can't stand him. They also give him credit for working hard.
Martie is in the same boat in terms of popularity.
When people say they are going to vote for Jeff I always ask them to "name one thing he has affirmatively done in his eight years on the City Council." I have this question out to eight people since Friday and don't have anything on the list yet. I am still looking for the first thing.
Sieferman people just kind of laugh about - but lots of people think he is going to win.
Fred Lopez is not really known by anyone.
Harris is not considered a serious candidate.
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Money in City Council Races
Monday, May 19, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I have not been looking at the City of Woodland website lately folate campaign contributions. I just looked and was a little surprised.
The Woodland Firefighters, Woodland Mid-Management Association, and the Woodland City Employees Association have all made major contributions to candidates.
Sieferman was the really interesting report. He took $750 from Paul Petrovich, gave himself $2,079, and took $2,000 from Jim Borchard Farming.
Jeff Monroe took $1,000 from Bob and Nancy Lea as well at $500 from the Global Leadership Alliance.
Art has $750 from Clark Pacific.
You can see all the late contributions here.
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This is just nuts
Sunday, May 18, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I finished reading this article in the LA Times about the United States installing concertina wire along the border. We can argue about the effectiveness of this. We can argue about the kind of barrier the United States should place along the border.
The part that I just will never understand is how it is wrong because people attempting to enter the country illegally might get cut by the wire. Seems pretty easy to me --- if you don't want to get cut then don't crawl over the fence.
If you don't want people to die in the desert Mexico -- station people out there to provide first aid to them in the same way the US Border Patrol does.
Illegal immigration is a complicated issue that the United States federal government needs to deal with. However, they need to do it in a way that is in the best interests of the United States of America.
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What in the world?
Sunday, May 18, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I just got a Google alert news update. The Sacramento Bee just published some information about candidates for Woodland City Council. You can see it here.
Nothing in the candidate answers in really exciting. The part that bugs me in Frank Sieferman refusing to participate. That is just wrong.
The newspapers are trying to get information about candidates out to people in the community but Frank won't even participate. That is just plain wrong.
The worst part is that he just might win.
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Backpacks for Kids
Saturday, May 17, 2008 ::
0 Comments
Dotty has been working hard on the Backpacks for Kids event. We have landed some great sponsors and continue on. Dotty has mailed out hundreds of sponsorship letters over the past week. Thank you to all the people that have responded.
The goal is to get 1,000 backpacks this year for local kids.
The website is rocking. My favorite pictures are Reisig and Pinmentel in the dunk tank. They signed up to come to the event last year, actually showed up, and then got in the tank. We need the Jim Smith picture to be there too. This year we will be at Gibson House and I will be in the tank -- as well as several others.
If you can help -- please do. Dotty and Dave Flory worked to set up a completely seperate non-profit this year for tax purposes. Now that we are in the second year of this event -- it should have a lasting presence in Woodland.
Below is the committee working on this. They are doing great work.
Dotty Huber
Dave Flory
De Bathe
Bill Bathe
 Leona Jull
Mimi Rose
Robb Wallace
Julliana Shon
Tonia Burns
Bob Huber
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Court on Monday
Saturday, May 17, 2008 ::
0 Comments
The Historic Nelson Ranch, Brenda Cedarblade, and Ted Wilson continue their assault against Clark Pacific on Monday in Yolo County Superior Court. They are using the California Environmental Quality Act as their hammer to try and frustrate the efforts of Clark Pacific to some to Woodland.
So far Brenda and her husband have lost the public relations battle with the vast majority of people in this community supporting Clark Pacific and they have lost the battle in the elected bodies of area with unanimous votes by the Board of Supervisors and the Woodland City Council.
On Monday I hope this legal terrorism ends. This is nothing more than using CEQA as a tool to shake down the owners of Clark Pacific for personal benefit to Cedarblade and her husband. It has absolutely nothing to do with the critters.
Meanwhile, back at the Historic Nelson Ranch Scandal blogspot site -- Charles Shaw is back from vacation or whatever.
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Fall Mail
Friday, May 16, 2008 ::
0 Comments
I almost forgot about a piece of mail I got yesterday from Judge Fall. It is very nice.
I am told an automated call from Dave Flory has gone out in support of Martie Dote yesterday.
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Sieferman IE
Thursday, May 15, 2008 ::
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Interesting time in the mailbox today.
I got a piece from the California Taxpayer Protection Committee did an Independent Expenditure in support of Frank Sieferman. The guy that runs this organization is California Republican Assembly President Mike Spence.
Politics makes strange bed fellows.
Right now this group has funding from the insurance industry. I will be checking the filings to try and see where the money is coming from.
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Sieferman in the mailbox
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 ::
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I got a flyer from Frank Sieferman today.
It is an 8.5x11 piece that has some of the photos from our Supervisor campaign.
It was addressed to the Rexroad Family and arrived today even though Jenn and I are both Permanent Absentee voters.
Some of the copy is interesting....
"Putting Woodland First" is the cover. That is interesting.
On the back it says "As your Supervisor, Frank's leadership preserved Woodland's farmland from development". That is an interesting one. I honestly have no idea what he did as a Supervisor to accomplish this.
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The Wilma Rule Award
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 ::
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This past weekend I was awarded the Wilma Rule Award by Californians for Electoral Reform.
I was not present at the ceremony in Davis but am honored they liked my blogging.
Here is the certificate.
Wilma Rule was an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the University
of Nevada, Reno. She was the author or editor of at least four books:
Russian Women in Politics and Society, The U.S. House of
Representatives: Reform or Rebuild?, United States Electoral Systems:
Their Impact on Women and Minorities, and Electoral Systems in
Comparative Perspective: Their Impact on Women and Minorities, as well
as numerous articles, both scholarly and popular.
She was one of the earliest members, active on our Board I believe from
the very beginning, and active with the organization as long as her
health allowed. She died on January 15, 2004.
Wilma Rule was a longtime champion of women's representation. Her
research challenged conventional notions about the reasons for women's
lack of political representation in the United States, much lower than
in other countries. Many advocates for women's representation hold
the view that if more women simply ran for office, or if women
candidates had more campaign financing, then far more women would be
elected. But Professor Rule's research of electoral methods and women's
representation around the world demonstrates the deficiency of that
viewpoint. Her research and that of others showed unequivocally that
if you want more women elected to your legislatures, the single most
important change is to get rid of our 18th-century winner-take-all
electoral system in favor of more modern "full representation"
electoral methods.
As a strong believer in proportional representation, Wilma was
concerned that our growing interest in IRV would distract us from our
primary mission of PR. We owe it to her to not let that happen, and in
her memory we have created the Wilma Rule Memorial Award, awarded to
that person or persons who have done the most to advance the cause of
proportional representation in California during the preceding CfER
year.
--Steve Chessin
President, Californians for Electoral Reform
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Yolo County 101 -- maxed out.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 ::
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If everyone shows up for Yolo County 101 tomorrow that signed up -- we are maxed out.
Great response. Thank you to the Daily Democrat for publishing information on it.
Unfortunately, I am not even going to be there tomorrow night. Sharon Jensen and Dotty will be doing the introductions.
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Predictions Three Weeks Out
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 ::
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Woodland City Council
Art, Jeff, Sieferman (Martie a close fourth), Fred Lopez, Bobby Harris
Yolo County Supervisor
Chamberlain gets 70%
Assembly
Cabaldon 55%
Prop 98/99
Both fail (under 45%)
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