As of 5:00 PM--This election is already officially over--the council make up is set.
Time to get an early start looking for all new slate of staff: city manager, attorney, Bld Official, and Town Planner
Let's try to get this right for a change.

The Atherton Civic Interest League and the League of Women Voters will hold a Candidates Forum at 7 PM on 30 September at the Pavilion in Holbrook Palmer Park.

Good luck to all the candidates. I highly recommend that residents attend the Candidates Forum on September 30. It is a great way to see the candidates, ask them questions, and get informed.

I sent this email to the four candidates today:

Gentlemen,
It is my intention to personally (and not in any other capacity) endorse, support and vote for the three candidates who fulfill the following criteria:

1 - committed to open and transparent government and pledged not to use closed sessions except when absolutely necessary (as opposed to using closed sessions whenever permitted).

2 - independent as demonstrated by neither seeking nor accepting support from anyone who is not a registered voter in their jurisdiction, which means accepting neither money or endorsements from unions, developers, business organization or civic groups.

3 - committed to acting in the best interest of the citizens of their jurisdiction rather than to further their own agenda or the agenda of some outside group.

4 - committed to working with their fellow council members to find the best solution for their jurisdiction without personal attacks or animosity.

5 - committed to having a balanced budget without recourse to reserves or accounting tricks.

6 - open to considering any opportunity for significant costs savings such as outsourcing of specific services.

7 - Superior critical thinking skills.


I would welcome your responses regarding your position on these criteria.

Mr.Carpenter-
You have expressed concern for individual's right to sue their local government, but seem to have no concern about individual's rights to support candidates even if they are not registered voters, or if they live in a different jurisdiction. That is crazy! The result will be more of the same, deeply entrenched old-boy network of candidates (primarily from Lindenwood.) Ed was right, the fix is in and the election is already over....Sad.

Atherton taxpayer (one of thousands) states:"but seem to have no concern about individual's rights to support candidates even if they are not registered voters, or if they live in a different jurisdiction."

In my mind this is a question of the lesser of evils. I believe that contributions from people or organizations who are not eligible to vote for the candidate to whom they contribute simply corrupts the electoral process. As a Fire Board Director I saw the firefighters union spend almost 5 times as much as any individual candidate to try to pack the Board with people sympathetic to the union's interest - they failed.

We the voters elect people to represent us, not to represent people who live elsewhere or special interest groups. By law people can support whomever they wish but I will only support candidates who have the integrity and courage to ONLY accept support from individuals who can actually vote for them.

The result of my standard is not the election of the 'old boy' network but the choice of the voters uncontaminated by outside contributions.

You may have a different standard and that is your choice.