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March 13, 2012 Daily Brief-The Absentee Ballots Dropped Yesterday Edition*

By Timothy Myers SR. — Tim Myers

  • The absentee ballots for City Council election were dropped at the Post Office yesterday and we got a mailer from Bob Kellar on Monday.  Coincidence?  I think not.  I am revising my earlier forecast to put Bob as the top vote getter with Laurie Ender coming second.  SIGNAL  ”strongly” endorses Bob Kellar and “sort of” endorses both Laurie Ender and TimBen Boydston, I guess taking a page out of the Cameron Smyth endorsement playbook.  TimBen can’t complain, because I believe he has endorsed Paul Strickland and Scott Wilk for the same office.
  • In the area of desultory campaigns,  Laurie Ender on her Facebook page says she has a garage full of yard signs and will “personally” deliver to anyone that wants one.  This late in the game it seems like Laurie Ender is not running the Death Star campaign I predicted but has sought to test the strength of incumbency to its limits, like her fellow traveler Frank Ferry.
  • SCVRA conducts a straw poll and Bob Kellar and TimBen Boydston are by far the (ridiculously) big winners.  SIGNAL  Those percentages won’t turn out that way on Vote Counting day much to the chagrin of commenters and SCVRA members victimized by “elitists.”  Signal does not publish contemporaneous straw poll for 38th Assembly District that shows Patricia McKeon getting FIVE votes against hundreds for Scott Wilk.  WRB  The primary won’t turn out that way either.
  • Bill Reynolds, er NOTAFERRYFAN used to like Jon Hatami but now he is convinced that candidate Hatami was placed in the race by the “evil” Laurie Ender and Frank Ferry.
  • Like a flea on the elephant that is the macroeconomy, SIGNAL reports how City Council will discuss further initiatives to enliven the local economy, seeking headlines hopefully better than the “hundreds” of jobs created by the Tilted Kilt and Chronic Cantina.  (Yes, City staff, I am mocking your feeble efforts!)
  • So this is a strange one.  SIGNAL counts 13 arrests for DUI over the weekend but only ONE came from a DUI checkpoint screening over 1,000 vehicles.  More evidence the checkpoints are probably a waste of resources.
  • SIGNAL again does their annual conflation of the Hart District bond measures independent audit results.  Headline says that independent firm states that bond funds were spent “properly.”  Audit actually concludes that District has adequate records to show that funds were paid solely for construction and not other expenditures.  The wisdom and propriety of construction expenditures is still a mystery.
  • City Arts Commission adopts standards for art donations to the City requiring a $500 value threshold and the proper aesthetic “enhancing” the City’s public spaces.  SIGNAL   So much for my plan to take an inflated tax deduction for my “Dogs Playing Poker,”  ”Elvis on Black Velvet.” and blacklight posters I found in my garage.
  • Turns out the County plan to buy land in Castaic for a courthouse and sheriff’s station may be a bit premature.  While there appears to be money to buy the land, there is currently no money to build a station.  SIGNAL
  • Canary in the coal mine?  Gail Ortiz may state that everything is hunky dory with Redevelopment despite the elimination of the local redevelopment agency, but I am just not sure.  SIGNAL has a tummy twisting story.
  • I LOVE THIS STORY!  A 17 year old Saugus High Student, Sarah Ross, moves a skateboard and scooter business she started at age 13 with the help of her father out of her garage to a storefront on Soledad Canyon Road.  Sarah’s (surprisingly) modest goals include study at COC and then a transfer to Cal State, Fresno (?).  I would suggest that anyone who receives a resume from Sarah Ross in the future give her ANY job you have in your organization because you will be glad to have her around someday.  It is quite rare for a teenager to start a small business!  SIGNAL

Comments (77)

  1. AlpinerMarch 13, 2012 at 6:03 am
    Go Bob!!!!
  2. LarMccMarch 13, 2012 at 6:18 am
    What, no mention of The Signal’s endorsement of Kellar and the endorsement? of Ender. Am I the only one that found the whole thing odd? http://www.the-signal.com/section/32/article/61459/ I have yet to get a Kellar mailer, but a TimBen person dropped a nice pamphlet on my doorstep.
  3. AdamMarch 13, 2012 at 6:28 am
    Yeah, I would summarize the Signals endorsement as such: We endorse the incumbents, Kellar is great, Ender is bad bad bad, Boydsten is an elder statesman. Ignore our endorsements and vote Kellar/Boydston. Kind of a weird read.
  4. Jim FarleyMarch 13, 2012 at 6:58 am
    The Signal is continuing to fill their role as City Hall WestBranch. The wording of the editorial clearly argues for Boydston, yet they just tow the line for the incumbants and let the needle swing to Ender – incredible. SCVTalkers we know better. Boydston and Kellar are the best choices in this race. Please encourage all you know to ignore Myer’s prognostications and cast the correct votes.
  5. Timothy Myers SRMarch 13, 2012 at 7:39 am
    Jim: Laurie Ender is providing a laboratory on the power of incumbency because she ain’t doin’ much of a campaign. If she still keeps her seat with this half hearted campaign it is game, set and match on incumbency.
  6. LarMccMarch 13, 2012 at 7:59 am
    Tim, Could not agree more. I really expected (an do a little still) to see hit mailers come from some PAC, Colley or both. Ender apparently only recently launched her website and facebook page and absentee ballots are out. Something does not sound right. Was our Mayordude Pro Tem hoping that Colley would knock Kellar down enough that Ender needed to do nothing? Ferry does not want to see his Gang of Four become a Gang of Three. So I am surprised how lax they have been. That being said, The Signal endorsement piece is really surprising to me. It will be interesting to see if there is a price to pay for what was said.
  7. Timothy Myers SRMarch 13, 2012 at 9:02 am
    Larry: I think the Ferry/Ender/Colley group had grander plans but the money was just not there, since every business interest has everything they need right now. Plus, ironically, attacking Bob probably rallied his supporters more than they would have been. In any case, anything that is done after this week is a gargantuan waste of time.
  8. LarMccMarch 13, 2012 at 12:57 pm
    I agree, it is D-Day almost. It will be an absolute test of the power of incumbency. I am the optimist, I think there has been enough negative press with the library and the more recent Jakes Way debacle to turn some voters away from her and cause some to actively campaign against her. This, coupled with poor campaigning, may give a challenger a chance. Ferry won by a razor thin margin last time. Maybe she won’t be as lucky. It will be interesting to watch.
  9. mikeMarch 13, 2012 at 1:14 pm
    TBB had a weak showing last time around, but candidates tend to do better in successive elections. Also, from what I can see on his expenditures, he’s running a smarter campaign than last time, which was more heart than head.
  10. NateMarch 13, 2012 at 9:25 am
    Ender should break some laws then maybe LarMcc would get on board.
  11. LarMccMarch 13, 2012 at 12:57 pm
    Well, it would help.
  12. AlpinerMarch 13, 2012 at 11:37 am
    Hey, I saw one little sign of her’s in Northbridge!
  13. Jim FarleyMarch 13, 2012 at 12:56 pm
    Yeah there is one on my street in Northbridge. I hope it’s the same one you saw and also the only one in Northbridge. At least the Boydston sign on my lawn is bigger.
  14. Timothy Myers SRMarch 13, 2012 at 1:47 pm
    Jim: Talking about the size of signage might be a “code” for something else!
  15. mikeMarch 14, 2012 at 8:51 am
    Apostrophe abuse! That isn’t like you at all.
  16. David GaunyMarch 13, 2012 at 8:28 am
    Adam, I’ve never met you but just saw ALL of the video from the 38th meeting. Congratulations and GREAT JOB on not backing down. It’s funny to watch what happens when they can’t control you, isn’t it? You are articulate and smart – keep it up!!
  17. NateMarch 13, 2012 at 9:26 am
    I agree.
  18. sterlingMarch 13, 2012 at 5:05 pm
    He is right
  19. Timothy Myers SRMarch 13, 2012 at 7:37 am
    Sorry I missed that. It has been updated.
  20. PackfanMarch 13, 2012 at 6:58 am
    Jobs are one issue and the DUI checkpoint another. Hmmm! Why are the jobs related to drinking? Whatever happened to live, work, play in Santa Clarita? It’s expensive to live here and the local McJobs don’t pay. Meanwhile the Police are waiting for you to play, at least after 8. Time for a change on the council. Who will bring better jobs to the SCV? I feel it’s time to break up the incumbent club which has spent much and produced little of economic value besides Goodwill and Dollar, (99 cent) stores. Where are the jobs?
  21. David GaunyMarch 13, 2012 at 8:26 am
    Very insightful post, Packfan. The tired incumbent council member re-election strategy seems to be regurgitating the fact that we have a “balanced budget” but this does not equate to real leadership or an understanding of the needs of our community from this elected body. The city’s budget is admirable but it’s mostly the result of city staff efforts, not the council members who usually vote as directed by the city manager (either through carefully selected information or lack thereof). But our real problem is that our city has been built through homebuilding permits and residential construction without an eye on a sustainable economic model that well-run cities typically build on high-paying jobs and the ongoing revenue generated from medium and larger business taxes. So, as people move into their homes and add infrastructure costs (costs that we removed from developers like G&L), we now begin scrambling to pay for depreciating streets and services and realize that we are not set up well for the long term at all. A lack of Jobs is just the start of that discovery and the quality of our businesses will degrade as a result ($.99 Stores, etc). As many of us have been saying, just look to the SFV for what’s coming. The good news is that we’ll have plenty of used tires shops! I also believe that the many costs loaded onto our taxpayers in recent years will not be realized until most of this council is gone. Lawsuits have taken a major toll, the state dollars we planned on are drying up (surprise), and many of the things we’ve paid for over the last few years have been done with financing schemes that include graduated (increasing) payments. The city will delay these problems for as long as possible and pound the “balanced budget” drum in the meantime but like homeowners who used their home as an ATM machine in the boom, our wealth will be revealed as apparent, not actual. Kellar is the only council member who has any grasp or involvement on the Economic Development Corp. Unfortunately, the start of this group is more than a decade overdue for the SCV. Like many, I also question whether the many of the members who bought their seat on that board will use their position to improve things or line their pockets… but somehow, some way, a conversation on these matters needs to be had ASAP.
  22. Eric HeilbrunMarch 13, 2012 at 7:30 am
    Re: The Signal article on the state of redevelopment….if w e’re going to compare redevelopment debt to Old Town Pasadena, shouldn’t we also compare tax revenue? Yeah, maybe 4 times the debt, but take a look at Old Town Pasadena on a Sat nite vs. Newhall.
  23. LarMccMarch 13, 2012 at 8:11 am
    I was there three weeks ago at El Trocadero on a Saturday night. The restaurant was about half full, as was the bar. We drove in and out through Main Street. It was a ghost town, with the exception of a small gathering of cars/people near Pulchella Winery. There was a bit of foot traffic, but mainly around the liquor store/gift shop on the corner.
  24. TimBen BoydstonMarch 13, 2012 at 7:45 am
    Of course the numbers from the straw poll will not be the same as the election. What it does show is who is out there working to get elected. I was at the straw polls most of the hours that they were open, and by doing so convinced a lot of people to vote for me. While I was there, I had wonderful volunteers walking their neighborhoods, phone banking, delivering lawn signs and even doing a street demonstration for the campaign on McBean Parkway (thanks neighborhood residents from Singing Hills). We know how hard it it is to unseat an incumbent, but we are out there working to use the awsome power of our Democracy to show that our Government is still of the people, by the people, and for the people. Thanks for the words President Lincoln, and thanks to everyone who still believes that we can make a difference. Come join us. We will make Santa Clarita a better place to live! Info on our plan at timben.com I would be honored to have your vote.
  25. PackfanMarch 13, 2012 at 7:49 am
    Tim, it would be a better place to live if we didn’t have to commute o’er the hill. Do you have any ideas for jobs?
  26. DubiousMarch 13, 2012 at 7:54 am
    I will be “bullet voting” for TimBen. I hope those who want change at city hall will do the same. TimBen will not blindly accept the executive summaries on projects handed out by city staff. He proved during his past service on the council that he does his own research. We need a councilman like that!
  27. AnnetteMarch 13, 2012 at 8:23 am
    Timothy Myers SR~ Today’s Mighty Signal had an excellent “Dems Voice” by Lori Rivas. Did you read it? I did… and it does enlighten the public with “facts” of our deaf ear (Bob Keller exception) City Council. Thanks Lori
  28. Lori RivasMarch 13, 2012 at 8:59 am
    Thank YOU, for the compliment, Annette.
  29. LindaMarch 13, 2012 at 9:01 am
    Excellent! Here is the link: http://www.the-signal.com/section/33/article/61557/
  30. SCV Republican SupporterMarch 13, 2012 at 9:01 am
    Now that the City’s Sample Ballots are out and those who are permanant absentee voters, or request absentee ballots, will be voting, the election will be over in two to three weeks since 70% of the voters will vote by absentee. Reading this blog I see a lot of support for Kellar and TimBen, but don’t understand the connefction. Kellar has frequently stated his regret for putting TimBen on the Council and certainly disagreed with his conduct while an appointed member of the Council. Ferry and Ender get attacked for how they treat people, but nobody seems to have a problem with TimBen thinking he knows the answers to everything. He is at times the parking guru, development guru and now library guru. I believe in guestioning people, but it should be from the point of view of wanting information, not pontificating as if you know everything. Those who want a freshness added to the Ctiy Council should not be looking at TimBen. Hatami maybe, although he is awfully naive. Better yet, term limits so that will be an automatic change with open seats that will attract more viable candidates.
  31. Lori RivasMarch 13, 2012 at 9:25 am
    In my eyes, being “green” can be a good thing — as a newcomer to SCV politics, and championing a single cause, I think I was able to, ahem, make some waves and affect change. In that light, I have rethought my opinion of Hatami. Yes, in the beginning, he was very naive about the scope of city versus county versus state government, and his staff were highly inappropriate here on SCVtalk a few months ago. But, I’ve heard him speak 3x now, and have spoken to him, personally, on the phone, and I do think that he has genuine passion and goals for our city. And I think he is pretty bright, and has proven that he can learn the ropes pretty quickly. I don’t agree with all of his platform, but I am all for new blood on the city council. Someone who has not come up through the ranks can infuse a new life into an organization, and that is why one of my votes will be for Hatami. Vote out the clique.
  32. JeffMarch 13, 2012 at 9:33 am
    TimBen supporters should bullet vote Boydston and Boydston alone. A voter for Kellar essentially cancels out a vote for TimBen, since it’s expected Kellar will place second. #TheMoreYouKnow
  33. KaleMarch 13, 2012 at 10:27 am
    How does the vote for Kellar cancel out the vote for TimBen? Can you explain this? If you bullet vote TimBen alone are you saying that Ender is locked so second place we have to choose between Kellar and Boydston?
  34. mikeMarch 13, 2012 at 11:14 am
    If you like two candidates, but have a strong preference for one, you should bullet vote. I wouldn’t be so sure Ender is a lock for first place, though. Her campaign four years ago had a a lot of money, two substantial independent expenditures, and a very sophisticated operation that made a big play in new voter registration and vote-by-mail. While I’m sure we haven’t seen her whole campaign strategy unfold yet, it seems rather clear that Apart from built in advantages like incumbency, party ID, name ID and gender (in SCV, no-name woman usually beats no-name man), campaigns are won by smart strategy and a well-funded execution of that strategy. This matters much more than messaging or platform. For all we know, a massive mailer could have gone out yesterday to everyone that Ender identifies has a supporter. The basic blueprint for a proper campaign is there, but there isn’t much evidence of it being carried out, at least from my view. Kellar benefits from both the reflexive incumbent vote and the mad-at-city-hall vote. He didn’t have the same populist appeal last time, plus he was hit with some really bad press regarding his (lack of) financial disclosures. He didn’t put much into the campaign and even stated publicly that it would be his last election.
  35. Angelo CandelabraMarch 13, 2012 at 2:07 pm
    Mike, you touched on something that hasn’t been fully considered: Laurie Ender is the only woman on the ballot. That, and her ballot designation as “mayor”, will generate a good number of “automatic” votes.
  36. IHeartSCVMarch 13, 2012 at 4:13 pm
    I think you and others may be over-estimating the power of the mayoral title. Five times someone has run for re-election the same year they’ve been mayor, and they’ve only finished first one of those times (Frank Ferry, 2002).
  37. BertaMarch 13, 2012 at 6:35 pm
    IHeart how many times has a female incumbent Mayor lost a bid for re-election?
  38. IHeartSCVMarch 13, 2012 at 6:46 pm
    Never, Berta. But of those three qualities (female, incumbent, and mayor), only two of them (female and incumbent) improve voting prospects.
  39. JeffMarch 13, 2012 at 12:02 pm
    Yes, Ender is a lock for first. She has a big PTA following that’s organized and no one else can match. So, knowing that, and wanting reform at City Hall, you need to bullet vote TimBen. Here’s how a vote for TimBen and a vote for second place finisher Bob Kellar cancels each other out Total Votes received: Laurie Ender : 8,245 Bob Kellar : 6700 TimBen Boydston: 5923 Assume some777 people voted for Kellar & Boydston. Now imagine those same 777 people voting only Boydston. Boydston’s count stays the same, but Kellar’s declines. Or, to put it another way, by voting for Kellar & Boydston, you only add to Kellar’s vote count, which is going to put him in second place in a two seat race. Kellar probably has a built in advantage of 4,000 votes. Don’t add to them if you want Boydston to win. Bullet voting is the chink in the armor of incumbency in an at-large system. Trust us. We geek out on this stuff and you’ll probably find us live blogging the results at City Hall like we’ve done in past years.
  40. 4eyedsueMarch 13, 2012 at 1:00 pm
    I love when you guys geek out
  41. Timothy Myers SRMarch 13, 2012 at 1:49 pm
    Sue: What’s really amazing is when us geeks find a mate who allows us to pass on at least half of these strange genes, in my case five times over!
  42. Timothy Myers SRMarch 13, 2012 at 1:58 pm
    Jeff: I am not getting the vibe this time that the PTA moms are all that well organized for Laurie to finish so far in front. We will know exactly four weeks from today!
  43. AlpinerMarch 13, 2012 at 2:38 pm
    TimBen, I live in Northbridge and have not seen any of the PTA force out or signs for Ender that were there last time. However on the signs she does list herself as “mayor” which in itself I find egotistical and irritating.
  44. sterlingMarch 14, 2012 at 3:09 am
    You couldn’t have said it better.
  45. Angelo CandelabraMarch 13, 2012 at 2:01 pm
    Jeff, I concur. To attempt to ride the coattails of the incumbent widely expected to finish second is a truly odd electoral tactic. In 2008 many North Valencia voters cast bullet votes for Laurie Ender which, due to her earning nearly 70% of the votes in some precincts, catapulted her into 2nd place. Bob Kellar, on the other hand, ran on a quasi ticket with Bob Spierer which placed him (Kellar) in danger of being defeated by his quasi running mate. Bob Kellar followed his heart rather than his head. Smart incumbents either run alone or they run as a team with a full slate of incumbents (as they did in 2010). By promoting voters to cast votes for himself and Bob Kellar equates, Mr. Boydston is campaigning against himself.
  46. AdamMarch 13, 2012 at 3:23 pm
    TimBen has been very clear from the beginning though, even saying directly, “If you only cast one vote,vote for Bob Kellar.” He hasn’t ever been anything but an ardent supporter of Bob, so I don’t think it’s him campaigning against himself as much as it is him saying he doesn’t want to win if it means Bob loses.
  47. sterlingMarch 14, 2012 at 3:11 am
    You are right.
  48. mikecMarch 13, 2012 at 6:59 pm
    The vote will be closer than normal….wilk and fortine won by similar margins…one ran a campaign and the other not so much! Looking forward to Mike breakin’ down the votes by precinct and comparing them with the 2006 election…..
  49. KaleMarch 13, 2012 at 11:40 pm
    Thanks for the reply. I am not fond of the idea of conceding Endar, though. TimBen really shouldn’t have given up his seat, though I admire the integrity.
  50. BertaMarch 13, 2012 at 3:29 pm
    Jeff I disagree with your assessment that folks should just bullet vote for TBB. You are assuming that a bullet vote for TBB will equal more votes for him than those actually cast for Laurie Ender and result in Kellar and Boydston both winning. A bullet vote for TBB is more likely to effectively oust Bob Kellar. Bob also needs all possible votes to win re-election. Laurie Ender has the power of incumbency, the title of mayor, and is the only female on the ballot. Not everyone follows local politics carefully, and understands that we are a General Law City so the mayor is not solely responsible for our great city. Plenty of folks feel that everything in Santa Clarita is just fine, giving Laurie the biggest advantage as Mayor, not Bob. I personally believe folks should vote for whomever they want to win each of the two available seats. If they only support one candidate, then bullet vote but otherwise use both votes wisely or there may be unintended consequences.
  51. NateMarch 13, 2012 at 9:21 am
    The influx of check points is from the headquarters and circumnavigates our station… Our Station does do checkpoints but only a couple a year.
  52. ToddMarch 13, 2012 at 9:32 am
    Speaking of Ferry… I happened to run into him (nearly literally) at the mall on Sunday morning. (Yes, I’m a sinner and was at the mall and not at Grace Baptist…. I know.) Anyway, he was looking rather, um, “healthy”…. to the tune of 300+ lbs if I had to guess. Given his medical ailment that landed him near death, one would think he’d be wanting to take better care of himself, no?
  53. RemStarMarch 13, 2012 at 10:17 am
    Being a person who believes numbers tell the whole story, I’m surprised Tim Myers didn’t reference and link the story about the nice $6 million surplus the city had last year ( http://www.the-signal.com/section/36/article/61489/ ). That’s impressive given the bad economy. Certainly it would have been mentioned by Tim and many others if it had been a big deficit instead of a big surplus.‬
  54. Need for Involved CitizenryMarch 13, 2012 at 11:34 am
    Remstar: I’m really happy (not) the City tripled my Stormwater fees so they could show a $600,000 surplus in this particular account. There is more to this than just the raw numbers in the City’s press release. Likewise, higher LMD fees and lower spending also will help generate a surplus. Shouldn’t this kind of a surplus be given back to the taxpayers? Couldn’t the fact that they overcollected revenues or underspent be considered “poor management” in term of not delivering the services the residents (taxpayers) have paid for? Isn’t this the same thing the City criticized the County on with the libraries?
  55. SCV Republican SupporterMarch 13, 2012 at 1:01 pm
    I have not read the details, but it appears you have not either. It is $6 million, not $600,000. Also generally speaking any fees are in special accounts and can only be spent on those designated areas. You may not like all of the Council or all of their decisions, but I have even heard TimBen admit we are on sound financial footing. Pretty good considering how bad the State and Federal Governments are. Criticize other issues if you want, but fairness should admit the sound finances of this City.
  56. Angelo CandelabraMarch 13, 2012 at 2:12 pm
    Interesting. So when a city runs a surplus they are even more incompetant than when the run a deficit? In other words, not spending every dollar of revenue is a greater abomination than spending more than your revenue? How nice for you to be able to (try to) find the black lining to every cloud.
  57. Alan FerdmanMarch 13, 2012 at 3:16 pm
    Angelo You bring up a very interesting point. But, I think the final judgment would be associated to where the surplus is being held. For instance, the Stormwater Fee referenced above is a Proposition 218 Assessment District in which the funds may only be spent in a manner approved by the Property Owners vote. Therefore, a large surplus in that area would be a sign of overcharging the public and poor physical management. If we are talking about a General Fund surplus which holds the city’s discretionary funds and all reasonably expected services have been provided, that should be considered sound financial management. Yet even a surplus in discretionary funding is only to be commended when all reasonably expected services have been provided and excessive debt has not been accrued in order to push off current obligations to future taxpayers. Using that criteria, we could have a very interesting conversation.
  58. Angelo CandelabraMarch 13, 2012 at 4:19 pm
    Mr. Ferdman, the audit indicates it’s a nearly $6 million general fund surplus of which the Signal wrote. A $6 million surplus in a year with a tempid economy and a $10 million library takeover is remarkable. Even more so in light of improved public safety data. By the way, does anyone else feel that the timing of the story (8 months after the fact, but the Sunday before the ballots are mailed) and the location of the story (front page, above the fold) seems to validate the “incumbency machine” premise of Mr. Myers.
  59. Alan FerdmanMarch 13, 2012 at 8:23 pm
    Angelo I reread the signal article on line. The text did not mention the “General Fund”. Perhaps you could point out where in the audit report your information comes from. It would be a great help.
  60. Angelo CandelabraMarch 13, 2012 at 9:08 pm
    Mr. Ferdman, it’s in the report linked to the online article. From the article: ” The City Council approved the report at its Feb. 28 meeting. A copy of the report is available at http://bit.ly/ynRMtH “
  61. Alan FerdmanMarch 13, 2012 at 9:16 pm
    Angelo Thanks. I found the report. Please show us where in the report did you get your information.
  62. mikeMarch 14, 2012 at 8:50 am
    Page three: “Within Governmental Funds, the General Fund reported a fund balance of $83.6 million, an increase of $5.9 million over the prior year.”
  63. Alan FerdmanMarch 14, 2012 at 11:56 am
    Mike Thanks.
  64. Silence DogoodMarch 13, 2012 at 11:46 am
    Yeah, the current regime has a bunch of multi-million dollar judgements against it and have mortgaged City Hall up to its eyeballs (or at least up to and beyond the third floor!). They soooo smart!
  65. KaleMarch 13, 2012 at 10:34 am
    I like the young entrepreneurial spirit! Seen several skate shops come and go over the years but she did it the right way. Started small, built a strong customer base and established fairly reliable sales online before opening a storefront.
  66. Phil EllisMarch 13, 2012 at 1:43 pm
    HP started in a garage.
  67. ToddMarch 13, 2012 at 2:54 pm
    As did Apple.
  68. Eric HeilbrunMarch 13, 2012 at 5:19 pm
    As did Mesa Garage Doors.
  69. AlpinerMarch 14, 2012 at 6:14 am
    That is the funniest comment I have seen on this site in quite sometime!
  70. PackfanMarch 13, 2012 at 2:58 pm
    Just to switch gears. Rest in peace Shane. At least the second time! Now back to politics.
  71. PetzMarch 13, 2012 at 6:17 pm
    Petz put down his bucks to vote in the straw poll for TBB and Kellar and Wilk in the 38th .The folks had to get in their cars and drive to Newhall, the mall on a Friday or over to Canyon Country. We were motivated to let our voice be heard and perhaps influence others with our passion. Had several people stop by and thank me for letting them know who to vote for with the TBB sign in my yard. When someone steals it we will know that the election will be close.
  72. AnnetteMarch 13, 2012 at 7:20 pm
    Petz, Someone steals your TBB sign… just call TBB HQ 288-1207 and we will gladly come and replace it for you
  73. PetzMarch 14, 2012 at 4:19 am
    Lucy claims she saw someone who looked like Frank Ferry drive by 3 times in minutes last night.
  74. BertaMarch 14, 2012 at 9:19 am
    IHeart I think you are proving my point. A bullet vote for TBB, which denies a vote to Kellar, is more likely to result in Ender and TBB winning, not Kellar and TBB.
  75. mikeMarch 14, 2012 at 9:27 am
    It certainly won’t, but if you prefer TBB over Kellar significantly enough to say so, then a bullet vote is the way to go. I really dislike this way of voting. I’d rather we had dedicated seats, even if they are all at-large, or a weighted 1st choice, 2nd choice sort of system. The best voting strategy for almost all voters is a bullet vote, and I think that’s unfortunate.
  76. BertaMarch 14, 2012 at 10:09 am
    Mike I think a bullet vote is appropriate only if you support only one candidate. To waste your second vote on the assumption your second preference is a shoe in is dangerous. Folks are angry at everybody this year and even good incumbents may be washed out because of that anger, and we know that there are dirty tactics at work too so no votes/ results should be taken for granted. Vote or do not vote, but make an informed decision. Get to know the candidates, what they really stand for, not just what they say they stand for in order to get your vote. Make your voice/vote count.
  77. mikeMarch 14, 2012 at 10:19 am
    I depends on your level of relative preference, including the chances and undesirability of the other candidates in the field. But most often, a voter’s best way to have their strongest preference reflected in the vote is to bullet vote. I say most often, but not always. I think for many voters here in the comments, who strongly prefer Kellar but also support TBB, while strongly opposing Ender (who has a very strong chance of winning), a Kellar/Boydston vote would be the best way to go, so long as you don’t prefer Kellar by a significantly wide margin over Boydston. For me, my struggle for this election would be to find a single candidate I’d be happy voting for, much less two.

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