Brea City Council Candidate Steve Vargas
From: loubanas@hotmail.com
To: letters@ocregister.com
Subject: brea endorsement
Date: Sat, 13 Oct 2012 04:50:43 +0000
Wrong. Wrong. And, wrong. On three counts for two endorsements in the Brea city council elections. Let’s take them one by one.
The only ones who have benefited from Marty Simonoff’s 16 years as a councilman are Marty himself, the waste haulers he represents before other city councils in his “day” job and the public employee unions, whose causes he has unwaveringly supported. As an early-retired, well-pensioned former policeman, he brings a point of view to the table that has been harmful in the past and will not be helpful in the future, as local governments tackle the problem of unfunded pensions and rollbacks in employee salaries.
I know that you love the fact that he called your attention to the hike in council salaries that was tied to executive payouts. But that was Marty playing “gotcha” with the three-member majority that thumped him and the unions in a heated 2010 election. If anyone should have know that there was a problem, it should have been Marty and Mayor Roy Moore, who were the only ones on the council when the measure which made that possible was first adopted. As for his current concerns about the city manager’s salary, that problem dates back to when Tim O’Donnell was first hired–without an outside search–at a salary that was nearly equal to that of the outgoing, long-time manager. Who was there to cast a vote to start O’Donnell too high? Simonoff and Vargas, both joined in the unanimous vote.
In checking out Simonoff, I’m surprised you did not raise the issue of why he needs $56,000 and counting to run for reelection in small city. Nor have you raised any eyebrows over two contributions totaling $14,000 from corporations, both of which, by law, should have been reported to the California Secretary of State, but are yet to be recorded.
As for Mr. Vargas, I have never questioned his conservative/libertarian, pro-small government credentials, nor his sincerity. His problem is one of style, which is the reason Brea voters ousted him after one term. Voters do remember and that is why he has been unsuccessful in numerous comeback attempts. You would think that age and years of experience would have softened the edges. But, based on his performance in the last election–when he, too, backed the union positions–and at last Thursday’s candidate forum, it’s obvious the rough edges are still there. Steve is just so full of himself that he even forgot about your endorsement that morning, the only significant endorsement he’s likely to get.
Finally, you are wrong on Christine Marick. She’s more ready the Simonoff and Vargas were when they were first elected and as ready as the most qualified council candidates running for the first time. Brea has a history of strong women council members, but it’s been a while since we’ve had one. Perhaps it’s time to inject some life into the old boys’ club.
Having cast my ballot on Sept. 10, without consideration of your endorsements, my only regret for the city is that with two open seats, there was only one candidate worthy of election. Brea is going to have to do better and give its voters more and better choices.
Lou Banas
Brea
714.996.3134
Mr. Banas… I’m afraid it is you that is wrong, wrong and wrong. Thankfully you represent a minority that likely will have little impact in this election.
The only place where the OCR Editorial Board got it wrong was on Measures T and U. What Brea needs now, more than ever, is open governance and accountability. I hope you had, on September 10, the good sense at least to vote yes on these measures.
Mr. Banas… Seems I was the one who was wrong. Mr. Vargas has proven me a fool and turned his back on those he is supposed to represent. Should an effort to recall him arise I would fight to get to the front of the line.