Chuck’s Response to News Chieftain “My Town” Article by Bob Emery
Bob Emery’s Poway 06 May 2010 column in the Poway Chieftain remarked on the eight candidates running for Poway city council. My thoughts on Bob’s column follow:
“…the recall against Betty Rexford”
The recall extends media coverage of an embarrassing event in Poway history. While I did not support the recall/election, I do want the voters to have me as their choice should the recall occur. My campaign for the last election found over 6,000 Poway voters wanted me to represent them on the Council. And that was 3rd for the election of two council seats. My hopes that this was important to the appointment of a council member after the events following the loss of Mayor Cafagna were dashed when past council member Carl Kruse offered to take the position with a promise he would not run for the seat in the November election.
“…the field of eight candidates…”
I welcome a large field. That puts more ideas on the table. And I don’t care if others have run before. I respect their dedication to Poway.
“I have already lamented on the lack of women candidates”
I haven’t given any thought to the gender of the candidates. I’ve never been much on quotas. Military service taught me to respect each person and their abilities based on their integrity and merits.
”…youth sports, Community service, volunteering, etc.”
Bob seems to disregard community service as a qualifier for City Council member. In fact, volunteers are very important, contributing heavily to the success of our city. Volunteer leadership is closely involved with the City Council and staff working on programs for the city’s well being. Many volunteer leaders attend the Poway Community Leadership Institute. This valuable experience makes me and other volunteer leaders uniquely qualified for a position on the city council.
I am surprised that Bob chose to diminish the Poway volunteer status of some candidates to keep them less attractive to voters than his chosen candidate. In fact, Bob is a Poway volunteer. And I appreciate his work!
“Chuck is trying his “Old Friend” campaign for the second time.”
AN OLD FRIEND & A NEW VOICE is a good campaign slogan that simply expresses my longtime service to Poway and my desire to have a stabilizing influence on the City in the Country.
The Poway Chieftain
Addressing my performance in the last election, the Poway Chieftain has often diminished the worth of my supporters by using the term “..distant third”. Consider that I am an independent, without support from the Democrats, Republicans, or other political party. And I do not have the financial contributions that accompany the camaraderie others enjoy from their political association. I am a hands-on small business owner who works and lives in Poway. I owe no allegiance to political action committees or party needs.
Most of my campaign funds came from supporters in Poway and from my own pocket. And the campaign could not afford competitive advertising in the Poway Chieftain or other newspapers.
I planned to run in the November election, not in this recall. But if the voters decide to recall Betty, I want to be their choice for City Council.
Chuck Cross
