Todd Gloria, Stephen Whitburn and John Hartley—but no James Hartline
For those of you who want to get a head start on the June 3 City Council elections, live in the district currently represented by Toni Atkins and are particularly interested in environmental issues, on Monday evening, Feb. 11, I’ll be moderating a candidates forum in City Heights sponsored by the League of Conservation Voters.
Candidates Todd Gloria, John Hartley and Stephen Whitburn will participate, but if you’re interested only in beholding the antics of ex-gay Christian crusader candidate James Hartline, you’re outta luck. Hartline has refused to take part because of me. Here’s what he told one of the organizers in an e-mail:
Mr. Rolland, has in the past, sent some extremely disrespectful, bigoted and profane emails to me personally. As such, I have absolutely no intention of particpating [sic] in any event where he is in charge. It is unfortunate, because I have much in common, on evironmental [sic] issues and concerns, with your organization.
Sincerely,
James Hartline
Candidate,
San Diego City Council
District 3
So, sorry about that. Sometimes I can’t contain myself when it comes to lunatics. Anyway, here’s the information on the forum:
LCVSD Hosts Its First Ever Candidate Forum on Environmental Issues
San Diego City Council District 3 Candidates to Debate at February 11 Event
_____________________________________________________________________________________
On February 11, The League of Conservation Voters San Diego is hosting its first-ever public forum focusing solely on environmental issues for candidates running for San Diego City Council in District 3. All six candidates running for the open District 3 seat have been invited to the event, with confirmed participation from Todd Gloria, Stephen Whitburn and John Hartley. The forum will take place from 6:00-8:30 pm the San Diego EcoCenter for Alternative Fuel Education, located at 4001 El Cajon Blvd.
“With so many environmental issues facing our region, we feel the community will be well-served by having a public debate focused solely on local policies affecting our land, air and water”, state LCVSD President Jamie Gonzalez. “We are looking forward to a lively community debate on these issues.”
A panel made up of LCVSD Board members and moderated by David Rolland, Editor of San Diego City Beat, will ask the candidates to address environmental topics facing District 3, the City of San Diego and the region. LCVSD has shared some questions with candidates in advance of the forum, while participants will hear other questions posed by the panel or audience members for the first time at the event.
The LCVSD Board will consider endorsing in this race based on the results of the forum. “It is important to have candidates who are willing to commit to a conservation agenda in a public forum”, added Elections Chair Bruce Reznik. “We believe this will allow groups like LCVSD to hold officials accountable once in office.”
The event will take place within District 3 at a venue that has educated over 10,000 children in the San Diego area about alternative fuel, renewable energy, and energy independence. “We are thrilled to host this event at a venue whose mission is in-line with the goals and philosophy of LCVSD,” stated Gonzalez.
LCVSD is a chapter of the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV), which seeks to protect the environmental quality of the state by working to elect environmentally responsible candidates and hold them accountable to the conservation agenda. By being an “on the ground” voice in the San Diego community, LCVSD provides an opportunity for environmental activists to directly impact the local electoral process while promoting environmental candidates.
I’ll be there to see Whitburn. D3 needs a fresh start, someone who won’t bend over backward to serve realtors, developers, and in-fillers. The city Land Use department is lining up its minions-at-large at the community planning-group and business-association levels to turn older communities into densely packed, overbuilt nightmares. Whitburn, along with Emerald, could help Frye stand up to the kind of disregard that the present council/city staff have demonstrated in our community. We must regain control.
Of the two strongest candidates in this race, one is getting massive funding from downtown Chamber of Commerce interests and from the whole Enron-by-the-Sea enabler crowd, and the other is receiving modest contributions from neighborhood activists who want their city government back. Whom to support, whom to support?….
tsk tsk. Bigoted comments towards Hartline? How…karmic.
I would just like to report that I will be at the environmental forum with the three aforementioned candidates. I have a lot of experience in the environmental safety and health field with the federal government. I even managed a $20,000,000.00 asbestos remediation in a federal prison. I was one of the people who developed the Hazardous Materials Control and Management (HMCM) program in the United States Navy. I hope to be able to contribute to the conversation.
Sometimes I can’t contain myself when it comes to lunatics.
And that, David, is why we love you.
How can a candidate that is wholeheartedly supported and endorsed by the Building Industry Assn which has opposed any provisions for historic preservation and any provisions for height limitations and a living wage for workers seriously run as a democrat. Perhaps there is a reason that the Democratic Party has refused to endorse him. (that would be Gloria).
Whitburn is just another tainted political hack.
Here are FIVE things he is trying to cover up:
(1). He greased his campaign with over $140,000. Surprisingly, Whitburn has no assets besides a 1991 Honda Civic. Where does a person who can’t afford a car with power windows come up with $140,000 for a political race?
Why won’t Whitburn come clean about the source of his money? Was it illegally obtained? If not, is this the type of shabby fiscal management we need at City Hall?
(2). Stephen Whitburn accepted an out-of-state contribution from a Texas attorney at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. This firm was lead counsel for George W. Bush in Bush vs. Gore, which gave Bush the election and sent our country on a spiraling downward path.
Why can’t Stephen Whitburn make better decisions?
(3). Whitburn claims to be a San Diegan, but he is from back East, doesn’t own a home in our City and has moved at least three times in the last 8 years. If elected, most District 3 residents will have been in their area longer than their councilmember. Whitburn is not an involved community member, but instead a calculating opportunist.
Is Whitburn fit to hold office when he has such a limited history and understanding of the District and its needs?
(4). Whitburn’s campaign propaganda claims he will stand up to developers and lobbyists. In fact, Whitburn has accepted thousands of special interest dollars from:
Developers, Real Estate Executives and Mortgage lenders, including campaign cash from firms that have foreclosed on hundreds of San Diego’s working families.
High-priced Downtown Lawyers, including contributions from a law firm whose lead lawyer is in Lompoc Federal Prison for multiple felonies, including, fraud and racketeering.
Oil and Gas Executives responsible for outrageous gas prices that are gouging middle class working families.
If Whitburn is so close to the special interests, aren’t the residents of District 3 sure to lose with Steven Whitburn? How can the voters put their trust in a candidate that says one thing and does another?
(5). Whitburn proudly touts the endorsements he received from a convicted criminal. John Hartley, a former candidate for District 3, plead guilty to a lewd conduct in public charge during the election and is listed as a proud supporter of Whitburn. After his plea, Hartley was banned from his day job– substitute teaching in the San Diego Unified School District.
Is this someone you would be proud to have support you?
With this impaired judgment, is there any question why law enforcement has refused to endorse Whitburn’s candidacy for City Council?
Yet another bogus post using my name.
Really, City Beat, please remove the post above.
The real Fred Williams can be found here:
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/abnormal-heights/
The user “2muchsense” is most likely responsible for this. Please compare IP addresses.
Thank you.
Fred Williams
Normal Heights