If the inner workings of a purely advisory group whose members aren’t actually public officials, and who have no real power but scheme and maneuver as though they were on the short list to replace Colin Powell, don’t interest you, read no further.
But if the arcana of local politics fascinates you, read on!
The Valley Center Planning Group Dec. 13 will vote on adopting new bylaws that will govern how the group fills vacancies.
This is important because there is an instant vacancy on the board as soon as the new board takes office in January.
The VC planning group recently had an election for which the last few ballots remain to be counted. Eight planning group members are being chosen from a field of 16 candidates.
Among the leading candidates, at either first or second place, was Elaine Nolan, who died shortly before the election.
The disposition of her seat is now the focus of much local interest and scrutiny.
Who is appointed to Mrs. Nolan’s seat could change the balance of power on the board.
The planning group is divided into factions
One faction might be called, for want of a better word, Greens. They might, if they were in Escondido, be allied with Jerry Harmon in opposing or being extremely suspicious of, most business development. They aren’t sure they want a supermarket and shopping center, but if they have to have one, they want it to be “rural.”
The other faction is the current planning group majority, who we will call, as a form of shorthand, The Establishment. They are not enamored of development but they want to work with it and not put roadblocks in its path.
They want a shopping center, and while they might want the developer to make concessions regarding aesthetics, that doesn’t detract from the main goal: They want a shopping center.
The balance of power of the planning group, which consists of 15 seats, is fluid. Not everyone is allied with a group.
Although the Greens are usually on the short end of the voting, they are more committed and rarely miss meetings. They tend to get their way more often than their numbers would suggest.
So the fate of even one seat has taken on an importance that would escape the casual observer.
The process that is used to fill the vacancy is now the subject of discussion on the planning group.
The existing group, several of them lame ducks, will vote on a process for picking replacements that will then bind the new board that takes office in January.
The existing language of the bylaws provides for a nominations committee, whose duties are to recruit and keep files on applicants, publish notices on vacancies in the paper, interview applicants and present their qualifications to the group for consideration. It also allows the nominations committee to make recommendations, although their recommendation is not binding.
The new bylaws that will be voted on Dec. 13 creates a process whereby some candidates’ applications are weighted above others: “The Nominations Committee shall favorably consider for nomination persons who ran unsuccessfully in the most recent Planning Group member election, and applicants who have demonstrated their interest and ability to serve by frequently attending Planning Group Meetings prior to the existence of the vacancy.”
Whether this new language would actually have a practical effect on the appointment of planners is problematic.
Two of those who are on everyone’s short list of candidates to replace Mrs. Nolan are both also rans in the current election: Don Richards, who is in ninth place, and Sandy Smith, the current board chairman, who is in tenth place.
There will be a definite effort to fill the vacancy with Richards, who would be the next one down the list. There is also a strong sentiment for returning Sandy Smith, the current president of the board, to the group.
However, some might argue that this would fly in the face of those who voted for Mrs. Nolan.
Her ballot statement reads:
ELAINE NOLAN, Valley Center Teacher
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Lets keep the vision of Valley Center - a safe, friendly, rural community!
The County is moving forward on its General Plan 2020. Despite the huge increase in our traffic, no new roads. Answers to traffic gridlock: NONE!
Our agricultural roots have served us well. Would we be green and gorgeous without them? So, should the County take the value out of farmers‚ land by downzoning, then cram the center of town with housing so a few lucky property owners make megaprofits? NO!
Any indication that those who serve the community - firefighters, law enforcement - will get housing they can afford? NONE!
As a 22-year resident and a teacher at Valley Center-Pauma Adult School, with students 17 to 57, I see the community‚s future every day. It’s a challenge!
I believe in common sense “do it right the first time” planning for Valley Center ... before it’s too late. A dose of civility wouldn’t hurt this Planning Group, either. Let’s quit attacking. Let’s work together for the community‚s good!
I ask you to vote for Elaine Nolan. Remember, your commitment in voting is your commitment to freedom!
Richards’s ballot statement reads: DON RICHARDS, Self Employed
We in Valley Center have been in a time warp the last 20 plus years because of a sewer moratorium. We are fortunate. It has given us an Opportunity ... and Choices. The Opportunity is that we have So Much, and ... it is Still Here. The Choices ... we either Learn from the mistakes of other Southern California communities‚ OR ... WE END UP LIKE THEM.
I believe in a Rural Valley Center, a Country Community. I believe most of you Chose to live here and you Like being a part of this Rural Experience.
This is Our Home ... this is Valley Center.
The Challenge is that It is Changing. We cannot stop it. But ... What We Can Do and I Will Do, is to help it grow with Integrity, Intelligence and Imagination.If we don’t work together ... it will go on it‚s own; out of convenience, afterthought and without reason.
I am a member of the Shopping Center Subcommittee. I am Self-Employed and have a B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of LaVerne. I am married with two children; a son entering high school, and a daughter going into sixth grade.
Mrs. Smith did not file a ballot statement.
Thursday the Valley Center Cemetery District held its annual observance of Veteran’s Day. This year included the unveiling of a special monument honoring all of the Veterans buried at the cemetery, which includes those who fought in all of America’s wars, beginning with the Civil War.
The attendance at the event has grown over the years. This time nearly 50 attended.
Board Pres. Stan Johnson welcomed the crowd, which stood as Boy Scout from troops 620 and 632, led by Scout Master Chris Stratford presented the colors and raised them on the flagpole.
Retired Lutheran minister Rev. Charles Raucheck gave the invocation.
Cemetery Supt. Wayne Mills presented the wreath to be placed at the new monument.
Guest speaker Richard Rudolf, former Lt. (JAG) USNR, gave the following message:
Good morning. Greetings and thank you to the members of the Cemetery Board and Superintendent for inviting me to speak today.
Like many of you, I am a veteran of military service. I was a Navy lawyer. I served at the Naval Training Center, San Diego, and the Naval Air Station, Whidbey Island, Washington, during the Vietnam Conflict.
Mine was probably a peculiar view of the Navy, serving the administrative and legal needs of the service and its men and women, rather than a combat role. But I saw the results of combat on those who bore that duty.
When I began service at the Naval Training Center in San Diego in 1966, we were processing Administrative Discharges for young men and women who admitted to one puff off a marijuana cigarette. By the end of my tour in 1969, we were denying Administrative Discharges, and retaining in the Navy, people who admitted to, or claimed to have used, LSD, cocaine and heroin!
Not surprisingly, I also prosecuted and defended courts-martial relating to drug usage and smuggling drugs back into US bases, by naval personnel returning from Vietnam.
Like today’s war in Iraq, the Vietnam War was not popular. I was naïve about the depth of anti-war feeling. I was shocked when a teenager in a small town in Washington State gave me the finger. I was in uniform, shopping on my way home. I had done or said nothing to give offense. I was merely wearing my military uniform.
I made many lawyer friends at “Justice School” in Newport, Rhode Island. We provided lots of laughs for the “regular” Navy personnel when we were required to practice marching with our rifles. At least we were better than the dentists.
One of my lawyer friends was assigned to Vietnam. He became a heroin addict trying to deal with the stress of serving there. One of my cousins was underage, but enlisted in the Marines. He served in Vietnam. He returned in the fog of a marijuana-centered lifestyle. More than 30 years later, he has still not emerged from that fog.
One of my earliest memories of childhood family visits is my uncle. He served in the Army in Germany in World War II. Despite many, many visits, his wartime experiences were so painful, he was never able to talk about them.
My point in these observations is that many people served at great personal cost. Pietee McHenry, our local historian, advises that there are Civil War and World War I veterans buried here in this cemetery, as well as veterans of more recent conflicts. They died, or received great physical and psychological wounds in service to us, and to the highest ideals of our country.
We, individually, and as a nation, owe them a much greater debt than can be repaid by mere remembrance each November 11.
We owe it to them to see that our government provides appropriate care, treatment and support for those in need because of that sacrifice and service.
What kind of support can we all work toward, beyond displaying ribbons, flags, bumper stickers, and having commemorative days?
For those on active duty — The best equipment, training, and leadership in the field.
For their families — When I served I was constantly reminded that if the Navy wanted me to have a wife, the Navy would have issued me one. I hope we have come far beyond that attitude. We need to provide our service men and women enough pay and housing and health benefits to allow them and their spouses and children to live decently.
For those injured and wounded, physically and emotionally, such as those suffering from Agent Orange and post trauma syndrome — They should have prompt, adequate services to ameliorate or cure the problems they brought home from the conflict. They do not deserve denial of responsibility, protracted legalistic avoidance of liability, or underfunded programs.
For all those who served, regardless of the popularity of the particular conflict — They deserve RESPECT for their service, and prompt, effective services to them, so they can once again become productive members of the civilian society from which they came.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.
He was followed by Rev. Rauschek, who read the following, entitled One Man’s Perspective:
TO ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD
If you need us, we will come.
If your villages are flattened by tornadoes, your crops destroyed by floods, your children ravaged by disease
We will come.
If you are hungry, we will come.
If you need blood, we will come.
If you need medicine, we will come.
We will educate your children, nurse your wounded and rebuild your cities.
And then when all is done, we will forgive your debts.
Our shoulders are broad and
Our hearts are tender.
But do not mistake tender hearts for weakness.
Do not mistake diversity for a lack of unity.
And do not mistake tolerance for a lack of faith.
The God of Mohammed unites us,
The God of Abraham unites us,
The God of Jesus Christ unites us and
The God of all the faiths of our nation has blessed us.
We do not commit murder in his name.
Our love of country transcends our differences,
And in times of trouble we stand as one people steadfast against our enemies.
The eagle weeps, but the talons are fierce.
Do not wage war against the gentle giant on her soil, for her unleashed strength is mighty.
If you murder her sons and daughters within her sanctuary,
NO MATTER WHERE YOU HIDE,
NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES,
NO MATTER WHAT THE COST,
WE WILL COME.
At the end of the program the Scouts retired the colors while Cameron Izadi played Taps.
Refreshments were provided by Louise Kelly.
Those attending last Tuesday’s VC school board meeting sat in stunned silence as board Pres. Wendy Zeugschmidt read a 500-word statement that praised outgoing director Patrick Simpson, but also attacked one of the candidates that she defeated for election.
The speech came at the end of a recognition of Simpson by the board.
Mrs. Zeugschmidt's statement, which was also published in a shorter form as a letter to the editor in last week’s paper, attacked an unnamed person, but who was probably unsuccessful candidate Mike Morasco. She criticized him for running against a member of the same church and for criticizing the school district without first coming to her with his concerns.
“I wish with all my heart that it was Pat Simpson instead of me who had been elected,” she told the board and audience, which included Morasco as well as newly elected trustee Don Martin.
She stopped twice to cry, as her voice broke with emotion.
“I promised my husband I wouldn’t do this,” she said.
“The best part of being on the school board is working with great people like Pat,” she said, adding, “The worst thing about being on this board is election time politics.”
She then proceeded to specify what she meant.
Pat Simpson, she said, would never have given the “media” board information that was confidential to be used
“Pat Simpson would never have given the media in order to gain political leadership. If he felt he had been passed over, he would have looked inside or asked others, why.”
This accusation appears to be aimed at trustee Lori Johnson, who has never been elected president of the school board, although serving for six years.
“Pat would never have had a friend over for a casual barbecue one week and then become his political opponent the next week. He would never have run for political office against friends just so he could ‘Contribute.’ ”
She also criticized Morasco (apparently) for inviting someone over to a barbecue one week and then running against them.
“He would never have run for office against a member of his church without explaining the reason first. He would have shared concerns with that person to help make things better for children. He would not have saved all his concerns up for years, to use negatively, at election time.”
She also scored Morasco for sending negative campaign letters to their shared congregation.
“Mr. Simpson is a true Christian. Mr. Simpson ran a positive campaign. Pat Simpson can sleep at night.”
With a few thousand votes left to tally countywide, most of our Valley Center election results have solidified.
The election results that follow are as of Tuesday. They are still unofficial. The winners of the election are boldfaced.
School Board
Don Martin, 3,588, 25.81%; Wendy Zeugschmidt, 3,302, 23.75%; Mike Morasco, 3,109, 22.36%; Patrick Simpson, 2,884, 20.74%; Dennis White, 1,021, 7.34%.
Planning Group
Leon Schwartz, 2,865, 7.73%; Elaine Nolan, 2,849, 7.68%; Andy Washburn, 2,716, 7.32%; Craig T. Johnson, 2,694, 7.26%; Keith Simpson, 2,559, 6.90%; Kristine L. Preston, 2,490. 6.71%; Deborah Hofler, 2,460, 6.63%; Frank Shoemaker, 2,285, 6.16%; Sandy Smith, 2,136, 5.76%; Jonathan Vick, 2,098, 5.66%; Terry Van Koughnett, 2,041, 5.5%; Richard Rudolf, 1,949, 5.26%; Oliver Smith, 1,930, 5.20%; Roger Ingraham, 1,908, 5.14%; Carol Prime, 1,886, 5.09%.
VC Municipal Water District Board
Incumbent Chuck Stone won in Valley Center Municipal Water District Board, Div. 4 with 911, 52.30% compared to 831 for challenger Doug J. Ohara.
Parks & Rec. Board
Two seats were open on the VC parks & rec. board. Incumbent John M. Scibilia was top vote getter with 2,917, 35.58% followed by Tom Litchfield, 2,906, 35.44% and Earl Brown, 2,376, 28.98%.
Proposition CC
The voters failed to pass Prop. CC, which would have raised taxes per parcel by $19/year.
The vote was 4,008 yes (56.96%) and 3,028 No (43.04%). Two thirds was required to pass.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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