On a 4-1 vote the Antioch School Board decided to not support the 2012 Clean Water Initiative at their meeting on Wednesday, March 28, 2012.  Trustees Diane Gibson-Gray, Gary Hack, Walter Ruehlig and Claire Smith voted no and Trustee Joy Motts gave the sole affirmative vote.

If passed will place a $12 per year assessment on property tax bills in Antioch. Cynthia Ruehlig, speaking as a citizen, gave public comment claiming that the entire county was being asked to pick up the burden for a few cities that suffer inadequate sewage release during heavy downpours.

There are some serious problems with the proposed Clean Water tax (they call it a fee, but any time government takes our money it’s a tax) and the election being run to get it passed.

First, the election ballots have the property owners name on them, so it’s not a secret ballot. Those compiling the results of the election get to know how someone voted. That goes against the American way of elections.

Second, foreigners can vote. Since it’s a Proposition 218 election, in which only property owners get to vote – which I don’t have a problem with, since they’re the ones who will be paying the additional “fee” included in their property tax bill. But, many properties in California are owned by foreigners and/or foreign companies. That means they get to vote. That’s not the American way of elections, either!

Third, the campaign being waged to pass the tax is being run by the county’s Clean Water Program, and the mailings to promote it are funded by our tax dollars! Tax-dollar funded campaigning to pass another tax? Really? The craziest part – although to be fair, Clean Water Program Manager Don Freitas stated it was a mistake by a staffer at the company that was hired to print and mail the campaign material – the first mailing hit the homes on the day of the vote by the county Board of Supervisors, when they decided whether or not to allow the vote to go forward. (The election was going to happen anyway, since there wasn’t enough protest votes to stop it).

Fourth, ballots will be counted by a certified public accounting firm, Carol Keane & Associates, based in Walnut Creek and not the County Elections Division of the County Clerk’s Office. So, how can there be any accountability or public oversight when the ballots are counted, like other elections?

Fifth, and the most important part, is the tax really necessary? While if it passes, it will generate about $8 million a year, that’ s only a third of the estimated $25 million a year that’s claimed to be needed to clean up the water ways in the county. While I agree there’s a need, since it’s such a high priority, why doesn’t the county budget for the entire $25 million in their budget of $1.2 billion?

With all the flaws in this election this proposed tax should be rejected and the Board of Supervisors should just reprioritize their spending for 2012-13 and include the $25 million cost for the clean water program in next year’s budget when they adopt it in June.  Your ballot must be received by 5:00 p.m. on April 6, 2012, which means you need to mail it a few days before.

In addition, it’s clear some new state legislation is needed to clean up the Proposition 218 election ballot process, eliminating the name on the ballot of the voter to keep it a secret ballot and eliminate the right of foreign property owners from voting in American elections.

Allen Payton, Publisher

P.S. Just got this additional problem from a reader –  “Another problem is that the list of property owners is not current and I have personal knowledge of a property foreclosed last January and the ballot was still sent to the foreclosed property owner.” So, now some renter or renter can vote that ballot and mail it in.

By Walter Ruehlig

After a lively discussion at the March 21 meeting of the Contra Costa County Board of Education, the board voted against supporting the 2012 Clean Water Initiative. Board President Cynthia Ruehlig, a vocal critic of the proposed tax, and Trustees Richard Asadoorian and Daniel Gomes voted no, while Trustee Pam Mirabella voted to abstain. Trustee Ellen Elster was absent.

If it passes, the parcel tax for the County Office of Education is estimated at $2,000 per year. The three ballots received for facilities owned by the Office of Education located in Pleasant Hill, Brentwood and Concord will all be marked “no”. Ballots for the county-wide mail-in Proposition 218 election must be received by 5:00 p.m., April 6, 2012.

One interesting aspect of the election is that the process is being conducted and monitored by a private organization, Carol Keane and Associates a certified public accounting firm located in Walnut Creek, and not by the County Clerk’s Election Division.

The National Republican Congressional Committee today named Ricky Gill a “Contender” candidate, the third of four stages in its selective “Young Guns” election program. Gill is one of only 11 candidates nationwide who has achieved “Contender” status.

Advancing to “Contender” status required Gill to meet a rigorous set of fundraising and organizational benchmarks that demonstrate he is “on the road to victory,” according to the NRCC. To date, Gill has raised more than $1 million and has earned endorsements from leading national figures including South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, and former San Joaquin Valley Congressman Norman D. Shumway.

“Ricky Gill continues to prove himself by meeting these latest benchmarks in the ‘Young Guns’ program,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (R-TX). “Ricky’s dedication and experience enables him to advocate effectively for pro-growth policies and fight the failed Democrat status quo in Washington. This will stand in stark contrast to the Democrats’ record of spending, borrowing and taxing that California families and small businesses know has failed.”

Gill is challenging Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton), a three-term incumbent who lives in the Bay Area, well outside the Valley and Delta communities of the 9th Congressional District.

Ricky Gill is a native of San Joaquin County, born and raised in Lodi, California. The son of immigrant parents, Ricky is a small business owner, a family farmer, and a former member of the California State Board of Education whose story speaks to the power of the American dream. Ricky grew up helping manage his family’s vineyard operation and serving the community as chair of the Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission. He has played an integral role in his family’s small business, which employs 60 people in the San Joaquin Valley, for several years. In 2004, he was appointed by the Governor to the California State Board of Education, where he served as the sole representative of more than six million public school students. He subsequently served as an adviser to the California Secretary of Education. Ricky now serves as a member of the Lodi Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Princeton University, he will soon complete his Juris Doctor at the University of California, Berkeley.
www.RickyGill.com

District Attorney Mark Peterson will be the guest speaker at Supervisor Federal Glover’s breakfast on Feb. 10. One of the topics he will speak about is his program to fight habitual truancy among school-age children.

Peterson has made fighting truancy one of his cornerstones of his office since he was elected district attorney. Last month, the DA’s Office filed charges against a pair of Rodeo parents because their children missed too many classes. It is the first time in county history that parents are facing charges for their children’s truancy.

“Our goal is to get these kids back in school and get parents to take responsibility for making that happen,” said Peterson.

Since he took office, Peterson has been laying down the groundwork for this program by working with local school districts and law enforcement agencies. He formally unveiled the truancy program in early 2011 to a meeting of the East County Gang Task Force formed by Glover.

The breakfast will be held at the Martinez Event Center, 536 Main St., Martinez and will
start at 7:30 a.m.

“The Breakfast Club was formed as another way of communicating with constituents,” said Glover. “It also serves as a fundraiser for office holder (non-campaign) expenses so that my staff and I can continue our outreach efforts, cover costs for attending informational seminars and workshops, and pay for other office-related expenses not routinely covered by the general fund.”

The breakfasts feature speakers who are usually local, state or federal officials as well as experts in particular fields. The popular events are held quarterly. Individuals who wish to be members and received advance details about upcoming events can pay for the entire year. Nonmembers can also attend and pay $50 per breakfast or $25 if you are a senior citizen or a student.

For more information about the Breakfast Club, call 925-202-5001. Checks can be made payable to Federal D. Glover Officeholder Account ID# 12-44440.

EAST CONTRA COSTA REPUBLICAN WOMEN FEDERATED WILL MEET ON THURSDAY, FEBUARY 9, 2012, 11:30 A.M. AT VIC STEWART’S, 2270 BALFOUR ROAD, BRENTWOOD. Speaker: Brad Dacus, President, Pacific Justice Institute. GUESTS WELCOME. COST $20. FOR RESERVATIONS AND MENU: (925) 634-5404.

State Senator Mark DeSaulnier is hosting a Town Hall Meeting on “State Government and Budget Reform” on Thursday, November 17th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Brentwood Senior Activity Center, 193 Griffith Lane in Brentwood.

Faith and community leaders from ten congregations to present vision and proposals to address foreclosure prevention, health care access, immigrant integration, quality education, and jobs.

On Monday, November 7th at 7:00 pm, hundreds of East County residents will be gathering at St. Ignatius of Antioch Catholic Church, 3351 Contra Loma Blvd., Antioch to call on public and elected officials to stand with them and work together to address the pressing issues most affecting East County.

Clergy and community leaders will be presenting their vision and agenda to bring equity and justice around a critical set of issues that impact the future of the region. This action is the result of relational meetings with many of the families in over ten congregations and dozens of research meetings to develop these proposals for change.

CCISCO leaders will be sharing their research and proposals around the following key issues:

* Keeping families in their homes and holding banks accountable for blighted properties;

* Expanding pathways to jobs for local residents and developing local hiring policies;

* Strengthening linked learning pathways at public schools;

* Trust, relationship, and cooperation building between recent immigrants & long term residents;

* Expanding access to health care for all residents in the region.

Afterwards, public and elected officials will be asked to respond to the proposals and commit to working together to address these vital issues.

Confirmed Guests: Office of Rep. John Garamendi; Senator Mark Desaulnier; Office of Assembly Woman Susan Bonilla; Office of Assembly Woman Joan Buchanan; Supervisor Federal Glover; AUSD Superintendent Donald Gill; AUSD Board Members Walter Ruehlig and Gary Hack; LUHSD Superintendent Eric Volta; LUHSD Board Members Ray Valverde and Holly Hartman; Oakley City Mayor Jim Frazier; La Clinica de La Raza Regional Director Viola Lujan; BART Board Director Joel Keller.

Participating Institutions: St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, St. Anthony Catholic Church, Antioch Christian Center, Community Presbyterian Church, Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, St. John Lutheran Church, Antioch Church Family, Islamic Center of the East Bay, and International Christian Ministry.

CCISCO
202 G St., Suite 1 – Mailing: P. O. Box 883
Antioch, CA 94509
P: (925) 779-9302
F: (925) 779-9303
www.ccisco.org