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| Written by Press Editorial Board / | |
| Friday, 07 March 2008 | |
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Here's what we need in a mayor.
With eight months before the Nov. 4 election, two mayoral hopefuls have jumped in to make it a race — Mayor Brent Ives and his 2006 opponent, Celeste Garamendi. It’s just a matter of time before Councilwoman Evelyn Tolbert makes public her intentions to run for the top office, too.
Never has a campaign for mayor started so early in our fair city, and we’re certain our local election is going to be every bit as interesting as the one for our nation’s president.
The good thing about having all this time to get to know the candidates is that it also gives residents time to examine the important issues facing the city and the kind of leaders we should elect.
Most importantly, we need a mayor who will lead the council to a comprehensive plan for the city’s future and a level playing field with clear and fair rules for all who wish to participate in its development — not one that favors only a few with fragmented and self-serving visions of what the city should do next. We’ve had enough of that in the past 16 years.
The mayor needs to think beyond our city’s borders to develop a transportation plan that will serve as the underlying framework for all our planning decisions, addressing both intracity and regional transportation needs. Such a plan should provide solid direction for Tracy’s future economic development, along with a well-thought-out set of community amenities and a diversity of housing opportunities.
Tracy’s mayor needs an approach that contributes to the entire community’s well-being, not just the city of Tracy’s. We don’t need a mayor and council that will allocate this important work to committees, but one that can make sound decisions and implement them in a logical and reasonable way.
Finally, we need to continually push for open government, beginning with the campaigns. Last time around, Ives won the mayoral race with 8,472 votes, compared with Garamendi’s 6,881, with the help of at least $135,000 in attack advertisements paid for by a shadow group that hid behind other developers and Republican Party interests. Never before have we seen such a vulgar display in local politics. It seems somebody out there is afraid Garamendi represents an end to their reign over the city’s future.
How much money is spent is not really our concern, but the public has a right to know where the contributions come from. As usual, we will demand full disclosure so the public will know much money is spent on each campaign and where the money is coming from, even for amounts less than $100. This is going to be a long election season, but we promise it won’t be boring.
The Tracy Press encourages a free and open exchange of ideas and information. We reserve the right but do not assume any obligation to delete comments that do not meet our publishing standards. Report abuse to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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(68)
 written by Honesty Counts , March 08, 2008
By far the BEST editorial I have ever read from the TP. Thanks for breaking it down for the voters in advance early on TP. Precisely why Ives and Tolbert are unsuitable Mayors. Cronyism and corruption. Ives can't and won't wage a fair campaign and Tolbert encourages donors to go below the reportable $100.00 so she never has to reveal her supporters. Garamendi on the other hand always reported her contributors no matter what the dollar amount.
 written by Steve Reshakis , March 08, 2008
I've seen Celeste Garamendi in action...She is a sour-faced
tyrant in the making. brent ives is a Fine mayor and easily the best choice of the Three. tracy is doing just fine right now. we dont need a leftist Thug running things. written by 99 cents store , March 08, 2008
If developers get together outside the store and divide their funds into 99 dollar shots then the recipient wouldn't have to report it. You get the same bang for 99 cents instead of a buck.
 written by Dale Cose , March 08, 2008 written by Honesty Counts , March 08, 2008 “By far the BEST editorial I have ever read from the TP. Thanks for breaking it down for the voters in advance early on TP. Precisely why Ives and Tolbert are unsuitable Mayors. Cronyism and corruption.” The perfect moniker, “Honesty Counts,” with the exception of not using his/her real name and leveling cronyism & corruption charges unemcumbered by proof dis “Honesty Counts” for more.  written by bob blinker , March 08, 2008 is !v3$ still under investigation for corruption? dale? is !v3$ still under investigation? written by bob blinker , March 08, 2008
is !v3$ corrupt when he accepts money from people and corporations with business before the city?
is !v3$ corrupt when he receives hundreds of thousands of dollars from eastern, indian casino interests? written by bob blinker , March 08, 2008 my guess, dale, buddy pal, is that your benefactor, !v3$ is probly both. written by bob blinker , March 08, 2008
!v3$/*ucker continued to support the
$plosion $port$ park that Ms. Carole Dominguez and Mr. Robert Sarvey had to expose as private citizens, and !v3$'$ continued support of the site just to support development by pomblo/akt/$urland$ and others written by Dale Cose , March 08, 2008 bob, one would have to tread carefully joining you as a buddy or a pal… its that not knowing thingy of how far out you’ve traveling. remember the post where you totally freaked out when you wrote you needed me to have.. yeah, that one. at 1st, I chalked it up to a really bad hair day. then you had the ‘worst nightmare’ of your life when you dreamed about all the dead and dying children… yeah, that one. Then there are the cross posts, duplicate posts, posts known only to bob, glyph posts, rant posts, posts where the sun don’t shine… sorry, I digress. a lot of posts, strange in a bob-world sorta way. If I were to call someone corrupt, I’d offer what constituted proof, you remember, America, “innocent until proven” but because of people like you bobgod, we don’t kneed no stinking proof, or badges and actually its about one thing in life that concerns me. Who died and made you bobgod?  written by amy , March 08, 2008 Dale Cose- I've been told that you are the President of the Rotary Club? Just wanted to check to see if that is true? Thanks.  written by scott hurban , March 08, 2008
I can't understand why anyone would want to hold public office. Especially as a mayor. You are paid next to nothing for all the abuse and personal insults you get. Any of you, please tell me what financial or personal satisfaction does one get but to have their name and reputation dragged through the mud and becompared to Al Capone? You may disagree with these folks, but unless they personally attack you, what right to you have to pick up stones and throw them? Are you perfect? If you think they are so bad, then you run and let them splatter mud on you.
written by amy , March 08, 2008
You mean this? the 4-way test?
1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?  written by Riley J. , March 08, 2008
Evelyn Tolbert is the best candidiate. Brent has put his private interests over the good of the city. For example he told Lawrence Livermore Lab to offer the city help with landing a college in exhchange for City of Tracy support for the biolab.
written by amy , March 08, 2008
I've noticed Tolbert seems to try to break from Tucker and Ives's shadow by voting No on the sportspark located at less than safest place, and that she wanted to go "Green". That plan is benefitical to all, but I am watching closely.
Ives just had too much political and special interest baggage when he was voted in, I think it may interfere with his ability to be the mayor Tracy expected.... to be fair, he only had two years... and that is alot to accomplish in the two years when he made his campaign promise.. also to be fair, he did have the years of Bilbrey's leadership before he took over as a Mayor, he could have been well prepared to be a Mayor if he didn't have all that package that tied him down unfavorably? If he didn't have all that package, I am sure he would be fully functional Mayor of Tracy. I'm afraid that was an disadvantage to anyone. written by Malcolm Rex , March 08, 2008
Good research on the 4 way test Amy.
Are you saying Tolbert might be a flip flopper on the issues? written by amy , March 08, 2008
Not sure about that, but just listening and watching.
I'd like to believe she really wants to wash her hands of her association with Ives and Tucker for favorism and special interest agenda... but my thought is, what is in it for Tolbert? I have not yet found answers to that on my own. If it benefits her as well as for everyone else, then she may be moving in the right direction, if not, will reconsider another candidate, whoever decides to run. Will even look at Celeste Garamendi and see what she really did accomplish for Tracy. I have yet heard her plans in delivering results in Tracy if she wins the vote. Same with Tolbert. written by amy , March 08, 2008
"she wants to wash her hands of her association with Ives and Tucker of their favorisms and special interest agenda"... that is the correct statement.." sorry for the mistatement.
written by bob blinker , March 08, 2008
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iveslyn tolbrent continues support for a Development Agreement, DIRTY DIRTY DEAL, trounced by the voters, to protect $urland$/akt/tracyhil$ from the voters... written by Go Evelyn , March 08, 2008
You go girl!
http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivalleyherald/localnews/ci_8502168  written by johnny42 , March 09, 2008
Evelyn, calculated and planned her vote perfectly, to go the other way for the popular vote effect. Also, you would be suprised how she pulls the strings of City staffers behind everyone's back to get them to do everything she wants.....Just do some investigating and you will find out what goes on. All the groups she is involved in get special priviledges because she demands it. The other Council members don't even know what is happening, she does it very calculated.
written by amy , March 09, 2008
Doing my homework on the candidates...
Evelyn Tolbert graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Law School of the University of Santa Clara. ...and she "*Voted to destroy public documents"!!? written by amy , March 09, 2008
also doing homework on Celeste Garamendi.....
So Tolbert or Garamendi if no one runs against them??? Tolbert was also on the city council for a long time, uncorrupted?...not sure about that, the more I find, the more it is evident...sadly. written by bob blinker , March 09, 2008
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iveslyn tolbrent lied when s/he said s/he supported Measure A since s/he voted for an illegal ordinance, 1095, to allow two developers to get around Measure A. written by bob blinker , March 10, 2008
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$3.7 million and 5 years wasted on antennimal farm: tolbert $3.7 million and 5 years wasted on antennimal farm: ives need change, need garamendi  written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 11, 2008
Those who were at the council meeting the night they voted on that sports park would know why she voted the way she did and she didn't take it lightly.
You could say the other candidates leaked their votes and put Evelyn Tolbert on the spot because no one really knew how she would vote. bob blinker cares more about the money then our children's health. And now for more of bob's dollar signs.....because he thinks he has to shove it down our throats. written by bob blinker , March 11, 2008
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voted against ethics ordinance: tolbert voted against ethics ordinance: ives need change, need garamendi written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 11, 2008
Info on ethics ordinance please bob. No dollar signs, wow, thats a first.
written by bob blinker , March 11, 2008
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hides source of campaign contributions: tolbert need change, need garamendi  written by T.T. Wills , March 11, 2008
Oh, Scotty:
"I can't understand why anyone would want to hold public office. Especially as a mayor." It's the power. Haven't you read Ayn Rand? written by ReallyIsADumbComment , March 11, 2008
Which council meeting are your talking about? Because there have been dozens of votes taken on the sports park at that pathetic, unhealthy, unsafe site and Evelyn (and Brent) have always voted for it. The one time she votes NO you want to sing her praises?
written by bob blinker , March 11, 2008
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10 years and not accomplished anything: tolbert 20 years and not accomplished anything: ives need change, need garamendi written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 12, 2008
RIDC, The very last one about whether the sports park would be built on the antenna farm. If you were there you would have heard why Evelyn changed her mind and if it were me I would have to. When something is staring at you right in the face you can't ignore it. Thank God she did a little investigating and found out what was really coming out of the bio mass plant. And I still think she was made the fall guy by others leaking their vote so they wouldn't look like the heavy. She has guts. She knew she would be unpopular I bet. She knew a lot of people would be disappointed but she did the right thing. Dirty air=dirty lungs for our kids not to mention the lies about the pipes and the so called safeness. Evelyn voted NO because she found out the truth and you should be grateful your kids will be safe from it especially when Tracy has so many other places for one to be built instead of out in the middle of nowhere where it is ugly in all matters.
 written by Ubbo Coty , March 12, 2008
Personally I won't endorse any one of them until one stands up and mandates a sports park be built, NSA. Untill that day, I will write in my own name.
 written by ConcernedParents , March 12, 2008
Garamendi has our vote. We're looking forward to he Sports Complex actually being built!
written by Ubbo Coty , March 12, 2008
This is just history repeating itself. Same faces, same names and same games. Time for a change folks. Don't buy used goods.
Let them go screw over a different city, not this one again. written by bob blinker , March 12, 2008
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tolbert flip flops, NOBODY can count on tolbrent ives doesnt flip flop, developers can count on iveslyn need change, need garamendi written by Julie S , March 12, 2008
I'm pretty shocked by what Ubbo is saying, from my research I found that Garamendi was never on the City Council, never voted to continue on the Schulte Site, spoke out against the dangers from day one. Advocated using City owned land that was set aside for park use over 18 years ago. Ives and Tolbert haven't earned the privilege to continue, get them out of there, career politicians. Trying to pretend they didn't represent the developers instead of the people. Now Tolbert pretending to be green but doesn't have the record to back it up.
We must give Garamendi what she earned, Ives stole the seat from her two years ago with the help of over $135,000.00 in special interest money. Garamendi has vision, leadership and no developer ties. Did you believe the attack ads on her Ubbo? written by bob blinker , March 12, 2008
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wasted 5 years, $3.6 million on antennimal farm: tolbert wasted 5 years, $3.6 million on antennimal farm: ives need change, need garamendi  written by Meanwhile back to the ranch , March 12, 2008
Garamendi isn't doing anything for the city of Tracy. Just jumping in for photo ops whenever it looks convenient.
Here's 99 dollars! ----> Now, please move back out of the city limits. Tracy, Do you really want change? I hope so! If so, we can finally get rid of the family feud in this town and move on to achieving a real city. written by bob bl!nker , March 12, 2008
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wasted 5 years, $3.6 million on antennimal farm: blinker wasted 5 years, $3.6 million on antennimal farm: blinker need change, need !ves written by park blocker , March 12, 2008
written by Julie S , March 11, 2008
wtf ??? Garamendi ...Advocated using City owned land that was set aside for park use over 18 years ago wtf ??? The Chrismann site? Yeah right, she only jumped in for a photo op during a conference call with developers to use school parks. Get 4 real Julie! Youv'e had the wool over your eyes.  written by Developing minds want to know , March 12, 2008
written by Julie S , March 11, 2008
Garamendi has vision, leadership and no developer ties. Sounds like the blind leading the blind? What did G woman ever lead? The TP paparazi to a convenient photo op? What vision? Opposition to a park or advocating a park. Can't have it both ways Julie. No developer ties? Read it and weep: http://tracypress.com/content/view/13021/2242/ written by ConcernedParents , March 12, 2008
I've seen Garamendi at the council meetings for years advocating for the children and the sports park to be built @ the Chrisman & 11th site.
Let's give her 1/8 of the chance that Ives has had and vote her in as the next Mayor of Tracy!  written by Ranchers: Hold your horses , March 12, 2008
Hold on to your dog and pony shows, here a cotton piking minute.
Do we give her two years? Since Ives has had sixteen? What kind of logic is that? She has been around the city council meetings for sixteen years? What difference has she made? See what I mean? Time to give someone else a chance? We gotta be able to do better than that, CP. Come on you are as concerned as I am about this crap in Tracy. People already had their chances.  written by Age old advocate , March 12, 2008
...and what to show for it?
I'm not seeing the picture there. But here's what I do see... That sorta logic -- goes both ways!!! written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 12, 2008
Celeste only fought with the council for years to keep developers away from family land.
written by bob blinker , March 14, 2008
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tolbert flips, NOBODY can count on tolbrent ives flops, developers can count on iveslyn need change, vote garamendi written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 14, 2008
Celeste doesn't mean change, we've listened to her over and over and over and over and over about the same two or three issues. She likes to be on TV.
written by bob blinker , March 14, 2008
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hiding ucker emails: tolbert hiding ucker emails: ives need change, vote garamendi written by amy , March 14, 2008
"Celeste doesn't mean change, we've listened to her over and over and over and over and over about the same two or three issues." She likes to be on TV.
Doesn't that drive you nuts that she is so consistent? written by maybenotdumBcommenT , March 14, 2008
She's not consistant Amy, she's pushy and narrow minded. Looking out for her husbands family only. Shes reptetive is what she is as if we didn't get it the first time and she thinks we are all dumb thay is why she is so pushy.
written by bob blinker , March 14, 2008
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ives and tolbert rejected what their own housing development study identified as environmentally superior: to make infill development, the bow tie area and contiguous growth THE priorities. Why? because tracy hil$/akt and 3lli$/$urland want priority !ve$/forwhomthebelltolbert/*ucker approved a sprawling plan with a vast 50-year map when a 10-year growth map is required by LAFCo. ives and tolbert are out of touch, in some fantasy land of a tracy with 200,000 population. need change, vote garamendi written by bob blinker , March 15, 2008
garamendi 2006 contract with tracy
* Fully implement and support the letter and the spirit of Measure A * Oppose back room developer deals that give Tracy Hills and Ellis near monopolies for the next 25 years * Immediately build needed sports fields and aquatics facilities with available city funds * Change the sprawling General Plan for 221,000 residents to the Smart Growth alternative - ensure needed police and public services first; require affordable and senior housing, adequate school facilities, parks and protection of open space and agricultural land; change priorities to make Tracy the business center for the south county and the Downtown the heart of the city all supported by an effective transportation system * Not accept any campaign donations from developers and report all campaign donations even if below the $100 reporting limit * Promote open government and increased public involvement, not restrict it * Enact term limits for the Mayor and Council * Require responsible fiscal management and priorities that meet community needs need change, vote garamendi written by bob blinker , March 15, 2008
http://tracypress.com/content/view/3245/2/
"Garamendis opponent, Mayor Pro Tem Brent Ives, objected to the contracts pledge to end back-room developer deals being negotiated between the city and two developer teams. The deals could see The Surland Cos., AKT Development and Souza Realty obtain the right to build 500 of Tracys 600 new homes allowed annually by the Measure A slow-growth law beginning in 2012 in exchange for $40 million and land. " "An environmental impact report found the general plan would grow Tracys population to 109,000 in 2025, and to 221,000 in 2075." "She said Ives voted to undermine Measure A in April 2005, when the council changed the measures definition of inner-Tracy infill homes, and in May 2006, when he voted to direct city staff to negotiate the developer deals. Measure A states only 225 homes can be built per year under prior agreement with developers." This content has been locked. You can no longer post any comment.
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