The thickest report down at the city clerk's office in Walnut Creek belongs to the incumbent, Bob Simmons, the mayor, running for re-election to the City Council Nov. 6.
Friday, Oct. 5, was a filing deadline for candidate statements for the Walnut Creek City Council race. Simmons' report is the thickest with the most pages, reflecting the largest number of donors and dollars. In the reporting period of July 1 through Sept. 30, Simmons reported total contributions of $27,195 from 145 people.
The paper reports are available for citizens to look at in the city clerk's office on the third floor of City Hall, 1666 N. Main St. The reports will be scanned electronically and available digitally on the city's website by the end of the work week, Oct. 12, said City Clerk Suzie Martinez.
Contributions reported by candidates (all listed except Kish Rajan cover the period from July 1 to Sept. 30 ):
- incumbent Bob Simmons — Reporting $27,195 in contributions from 145 people and expenditures of $16,710. The biggest category of donors was "retiree" for Simmons, a retired attorney.
- incumbent Kish Rajan (filed as candidate but not pursuing re-election; Rajan's filings reflect Jan. 1 through Sept. 30) —
- Barry Grove — Reporting $16,371 in contributions and $12,262 in expenditures. Grove, a deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County, listed 48 contributions ranging from $25 to $1,000 listed collectively from five individuals at a Walnut Creek law firm and insurance agency. There were a number of contributions from lawyers, staff at the district attorney's office and police officers.
- Loella Haskew — Reporting $12,615 in contributions and $8,704 in expenditures. Haskew, a Certified Public Accountant, listed 76 contributors ranging from $50 to $160. Many contributions came from businesses in town, some people in the financial field and local businesspeople.
- Justin Wedel — Listing $10,638 in contributions and expenditures of $6,047. There were 69 contributors ranging from $10 to $160. Wedel, an entrepreneur in the information technology field, listed contributions from financial services people, many retirees and $150 from the Republican Club of Rossmoor.
Endorsement
In other city election news, the Contra Costa Times a week ago endorsed Wedel, Simmons and Haskew for the three seats on the City Council.
Sincerely, Barry Grove Candidate for Walnut Creek City Council
WC isn't "better than this." In fact, undermining public confidence in the city and its representatives reflects the political understanding of someone who uses contacts gained through leading a city organized library effort to gain election. DRAA as a political wing of City Hall is nothing new. DRAA Director White made an impassioned plea in front of Council on Oct. 16, 2008 for Neiman Marcus. The next thing you know, Yes on Walnut Creek is led by Wynstra, Wilk, Haskew, and others who know they like Art, and little else. Downtown development is left as an Art Club fundraiser. Similarly, if one checks out Haskew's endorsers on her website -- the number of Library supporters is staggering: Silva, Abrams (x2), Hicks, Rainey, Regalia, Friedman, Carlston, Del Beccaro, Longshore-DeGolia, Donahoe, Bob and Cindy Brittain, Wynstra, Worthy, Anderson ... Over 1/3 of Haskew's endorsers come from the same library clump that blew off the public and reason, to leave this city financially desperate in the face of the worst economy in 80 years! This seems particularly noteworthy as Hicks, Carlston, Del Beccaro, DeGolia, Brittain, Anderson ... just made a collective plea before Council for further library funding. See Peggy White, DRAA, above... I hope more people will begin to see the big picture and promote Walnut Creek -- as opposed to undermining it for shopping, Art, open-space, library, coin collecting ... Thanks to you and the Mrs. for sharing.
You must be Jerry Hicks. It says a lot about the intellect of someone -- to be picked out of a crowd of 70,000 as "Jerry", doesn't it? See above under Library special interest: That's you and the Mrs.!!! Thanks for critiquing those with an opinion, as your only opinion. I can assure you nothing I say in this city is "nasty, unfounded and indefensible." That's why I'm able to proudly use my own, full, name ... "Jerry."
Michael -- sometimes your comments can be seen as nasty, and sometimes they are mean and pointed with little to back them up. And your opinion is obviously our opinion, but you sometimes espouse your opinion as fact...and that is often far from the case. It is also unfair to the target(s) of your comments. Further, I doubt you have any evidence that "Jerry" is who you say he is; maybe, by chance, it is just a guy named Jerry in WC or the surrounding area. But you put in print that you know who is "must be" and condemn someone for what he may not have done. No fair!! I really wish we could have everyone identify themselves and be polite on this forum, as we should in every forum we deal with. Maybe we can all start that right now. David P.
Thanks for sharing. My "opinion", as with the above, usually comes with a substantiation and context that conveniently escapes you. Yours, as here, does not. That they are both "opinions" is where any similarity ends. I would hope anyone reading your "opinion" and mine could make that distinction. If they can't, they probably shouldn't drive or vote and they definitely shouldn't be Council-appointed anything. If you'd like to grace us, for instance, with your perspective on the insignificance of 1/3 of Haskew's support coming from library advocates, at a time when the same library advocates are actively lobbying for city funding -- PLEASE do so. As a WALNUT CREEK Council-appointed commissioner, do you think this is something voters should be cognizant of or is this just "nasty" and "mean"? Please elaborate. Unlike the politically conniving amongst us, my opinions are honest and public. "Targets" are free to respond honestly and publicly. That they usually choose not to is probably significant. I'd be delighted, for instance, to have "Jerry Hicks" log on to address why my act to "condemn" him (IN YOUR WORDS) for being associated with the "condemn"able commentary above is misplaced -- really rip "Jerry" a new one! Why don't you give him a call with this suggestion, to easily end any suffering he may feel as an undeserving "target"?
“Secret guilt is by silence revealed.” -John Dryden
Remember what they taught us? Journalists don't have friends, just sources, and a cold cup of java. Good luck.
Now that at least two posters said this email happened, is there some sort of legal action against this kind of fear-mongering tactic? Two years ago CERT volunteers were told not to vote for a certain candidate because this candidate would shut down the CERT program. Perhaps this same group of insiders are trying a similar tactic - this cycle using the Lesher Center. "Disappointed" is no longer the only one reporting the existence of the "questionable" email http://walnutcreek.patch.com/articles/opinion-public-safety-is-no-1-priority#comments (scroll down to Darlene Mendez' comment) Ms Mendez, if you would be so kind as to forward the email you received to Lance Howland (Editor). Thank you.