Bobby Harris > Rexroad.com

I like Bobby Harris. I admire him for his determination and certainly respect his speaking ability. He is the best public speaker from Woodland I have seen........but that talent pool is not that deep with Xavier Tafoya and Art Pimentel in the mix.

Bobby is also one of the few people to actually attend meetings like 2x2s that I wish more people would attend sometimes. We share some Libertarian beliefs.

That being said we have several disagreements on the proper role of government.

The front page of the Democrat has an article today indicating that Bobby announced his candidacy for office during a public meeting. That is not right at all. Public comment is not an appropriate time to make political announcements. Not at all.

I don't see how Bobby is able to beat Davies or Marble in June. Skip is probably the most popular elected official in Woodland by a mile and Bill is up there too.

At this point however, I am not aware of anyone else running for City Council other than Bill, Skip, and Bobby.

The only thing I know for sure is that the debates will be worth watching although the outcome isn't really in doubt.

Comments

By Anonymous @ Sunday, January 31, 2010 11:13 PM

Your criticism of Bobby Harris' announcement of his candidacy for City Council at a City Council meeting seems odd to me Matt. You have said you consider yourself to be a reasonable person.

Here is the quote from the posted agenda regarding Public Comment:
"This is an opportunity for the public to speak to the Council on any item other than those listed for public hearing on this agenda."
The wording specifically states "any item".

Furthermore most comments that folks make during the Public Comment period are of a political nature. The personnel from the Fire Dept showing up ( in their uniform with radio dispatch on to demonstrate that they were on call) to comment to the City Council were making political comments--they were lobbying for their department. And during working hours too!

When you were mayor, the revision of the Mobile Food Vendors ordinance was being considered. That fellow from Davis who was actually complaining about policies banning Mobile Food Vendors from the campus at UC Davis (and therefore the appropriate board for him to handover his letter with 700 signatures would have been Associated Student Government--not You as Woodland mayor) was making political comments. And staging Political theatre.

And when I use the word "appropriate" as an adjective in the sentence above, that refers to the fact that Woodland City Council does not have authority or jurisdiction over Foodservice on the UC Davis campus--Associated Student Government does.

If you do not like folks to announce candidacies during a Public Comment period, that is your preference.
But why clothe your personal preference in an argument
about "appropriate" or rather "not appropriate"?

About your stated wish in this email.....

I found attending the last 2X2 meeting in November very interesting. I certainly will try to attend more.
'specially now that you said you wished more folks would attend :-)

~Bernadette

By Matt Rexroad @ Monday, February 01, 2010 6:36 AM

Bernadette --

All of the items you mention have a policy basis.

An announcement for candidacy does not have that same basis.

Consider this --- when has a candidate for federal office announced from the floor of Congress? Never. Why -- because the operation is run by taxpayers. Those announcements are done on private property or in venues reserved by a campaign.

Prior to his inauguration Did you ever hear President Obama talk about his campaign for the Presidency and what he would as President from the Floor of the Senate....Nope. Why? This is because these areas are reserved for comments about public policy debates.

I am not the only one that feels this way. It is common practice.

Matt

By Anonymous @ Monday, February 01, 2010 11:17 PM

Matt
Thank you for taking the time to expand more on your intended meaning . When I read this statement
" Public comment is not an appropriate time to make political announcements. Not at all." I interpreted the phrase political announcements more broadly than you apparently intended.
By offering examples to distinguish between "political comment on policy" and candidacy announcements, I am able to grasp your original point more clearly.

I am sensing that this is deeper and more profound to you than a preference--if I am really understanding your point, you view announcing one's candidacy in a governmental venue to be a kind of disrespect and disregard for the higher purpose that such venues are dedicated to: crafting public policy.

And regardless of whether you stand alone in feeling this way or are part of a crowd of fellow Woodlanders, your emphasis on respect for public chambers does have my consideration.

By bemurray2008 @ Monday, February 01, 2010 11:29 PM

I posted the previous comment and then realized my name was not displayed. I do not seek to post anonymously. In addition to clarifying appropriate venues to make candidacy announcements, could you please explain to me how to display my name when I post on your blog Matt ?
I value being accountable for what I post.
Thanks Bernadette

By Matt Rexroad @ Tuesday, February 02, 2010 6:30 AM

B --

Not sure. I just sign in and then post. Getting it to post with a certain name may be above my pay grade.

Webmaster Bob?

Matt

By Josh @ Wednesday, February 03, 2010 2:06 PM

The only thing standing in the way of Bobby Harris' campaign is, of course, Bobby Harris.

Why would the people of Woodland trust their city to a man who cannot even manage his own life?

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