Contra Costa supervisor debates now online
By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 2:27 pm in 2008 June primary.
The round-table forums with the candidates for Contra Costa County supervisor districts 3 and 5 are now available on-line on the Contra Costa Times’ politics page.
I moderated the March 16 debates sponsored by the Contra Costa Council and taped by CCTV. The candidates included District 3 incumbent Supervisor Mary Nejedly Piepho and her challenger, Assemblyman Guy Houston. In District 5, Supervisor Federal Glover appeared with challengers Gary Agopian, Erik Nunn, Mary Rocha and Don Parscal.
Check them out. They are very interesting.
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April 25th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Mr. Houston should not even be voted for in the upcoming election. His motives are not to serve the people of Contra Costa but to continue to feed his addiction to be in thee public spotlight. He is not to be trusted, a true snake in the grass for his turncoat behavior towards Mary. Shame on him!
April 25th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Another person who I’m told is not thrilled with Guy is his Dad. Seems Guy testified against Dad in a trial where both of them were accused of some kind of Ponzi scheme with elderly people’s retirement funds. Or maybe Dad voluntarily fell on the sword to save Guy’s political career. I have only heard a bit of the story. Maybe someone else can illuminate this better. If the story is true, I don’t see how Guy escaped unscathed.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:36 am
To William Shryer,
Your comments are ridiculous. Contra Costa County is failing and Mary Piepho is part of the problem. When it was suggested to me that I support Mary Piepho in 2004 I stated categorically that she does not have the experience to be county supervisor period. She will fail miserably. I think my statement has proven correct. In politics nobody owns the job. Mary has to earn her reelection. If she cannot deal with that and embrace the competition then she should step aside. The fact that proven leaders like Guy Houston has stepped into the breach and is willing to put his political reputation on the line to help save Contra Costa County from bad leadership is something we need to be thankful for. With the future of Contra Costa County on the line I believe that having a choice in an election is exactly what the voting public needs.
Rather than lower the discussion to snakes in the grass. Lets debate the issues. Mary Piepho will run on her record and the voters will send her packing.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Hey Bernie,
Your post is the most hateful thing I have ever read on this blog. You should be ashamed of yourself for posting this weird and angry diatribe. First of all the lawsuit against Guy Houston was settled out of court.
That was what was reported in the CC Times. So how could Guy Houston have testified against his Father if there was no trial. Second how are you privileged to understand Guy Houston’s relationship with his Father which has never been anything but rock solid.
Family issues have nothing to do with running for political office. If you want to see family dysfunction check out Mary Piepho’s issues over her Fathers estate as reported in the Times.
That said you are just another in the long list of Piepho supporters who don’t understand that she is out of touch with voters. Is there any group in the district that she has not angered?
I think not!! It is time for her to go!!
April 26th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
whoa Renegade, I don’t know either Houston nor Piepho personally and haven’t decided who I’m going to support. What I posted is what someone told me. That person seemed knowledgeable and with no axe to grind. Not only the CCTimes has reported on this, but there have been many stories in the Sac Bee, SF Chronicle, Oakland Trib and other. just google the words “guy houston ponzi” and see what you get. Maybe the whole thing was some malicious and unjustified political attack. If that’s the case, my sympathy to Houston.
April 27th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Renegade having a little identity crisis? First you won’t take the discussion there in post 3 and then you jump in with both feet in post 4?
I don’t know too many people who settle out of court if they’re not guilty. But maybe that’s the “experience” you look for in your Candidate? Comparing that to infighting in the Piepho family over John Nejedley’s estate?? Yeah, because we know nobody fights stupid battles when it comes to money, right???…..pfffft!
What has Houston done for this County besides show how urban sprawl is done, as is the case with the 580 corridor in Dublin? His latest pitch is coat tail riding on a safe neighborhoods bill which earmarks funds, but misses the boat on specifics. Leaving a loophole in tax revenues for his luxury yacht owning buddies at a time when the County is strapped for cash? Admitting that he’ll take money from anybody? Because we know big money NEVER donates to Candidates expecting favors on the backside, regardless of whether they are ethical or what’s best for the County, right?
It’s a fact that Houston wanted to run for higher office when term limits forced a move and his Party wouldn’t support him. The Supervisor slot is an afterthought for him. If you ever talk to him personally as a Constituent, don’t be offended by his looking over your shoulder. It’s not personal, it’s just him looking for that next opportunity at the State or National level. District III is only interesting to him while he passes the time.
The more I read from Renegade the more it’s obvious her/his knock on Piepho is on some personal level as evidenced by the very broad statements. You want to talk honestly about issues, then fine. But your opinion, and that’s all it is, about the capabilities and experience of Piepho is just one amongst about a million others in this County. Hardly authoritative and looking more by the day as being out of touch with the facts.
April 28th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
You are too funny No time for nonsense. The personal is not the political. It my be for you but not for me. Houston will trounce Piepho on June 3rd. The rest of your post is hot air.