Deputy sheriffs blast Houston in mailer
By lvorderbrueggen
Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at 6:08 pm in 2008 June primary, California Legislature, Contra Costa County, Contra Costa politics.
A business and labor coalition that includes the Contra Costa Deputy Sheriffs Association dropped a five-page campaign mailer and unveiled a web site today that outlines details of a civil lawsuit filed by elderly investors against county supervisor candidate and Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon.
The Sheriffs Association, which supports incumbent Supervisor Mary Piepho of Discovery Bay, contributed to a PAC that paid for the mailer and its web site, www.TruthAboutGuyHouston.com, called the East Bay Business Coalition. The other top four contributers to the PAC listed on the mailer include Cetrus Software, Danville Associates, Service Employees International Union United Healthcare Workers West PAC and the Black American PAC of Contra Costa County. (The PAC formed in 2006 to promote two sets of city council candidates in Concord and Brentwood.)
The anti-Houston mailer, titled “The Houston File: What Guy Houston Doesn’t Want You Know Before Election Day,” went to 30,000 high propensity voters in sprawling supervisor District 3, which includes portions of Walnut Creek, the San Ramon Valley and far eastern Contra Costa County.
Four elderly investors alleged that Houston defrauded them of more than $300,000 in a complex series of deals gone sour. Houston has denied any wrong-doing but he reached an out-of-court settlement agreement in 2007 with the investors. The legislator has declined to reveal its terms.
“There are too many unanswered questions about Guy Houston’s lawsuit,” said Deputy Sheriffs Association President Jim Bickert. “I think it says a lot of about Houston’s character that he wouldn’t reveal the terms of the settlement.”
It’s unclear whether this last-minute mailer will have an impact on Houston’s political career. He terms out of the Assembly this year but decided to run for county supervisor after rejecting a bid to run for Congress against Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton.
Here’s the rest of the mailer:
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May 21st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
…”called the East Bay Business Coalition…”
????
That’s all you’re going to say?
Without reminding your readers of who controls that PAC and why they want Piepho to retain her seat?
You of all people should know better than that. After all your paper has squealed abouyt IE money in the past?
Just because he threatened to beat up Ryan Huff doesn’t mean you have to play patsy and not name names.
This isn’t professional journalism, it’s the Mary Piepho rooting gallery.
Shame Shame Shame
May 21st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
…”called the East Bay Business Coalition…”
????
That’s all you’re going to say?
Without reminding your readers of who controls that PAC and why they want Piepho to retain her seat?
You of all people should know better than that. After all your paper has squealed abouyt IE money in the past?
Just because he threatened to beat up Ryan Huff doesn’t mean you have to play patsy and not name names.
This isn’t professional journalism, it’s the Mary Piepho rooting gallery.
Shame Shame Shame
May 21st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Yes the empire strikes back. The special interest groups that feed at the county gravy train are hitting Guy Houston. To me this means that Piepho is not going to work to change anything in the way our County is governed. Her transformation to becoming Mark DeSaulnier Democrat continues right on target. If she is such a true-red Republican then why is she taking the support from all the left wing special interests in Contra costa County?
May 21st, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Yes the empire strikes back. The special interest groups that feed at the county gravy train are hitting Guy Houston. To me this means that Piepho is not going to work to change anything in the way our County is governed. Her transformation to becoming Mark DeSaulnier Democrat continues right on target. If she is such a true-red Republican then why is she taking the support from all the left wing special interests in Contra costa County?
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 am
Patience is a virtue, Bill. I have to save some details for the actual newspaper.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:57 am
Patience is a virtue, Bill. I have to save some details for the actual newspaper.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
High dudgeon is more fun.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 am
High dudgeon is more fun.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
This is an easy call why the Sheriff’s Association and the Nurses Association are siding with Mary Piepho,
Everyone knows that both the Nurses and the Sheriff’s Unions are coming up for Contract Negotiations in the next couple months. ” The Mother of All Raises ”
By supporting Mary,
If Mary wins, the unions will have their way with her in a lucrative contract as they supported her campain.
If Mary looses, she still holds office till January and can make the negotiations very hard for not supporting her or more than generous as an outgoing thanks.
Either way the unions must endorse her for fear they will not get a good contract. $$$$$$$
“For the public it’s a loss both ways”
If Mary wins, the public will continue to burden the generosity of Mary to the union contracts for support and she sails for four more years.
If Mary looses, she will retain office through the negotiations and can be really generous as there is no
recourse for a lame duck.
In conclusion, the unions have no logical choice but to brown nose Mary Piepho in order to influence their upcoming contracts.
Hopefully, the balance of the Supervisors will postpone negotiations until after the Supervisors are sworn in for four years. This way there is no leverage by the unions,the possibility of animosity can subside, and the decisions can be based on the true character of the supervisors. This would also prove who the supervisors are actually working for. At that time the public could re-asses the situation to determine if a re-call was in order.
The public needs to take back control of the government and their overspending one way or the other as the middle class is being eliminated through taxation.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:27 am
This is an easy call why the Sheriff’s Association and the Nurses Association are siding with Mary Piepho,
Everyone knows that both the Nurses and the Sheriff’s Unions are coming up for Contract Negotiations in the next couple months. ” The Mother of All Raises ”
By supporting Mary,
If Mary wins, the unions will have their way with her in a lucrative contract as they supported her campain.
If Mary looses, she still holds office till January and can make the negotiations very hard for not supporting her or more than generous as an outgoing thanks.
Either way the unions must endorse her for fear they will not get a good contract. $$$$$$$
“For the public it’s a loss both ways”
If Mary wins, the public will continue to burden the generosity of Mary to the union contracts for support and she sails for four more years.
If Mary looses, she will retain office through the negotiations and can be really generous as there is no
recourse for a lame duck.
In conclusion, the unions have no logical choice but to brown nose Mary Piepho in order to influence their upcoming contracts.
Hopefully, the balance of the Supervisors will postpone negotiations until after the Supervisors are sworn in for four years. This way there is no leverage by the unions,the possibility of animosity can subside, and the decisions can be based on the true character of the supervisors. This would also prove who the supervisors are actually working for. At that time the public could re-asses the situation to determine if a re-call was in order.
The public needs to take back control of the government and their overspending one way or the other as the middle class is being eliminated through taxation.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:35 am
I failed to mention that this also applies to the District V campain for the very same reasons.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:35 am
I failed to mention that this also applies to the District V campain for the very same reasons.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Re Patriot Johnny’s assessment about labor. This is common misperception of the complicated reality of local politics. Take a look at the endorsements of the Dist. V candidates. Who has — by far — the the most labor endorsements? While Mr. Glover has a few, most of organized labor has lined up behind Nunn, the newest Democrat on the block. Labor obviously believes they will be able to twist Nunn’s arm to get a better deal for themselves. And … they might be right considering how marshmellowish he is. For example, he was — so he says — “pressured” by his congregation to switch political parties and he is indebeted big time to the Seeno companies for some future payoff.
It is too bad our local newspapers can’t cover the political races in our county as in depth as the race between Clinton, Obama & McCain where they are in the papers every day. All we have to go on are deceptive mailers, number of signs and so-called debates seen by a few hundred people. As a result, most people around here — up to this date — aren’t even aware of a June 3 election.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Re Patriot Johnny’s assessment about labor. This is common misperception of the complicated reality of local politics. Take a look at the endorsements of the Dist. V candidates. Who has — by far — the the most labor endorsements? While Mr. Glover has a few, most of organized labor has lined up behind Nunn, the newest Democrat on the block. Labor obviously believes they will be able to twist Nunn’s arm to get a better deal for themselves. And … they might be right considering how marshmellowish he is. For example, he was — so he says — “pressured” by his congregation to switch political parties and he is indebeted big time to the Seeno companies for some future payoff.
It is too bad our local newspapers can’t cover the political races in our county as in depth as the race between Clinton, Obama & McCain where they are in the papers every day. All we have to go on are deceptive mailers, number of signs and so-called debates seen by a few hundred people. As a result, most people around here — up to this date — aren’t even aware of a June 3 election.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Dman, I agree. I was refering more to the Piepho campain rather than Glover campain. I also think Nunn is from the same immoral group that Piepho is from. An example of deception is the alleged Times copyright violation;
But if her campaign ( Piepho’s ) had asked us for permission to use our front page in a campaign mailer, we would have said no. It potentially misleads recipients to think this page actually existed. We don’t allow the outside use of our masthead. We don’t put endorsements on the front page.
It’s pushing it. It’s really pushing it.
I would think the Times would drop her like a fly for pulling that stunt. However, the media is also only after money too.
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Dman, I agree. I was refering more to the Piepho campain rather than Glover campain. I also think Nunn is from the same immoral group that Piepho is from. An example of deception is the alleged Times copyright violation;
But if her campaign ( Piepho’s ) had asked us for permission to use our front page in a campaign mailer, we would have said no. It potentially misleads recipients to think this page actually existed. We don’t allow the outside use of our masthead. We don’t put endorsements on the front page.
It’s pushing it. It’s really pushing it.
I would think the Times would drop her like a fly for pulling that stunt. However, the media is also only after money too.
May 26th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
When Guy Houston is elected the special interests in Martinez will sudder!!
May 26th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
When Guy Houston is elected the special interests in Martinez will sudder!!
May 28th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Patriot Johnny has stated the case well. The unions don’t want any change in the “soft touch” BOS. After all, it continues the egregious salaries and benefits given away for years, including the years of all the current board.
Yes, Mary is turning blue following Nunn’s strategy but not coming right out and saying it. But she is portraying herself as a Democrat in her hopes to defeat Houston. Maybe with the unions and their money behind her along with the misconception she is pushing that she is a Democrat, she will win.
If she was really upfront, she would come out and blast the hit piece done on Houston by these folks. But, of course, in her desperation she won’t.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Patriot Johnny has stated the case well. The unions don’t want any change in the “soft touch” BOS. After all, it continues the egregious salaries and benefits given away for years, including the years of all the current board.
Yes, Mary is turning blue following Nunn’s strategy but not coming right out and saying it. But she is portraying herself as a Democrat in her hopes to defeat Houston. Maybe with the unions and their money behind her along with the misconception she is pushing that she is a Democrat, she will win.
If she was really upfront, she would come out and blast the hit piece done on Houston by these folks. But, of course, in her desperation she won’t.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
This is why change is needed now……………
an article from today;
Contra Costa Times, presented a summary of his detailed OPEB research. Even if the BOS makes good on its promise to prefund $20 million; Even if it ever gets around to adding a $588 million chunk by 2022-23; Even if it can pay $100 million dollars a year thereafter; Even if the County implements the proposed benefits changes to unrepresented workers, the County would still be $54 million short of 40-percent funding and still leave a 60 percent or $1.042 Billion balance due. Furthermore, even if the BOS added the same benefits changes to unionized employees, the County would still owe $705 million after 30 years. This is simply not acceptable.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
This is why change is needed now……………
an article from today;
Contra Costa Times, presented a summary of his detailed OPEB research. Even if the BOS makes good on its promise to prefund $20 million; Even if it ever gets around to adding a $588 million chunk by 2022-23; Even if it can pay $100 million dollars a year thereafter; Even if the County implements the proposed benefits changes to unrepresented workers, the County would still be $54 million short of 40-percent funding and still leave a 60 percent or $1.042 Billion balance due. Furthermore, even if the BOS added the same benefits changes to unionized employees, the County would still owe $705 million after 30 years. This is simply not acceptable.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I’m hoping the DSA will have a follow-up response to yesterday’s mailer. That’s the poster child for egregious, unprofessional and unethical behavior on the part of an elected official. Warren knows better. Stating an outdated OPEB figure, attempting to lay decades of mismanagement at one person’s feet while completely masking the fact that he supports Glover who voted consistently on the issues he raises? What’s the over/under on outright lies + possible broken laws within one postcard?
How is this not misuse of authority, if not illegal use of office under color of law? If Citizen Rupf wants to participate with a personal expenditure to support his candidate, that’s fine. Sheriff Rupf has not been authorized to do so in any official capacity by the citizens who put him in office. Using his badge on the mailer would appear to be over the line.
The suggestion that all that is Martinez is shaking in their boots over the prospect of dealing with Guy Houston is too laughable to discuss seriously. A political lightweight who doesn’t play well with others. If he manages to get in, he’ll be effectively told to sit in the corner, which he won’t mind. Gives him plenty of time to look for that next political move. This one is just a bus stop in his mind.
Borenstein’s theory on OPEB is plausible only if you assume nothing more will be done from here forward. I think everyone, including the BoS, recognizes more needs to be done.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
I’m hoping the DSA will have a follow-up response to yesterday’s mailer. That’s the poster child for egregious, unprofessional and unethical behavior on the part of an elected official. Warren knows better. Stating an outdated OPEB figure, attempting to lay decades of mismanagement at one person’s feet while completely masking the fact that he supports Glover who voted consistently on the issues he raises? What’s the over/under on outright lies + possible broken laws within one postcard?
How is this not misuse of authority, if not illegal use of office under color of law? If Citizen Rupf wants to participate with a personal expenditure to support his candidate, that’s fine. Sheriff Rupf has not been authorized to do so in any official capacity by the citizens who put him in office. Using his badge on the mailer would appear to be over the line.
The suggestion that all that is Martinez is shaking in their boots over the prospect of dealing with Guy Houston is too laughable to discuss seriously. A political lightweight who doesn’t play well with others. If he manages to get in, he’ll be effectively told to sit in the corner, which he won’t mind. Gives him plenty of time to look for that next political move. This one is just a bus stop in his mind.
Borenstein’s theory on OPEB is plausible only if you assume nothing more will be done from here forward. I think everyone, including the BoS, recognizes more needs to be done.
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
[...] stories then why, on her blog’s May 21 post did she so blithely gloss over mention of the East Bay Business Coalition (see comment #1)— the elephant in the living room of Contra Costa politics—as if she knew [...]
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
[...] stories then why, on her blog’s May 21 post did she so blithely gloss over mention of the East Bay Business Coalition (see comment #1)— the elephant in the living room of Contra Costa politics—as if she knew [...]