John Dutra speaks
By Matt Artz
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 9:16 am in City Council Election, Fremont, Uncategorized.
Things here are hectic, so not much time to blog:
Here are some excerpts from my conversation with John Dutra. I know I’m playing stenographer here, but Dutra’s been blasted in the comments section, so he should get his say:
On ties to the A’s project:
“There is no financial connection between me, my family, my company and the A’s; and there will be none. I will not accept any compensation from the A’s, and I won’t work for them directly or indirectly for that matter. I met Lew and Keith six months ago; prior to that I didn’t even know these people.”
Dutra also said that he doesn’t have any projects coming before the council. He said his son Dominic does, but city officials didn’t seem to know what project that might be. I’ll call Dominic. Obviously, Dutra does support the A’s coming to Fremont.
On charges that he’s formed a slate of candidates for city and school races:
“I don’t have any slates. I just have candidates that I’m supporting. They asked for my support and I gave it. I’m going to raise money for everyone I support. Raising money during this economic time is very difficult. I’m always going to back candidates who I think are quality candidates, who I think are going to serve this community well.”
Dutra is backing Desrie Campbell and Bryan Gebhardt for school board, Teresa Cox for Ohlone Board, Bob Wasserman for mayor and Bob Wieckowski and Sue Chan for city council. He said they all asked for his support and that his support has nothing to do with his or his family’s business interests. Dutra does own land near the Ohlone frontage property.
On the assertion made by several people on this blog that Sue Chan will rely almost exclusively on his fundraising prowess while Trisha Tahmasbi won’t have the same help from her boss, Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico:
“What a joke that is. With all due respect to Alberto, he is a fundraising machine. He has access to lobbyists up and down the state. He’s working very hard to make calls for Trisha.”
On Trisha Tahmasbi:
“Trisha worked for me as a receptionist. She’s a very fine young lady. She should have gotten a little more experience in the community. Right now, as much as I like and respect her, I know she’s not quite ready.”
On blog comments about him:
“It’s almost as if these bloggers can’t see a positive note in a great symphony. It’s as if you can’t say a positive thing in this community.”
On his future in politics:
“I’ll be 73 in October. I have no intention of running for office again.”
[You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.]
August 19th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Matt, got a question for you. How come you go through great lengths to clear Suzanne Chan’s name, but when it comes to falsehoods posted about other candidates, you either ignore them, or post them as “minor stuff” and in passing post a quick response about it that no one is likely to even see. As a note on Dutra, I can only take his words with a grain of salt. He has a very connected family, with a great deal of stuff going on. I just don’t trust this guy.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Sorry Curious,
I don’t think I do that. I think I’m being fair. The minor stuff post you mention included items about Tahmasbi, Torrico and Chan. And Chan was last.
August 19th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Matt,
You are still incorrectly (and intentionally) comparing Dutra to Torrico. Torrico and Dutra are not comparable. Torrico will not have a financial interest in how Trisha votes if she is elected to the council. Dutra will have a financial interest in how Chan votes, if she is elected.
John Dutra and his entire family will have an interest in the votes cast by our city council. It is that simple. He has found a candidate that he can easily manipulate, in the form of Chan, and he will be repaid if she is elected. Same goes for our wonderful mayor.
Dutra and his family have an interest in this city council race for a reason. If it were truly the case that Dutra (AND HIS FAMILY) would have no interest in the votes that will be cast on the council for the coming years, there would be no problem. Heck, if Chan can find a friend with deep pockets to finance her campaign and do all of the hard work for her, expecting nothing in return, that would be great, more power to her.
The (huge) problem stems from the fact that Dutra is not simply supporting this woman because he believes she is the best person for the job. Neither is the Mayor. They are supporting her, working for her, because they know that she will push an agenda for them if she gets elected to the council. And he can run from here to Timbuktu saying that he does not have a personal financial interest in her campaign being successful, but it will not amount to a hill of beans. And you can support Chan as much as you want to, writing your “Truth Patrols” and interviewing everyone that can put in a good word for her, but it does not change the fact that the Dutras WILL have plans before the council, and they WILL expect Chan to “scratch their backs” and she WILL gladly do it, no questions asked, disregarding what is best for Fremont’s citizens.
It is like there is a huge pink elephant in the room and you guys are trying to cover it up with a measly handkerchief!
I seriously hope you are getting a piece of the Dutra pie, Matt, because you are working awfully hard for Sue Chan and her campaign. I would demand some sort of compensation, if I were you, if you aren’t getting some already.
Oh, and since you (the blogger) and various other blog entry writers continue to draw an analogy between Dutra and Torrico in their support for our council candidates, are you going to give Torrico a chance to respond to your allegations? And give him the opportunity to say why he is supporting Trisha? (not that Dutra gave any good reasons as to why he is supporting Chan). I’m a little worried that even if you did, your entry would be so riddled with biased sarcasm, and endorsements for Chan, that it would hardly serve any productive purpose.
Susan M.
August 19th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
It’s fair to say that Torrico has a strong political interest in seeing Trisha,his handpicked staffer & candidate, succeed.
An ambitious politician looking out for his political career in an election year — you cannot get any more self-interested than that.
Literally and figuratively, Tisha is on Torrico’s payroll.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Matt Artz is just trying to be fair only to the establishment candidates Suzanne Chan[endorsed by Wasserman, Dutra] and Trisha[endorsed by Torico]. Don’t sweat it out. The Argus will endorse only the candidates supported by developers either directly or indirectly because their bills are paid by developers, not us the average Fremont resident.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
For the love of God!
Matt - I see you reported above that John Dutra characterized Trisha as a receptionist (I googled Trisha and see that, at the young age of 28, she is NOW the Deputy Chief of Staff of a Legislative Office)…
But, Matt, why don’t you take a dose of reality in the mornings (along with your Prozac) and recognize that SUE CHAN, at the age of 58, is NOW A RECEPTIONIST in her husbands DENTAL OFFICE.
I can’t believe my eyes, every time I come onto this site…I continue to see you, Matt Artz, abusing your power as a reporter. Does fair and equal coverage mean anything to you, or did that get tossed out with objective reporting? I knew you guys were strapped for cash in the newspaper industry, but I didn’t know you were selling off your integrity to make a quick buck. Don’t you people have to sign some kind of oath? Or do you cave in to the first millionaire developer that offers you a portobello mushroom?
I am with Susan M. Are you also going to give Torrico the opportunity to speak, and post his comments, as you have done for Mr. Dutra? There are some uneducated bloggers on here that seem to think that Torrico is desperate for a victory in November and somehow needs the help of “plants” in the area to coast him into victory (come on, “Drew”). I’d like to hear what he has to say.
And “Drew”…come on! Torrico will win in November, regardless of who he does or does not support. He does not have to “handpick” or install anybody to insure a victory. And he will never, NEVER, have an item before the Council or Planning Commission.
PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER MATT ARTZ!!!
You’ve got an important job to do here.
Of course the Dutra’s will have business and projects before the Council and the planning commission. They own half of this City! Dutra’s business now sits in the hands of his sons. Did you ask him if his sons would be involved in the A’s project? Didn’t think that far ahead, did you, Matt?
Dutra’s involvement with the A’s will be clear once the deal is already set. When the entitlements to the land are sold off, and the developers come swarming, you better believe Dutra will be one of the developers that hits the jackpot. So, when he says he’s not tied to the A’s directly or indirectly, that’s technically correct. But you needed to dig deeper, Mr. Artz, to find out the real deal.
Matt Artz - please - shape up, or ship out.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Go A’s! Go A’s! Go A’s! Let’s bring A’s to Fremont. I will vote for Bob Wasserman, Bob Wieckowski, and Sue Chan . They all support A’s to Fremont. Other candidate doesn’t support A’s to Fremont
August 19th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Trisha is on Torrico’s payroll and that her independence is compromised by her own self-interest.
It’s only fair to question Trisha’s ability to make her own decisions when her boss is a powerful and ambitious Sacramento politician.
Assemblymember Nicole Parra learned the hard way that Sacramento pols punish those who vote their conscience. When she stood up for her district, she was swiftly disciplined by Party leaders and ejected from her Capitol offices.
Trisha is employed by Torrico and was handpicked by the Assemblymember to run for council. She is a candidate compromised by a direct financial stake in her own continued employment.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
It’s funny how “Frustrated” continues to spread LIES. We hope that Matt again does another Truth Patrol to address the misinformation and lies lobbied by Team Tahmasbi.
August 20th, 2008 at 7:39 am
I think that frustrated makes some good points. I would like to see Matt giving equal effort to clearing up misinformation about all candidates. It’s only fair.
August 20th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Curious:
You are partially correct. The blogger should put forth the same effort to clear up misinformation about every candidate. The problem is, that the information given about the Chan Clan, and the corruption behind it, is not misinformation, it is correct information.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I agree with the previous statement. Matt’s research has shown:
“that the information given about the Chan Clan… is not misinformation, it is correct information”
He has shown that Sue is a community leader, invested in what’s best for Fremont, with great support from hundreds from the Fremont Community. I’ve heard them speak, you can too:
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=people4sue
August 20th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Hi, Drew (or Sue, or English Teacher…)
I think you know what I meant. You people are really scraping the bottom of the barrel.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Matt,
Please respond to the request to post an interview from Alberto Torrico so that he will have the opportunity to submit his comments in response to your (and the the other posters) allegations, just as you did for John Dutra. As well, he should have the opportunity to state why he is supporting Trisha.
Thanks,
Susan M.
August 20th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
For the record, I only post under this name. If other posts sound like mine, what can I say… imitation is the highest form of flattery.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
On August 5th, 2008, John Dutra publically stated why he supports Sue Chan. See here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0RB3JyHBvE
Over one hundred members of the Fremont community from diverse walks of life have stated why they support Suzanne Chan:
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=people4sue
August 20th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
In response to English Teacher
The same kind of 100 interviews can be done by other candidates and put on youtube or facebook or myspace. The internet technology makes it very easy. Had you been to any Planning Commission Meetings where Ms.Suzanne Chan voted on developer proposals that impacted schools, traffic, neighborhood resident’s daily life. Just visit City’s Planning Commission website and read some approved project meeting minutes and Ms. Chan’s statements and come back, tell us what you think. I can give one simple example. On her website http://www.suechanforfremont.com, she claims one of her platforms is “Supporting a World-Class Education System”. The same Sue Chan voted repeatedly for high-density housing development that impacted schools with overcrowding in Irvington,Parkmont,Mission, Ardenwood areas. When residents asked her about it, She claimed that Schools are not a City Issue and she cannot do anything about it. Then why is she so concerned about Schools now. Is it just for the votes? Anything for the votes?
Given her track record on Planning Commission, I am sure she will follow the diktat of the developers if she is elected. Sure, she did some public service by being on so many agencies. We all know how it works. It is not being qualified but rather being connected to a group of people that are calling political shots all these years.
IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE, VOTE NEW PEOPLE WHO CAN BRING BETTER VISION TO FREMONT, NOT THE SAME OLD CRAP.
August 20th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I haven’t seen any other candidate have the kind of support from the community from Sue Chan. If it’s “so easy” to get that kind of support, then why haven’t they? Go Sue For Fremont the community loves Sue!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVG8slWVTfo
August 21st, 2008 at 4:34 am
English Teacher,
I am not supporting any candidate here but I am just pointing to Sue Chan’s record on Planning Commission which you and 100 others might not be aware of. It is pretty dismal. Don’t get carried away and support candidates who are in the pockets of developers.
August 21st, 2008 at 8:39 am
Everytime you try to discount the voice of hundreds of community members (Sue’s endorsements are in the hundreds http://www.suechanforfremont.com/sue_chan_fremont_endorsements.html), we will come out louder and stronger for Sue.
Watch the over one hundred videos from the Fremont community, many explicitly call out how impressed they are with Sue’s work on the Planning Commission!
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?p=r&user=people4sue&page=2
August 21st, 2008 at 2:04 pm
English Teacher and Drew,
Enough with posting the youtube junk. As Zinger said, anyone of these candidates can tape their supporters and post it on a social networking site. We’ve all taken note of the site, no need to repeatedly post it.
If you REALLY want to support your candidate, why don’t you post a response to Matt Zinger’s comment about how Chan has consistently voted AGAINST the wellbeing of the citizens and students of Fremont, and consistently voted FOR the interests of the developers, instead of repeatedly posting a link to a ridiculous youtube page.
Your alias suggests you are an English teacher (I’m presuming you are claiming to be a teacher in the Fremont community)…let’s here a response from you that actually has some substance.
Susan M.
August 21st, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Oh, and Matt (the blogger), since you continue to ignore my request to allow Torrico to defend himself, the way you so valiantly did for Mr. Dutra, I’m going to take this as another example of your unfairness in the coverage of this election, and of your bias in favor of one candidate and against another (without any sort of substance behind it). Great reporting job, Matt.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
“anyone of these candidates can tape their supporters and post it on a social networking site”
The prerequisite, of course is having supporters, willing to put themselves out there, asking a candidate to be their voice and lending their full support. Sue’s videos feature people on camera using their real names. Susan M won’t even use her real full name. For every Susan M, there are 100 Fremont Community Members! Sue supporters are real people! Go Sue!!!
Here are 20 more people who want their voice to be heard. YOU CANNOT SILENCE THE FREMONT COMMUNITY! Go Sue Chan For Fremont City Council!!!
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?p=r&user=people4sue&page=3
August 21st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Oh, My…you’re really starting to concern me…still no response to the fact that Sue Chan is dishonest and only interested in getting votes, huh? Sue Chan does not give a lick about this city…wow…And where is your real name listed, “English Teacher”…I think what I provide of my name is much closer than what you are providing us of your’s. You seem to be obsessed with her (either that, or you are her)…at least have the decency to tell the community who you truly are.
Still no response, huh? Keep posting those sorry links. I’m certain the voters of Fremont can look past your (and Sue Chan’s) ridiculousness, and get down to the real issues at hand.
Oh, and this is the last time I am going to respond to any of your posts “English Teacher”. I’m starting to think you and Drew are one of those web bots, with no way to process information, only a way to regurgitate useless, absurd, information over and over again. Or is it that you have no way of responding to the fact that Chan is motivated by nothing more than greed and power hunger. If she wasn’t, she wouldn’t have the voting record that she does. Hmmm…there’s some food for thought. So you keep posting your ridiculous links. We’ll keep looking past it, and getting to the bottom of things.
Susan M.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
If Trisha has friends like you, I guess she doesn’t really need enemies. Keep it up, Susan!
August 21st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
THE VOICE OF FREMONT WILL NOT BE SILENCED!
“Susan M” can’t stand the voice of Fremont!!!
“Susan M” feels the voice of Fremont is ridiculous. “Susan M” has been disproven over and over by research and fact. She lobs anonymous threats. WE SHALL OVERCOME SUSAN M and the forces of evil!!!!
SUE CHAN is an honest leader, she is our voice. The hundreds of names on Sue’s Endorsement list and over a hundred testimonials quash your negativity!
Look at the hundreds of community members who want Sue Chan to be their voice on Council
http://www.suechanforfremont.com/sue_chan_fremont_endorsements.html
Listen and see over 100 people who want Sue Chan to be their voice!
http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?p=r&user=people4sue&page=4
August 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I can’t help but chuckle a little. english teacher is making it sound like Sue Chan is leading some sort of revolution for the “repressed” people of Fremont. Heehee. “No one will silence the voices of Fremont” Give me a break.
August 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
The degree of hyperbole and anecdotal enthusiasm expressed for any candidate is a huge indication of the limited capacity of that candidate to stand on their intellect and leadership ability. Good luck to you all !
August 21st, 2008 at 9:26 pm
by the by, i actually watched some of the videos that are being hyped, and it looks like Steve Chan just set up a camera in his office and solicited random patients. Looks like a tribute to Steve Chan…The majority of these videos have nothing to do with Sue Chan. If anything, they make me want to vote for Steve Chan for City Council!
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:13 am
I’ve done my research, I’ve checked out her website http://www.suechanforfremont.com
I’ve watched a number of the videos, I disagree, they are about Suzanne Chan. It was nice to see a couple of people I know in them, and I think they’re great.
Suzanne has been apart of the community, volunteering her time chairing scholarship programs, helping the uninsured get proper dental care, raising money for community hospitals, creating the community health library, all in Fremont for over twenty years. We in Fremont are lucky to have her. Count me in for Sue Chan.
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 am
Thanks for posting that Curious, your ‘majority’ comment is a great showing of how reliable your commentary is (ie anyone who has seen the videos know that the comment is blatantly false, and your commentary is unreliable).
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
i do not want to get involved in the negative rhetoric going around. i haven’t yet decided who i will support this election, but you are really doing a disservice to your candidate, english teacher. your posts are immature and frankly embarrassing. if you represent the supporters of Sue Chan (which i hope you do not) i have to think long and hard if i want to be a part of that group.
And for the people that have not seen the videos, you will know what i’m talking about if you do. the people that were filmed are patients of Chan’s dentist husband that do not give anyreason why they are supporting sue Chan besides that her husband has been their dentist for some years. here are some examples (since you say i’m unreliable, i’m going to post my sources for you):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj3A_C0j0Wk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhbZ7uz45WQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl2tOqkifTE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJmSovKhNgA
and the list goes on. these people and i’m sure the MAJORITY of them do not give any reasons why sue Chan would make a good council member. As an undecided, i understand you are trying to work hard to cover up her voting record (thank you Mr. Zinger, i did look things up) but i really don’t think that posting her husband’s patients endorsements will coverthat up. but good luck to you any way. she will probably not get my vote.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
your first sentence does not jive with your previous posts and subsequent posts. again, proof of your character and ‘objectivity’
You post 4 vidoes out of 113 - to you this is a ‘majority’. Again proof of you the reliability of your opinion. I think those videos were great, you show young people engaging in civic dialogue, that’s pretty great as far as I’m concerned.
I like your videos as well as these ones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmrY2SpdXXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ON8wxHWNXs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eibht_R2P0g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t98O6q023c8
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
English teacher, you remind me of someone that was with Sue Chan at Wasserman’s last fundraising event. Are you Sue’s friend aka spokeswoman that was at that fundraising event for Wasserman trying to get supporters for Sue Chan?
Those youtube videos, again, do not prove anything. The only thing they prove is that Sue Chan is a nice individual. Okay, but what can she provide more than that? Speak to her up front, like I have (unless you’re her spokesperson) and you will find out she’s not much of an intellectual person to be taking on the seat of councilmember.
August 22nd, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Curious,
Thanks for your post. Asking some kids to say “Go Sue Chan” (without even keeping a straight face) in no way serves as an endorsement, nor does it serve as a reason to support a candidate, nor does it serve as civic engagement from our youth, nor is the “Voice of Fremont”. These videos have absolutely no substance. And thank you for pointing out that the person who is going under the name “English Teacher” is immature and an embarrassment. I completely agree.
If you are truly undecided, I encourage you to continue your research, not just for the city council race, but for all of the elections taking place this November. The more research we do as citizens, the more informed we will be. Some candidates that run for office (like Mrs. Chan) hope and pray that we will look past their voting records, or that we will not get word of who is funding their campaign. But it is not easy to pull the wool over an informed citizen’s eyes (Sorry, Matt Artz, and Sue Chan, but its true. Keep trying, though. It is quite entertaining).
I’m still waiting for someone to effectively respond to the post about Sue Chan’s voting record while on the Planning Commission. Instead we got side tracked with these ridiculous videos (albeit, that was the intention, I’m sure).
What about your voting record, Sue Chan? It goes against what you are claiming to be for, now that you are running for a precious seat on our Council. What about her voting record, Mr. Matt Artz?
There is no place for political corruption in Fremont. We want leaders that have the best interest of the people in mind. Step aside, Suzanne Chan, for the benefit of Fremont. Step aside.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Susan M types a lot and says nothing of substance. She talks about political corruption while her candidate receives money from Lobbyists and special interest groups. Someone has definitely not done her research. Susan gets upset when she is proved wrong over and over - it’s kind of hilarious.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Interesting, but I don’t think susan was ever proven wrong.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
This one is for English Teacher, please respond:
In your last blog entry (#36), you say you know of a candidate receiving money “from lobbyists and special interests groups”.
Financial reports have not even come out yet.
Do you have some secret source that feeds you contribution information, months in advance? As far as I know, candidates have not even filed their financial reports yet.
English Teacher, please refrain from posting such inaccuracies.
You sound like a teenager. Are you Sue Chan’s son or daughter? If so, simply state that. Your word would carry much more weight if you just identified yourself as a family member and told us directly why your mother should serve on our Council.
And, to be honest, I have visited your mother’s website, and I couldn’t help but notice that several of the “tributes” were actually giving credit to Sue’s husband, Steve Chan. Having your father’s dental clients speak for 15 seconds about the stupendous Steve Chan gives me no information about Sue’s credentials.
To be honest, several of those people looked rather uncomfortable and a couple of them seemed not to even understand what they were saying, or why they were saying it.
Did your father offer free dental services to people who agreed to be taped?
Oh, and I haven’t seen Matt Artz on the website yet. Mr. Artz, when will you be taping your awkward testimonial in favor of Sue Chan?
August 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Chan’s votes on the planning commission do starkly contrast what her campaign website says. I don’t think there is any way for that to be explained in a positive way. She’s definitely not getting my vote.
Khan seems very ambitious, not that that is a bad thing I’m just not sure he’s thought everything through thoroughly. I’m interested to hear where Vinnie and Trisha stands on the A’s and bringing them to Fremont. I don’t remember if that was covered in Bacon’s article I do hope they are for it. I think Fremont needs a team, and it would definitely be a good thing for our city. What we need is to have someone on the council that will help bring us the A’s and be responsible about doing it. That is going to take a special candidate.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:27 am
I’m just going to ignore the false assertions that you are all lobbying. Clearly if you have seen Sue Chan’s website it’s clear you wouldn’t even ask the questions that you have.
That said, I think it’s very powerful that people are willing to say they support Sue, using their full names, on camera.
It’s easy to play Monday Morning Quarterback using an anonymous name like “Dubious” “Frustrated” “Curious”.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:33 am
For the record, I am not related to Sue Chan, but I admire the works she’s done in the community. I think it would be fantastic to have someone who represents different segments of the community representing us.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 am
Frustrated,
I enjoyed your post. Unfortunately, you only got ridiculous, no substance responses. This has become the Chan trademark on this blog. Such a sad display. Unfortunately for Chan, a bribe from the Dutra family and a grotesque voting record say it all.
Dubious,
I think that Vinnie IS NOT for the A’s coming to Fremont and Trisha IS for the A’s coming to Fremont. I don’t think that any of us can deny how great it would be to have a team representing our city. I agree with you that it is going to take a special candidate to do that responsibly, and not make a mess of our city in the process.
Susan M.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:49 am
Sue Chan is a wonderful person. I have had the privilege to work with her in the community and she is a leader, and has done many wonderful things for our community. Her work on planning is actually pretty stellar. I’ve seen at least one occasion where she voted to protect the hillsides when the rest of the commissioners voted against - that to me says courage and conviction.
Sue has spearheaded programs that have funded Meals on Wheels, and the Tri-City Homeless Coalition, the Fremont Education Group, Kidango, unisnured alameda county families, college scholarships for the tri-city area, and the hospital. This was all volunteer work over the last twenty years. Sue is a great person.
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:27 am
I find it very interesting that we hear always hear about Trisha’s positions FIRST from Susan M.
Trisha doesn’t have a website, and she’s posted on this blog one time, and then took to only reading and not posting once she started getting hard questions.
Is Susan M in fact Trisha? I’ve heard Trisha speak, the similarity of their aggressive styles of language is dead on.
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Also Curious,
To find out about Vinnie’s position on the A’s, I read Matt Artz’s article about him. After I did this, to find out about Trisha’s position on the A’s, I sent an email to her campaign, and I received a response.
How many times has Sue Chan visited this blog, “Also Curious”? How many times has she posted on it? Trisha came on here and provided her email address. If you, or anyone else, has “hard questions”, send her an email, like I did. Stop being lazy. She never said in that post : “I’m going to be checking back here to answer any questions you may have”. It’s not so hard to send an email, is it? You want to be an engaged and informed citizen, you have to do a little work.
As I’ve said before, these candidates don’t have the resources to spend oodles of time on these blogs. They’re running a campaign in a large city. I personally don’t expect Sue Chan to be on this blog. That’s just plain ridiculous.
“Debbie L.”,
I am sure Sue Chan is a nice woman. We are both mothers. I’m sure she is a wonderful mother. I’m sure she is a wonderful community member. If you look at all of these candidates, they seem to be wonderful community members, and they’ve all been active in the community. If this was the one deciding factor, then I’d say almost all of them deserve a seat this November. However the fundamental issue is whether they have the capacity to keep the best interest of the citizens of Fremont first and foremost in their minds once they have a seat.
Susan M.
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
If the candidates and their teams are not monitoring and responding to blogs and electronic media in general then they failing to respond to their (potential) constituents!
August 23rd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Wow -
Folks - let’s not put our support for the A’s on the shoulders of one or two candidates. To PROPERLY negotate and manage this prospective debacle, we’ll need a great deal of consensus and intellect by City Managers and planners and council and business leaders.
I for one have little faith in the motives of a majority of those named above.
One or two skeptical council members will be pushing an uphill battle against myriad opposing factions - to be certain, it will be a positive step - but one of many that will need to be taken before this city is ready to negotiate and plan a world-class facility and arena. I cannot support the A’s coming to Fremont until I have confidence in our city leadership to plan and negotatiate aggressively in a manner which balances developers economic gains with constituency quality-of-life concerns.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Could it be that Dutra feels the need to belittle Trisha because she didn’t support him in his bid for the State Senate? Just sayin’.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Dutra came in 3rd place for a reason. He outspent his two opponents 3 to 1. He didn’t even carry the cities in his assembly district. There is a reason Dutra came in 3rd place. Everything you read about him is true. He sided with insurance companies. Put profit over people. He ignored his district. What does that equal? Third place.