In the article below Mr. Wilson has the wrong impression about the relationship or "Friendship" between Stanckiewits, Sandoval and Robles. The association he assume is based on this blogs selection of the three and that they occasionally appeared at the same events.
Robles is not in lock step with Stanckiewits and Sandoval on all issues and ideals. She offers a different perspective on city governance.Robles has a much more conservative outlook on running a city. She believes strongly in free enterprise and businesses having a fair and open competitive marketplace and minimal governmental intrusion in to the personal and business lives of individuals. Like Sandoval and Stanckiewits, Robles will insist on balanced and transparent budgets.
She has an eye to having Grand Terrace stand on its own with out being dependent upon the cycle of Debt Financing, and the intrusion on business and property owners that results with the entire city being considered Blighted and in a Redevelopment Area. Robles knows this is an "Ideal" that others do not share, and it is an "Ideal" that will take time and effort to achieve.
Her eyes, ears and point of perspective on the City Council will insure that at least the citizens business and property rights will have a voice on the council, that puts the RDA as a second priority to those rights. I for one kind of like that idea.
What can 50,0000 to 31.000 buy if it is not spent on an election. Sports for 2 to 3 years and no firework sales. One year of a child care or maintenance workers salary. An after school program for youth over 13 years of age. Initial work on the Dog Park. Fence and Gates and Clean up, making it at least a Dog Field. Or how about a public restroom facility at Susan Petta Park? Or 4, $1.00 hamburgers for each person in GT.
No an election, at this time, is not in the best interest of the community. We have spoken, We have given the Council the option to select an appointment or an election.
For your information Darcy McNaboe what we have is a representative democracy, and we ask our elected officials to make appointments now and then as part of the function of our governance.Prospects for an election are interesting.
What we do know is that over 1000 voters voted for Robles, and she is likely to retain those voters. During an election all others would be playing catch up. No one should assume that peeling away those who voted for her would be as simple as putting their name on a ballot. Those who voted for her once will most likely vote for her again re-confirming their vote in the November Election. Her additional votes would come from the pool of voters who did not vote for her.
Although an election is always interesting to write about, an appointment seems appropriate at this time. Yes the positions here and there overlap but Sylvia Robles is not clone of Stanckiewitz or Sandoval. As a matter of fact she comes to the service of the citizens as an added and different point of perspective her appointment may be the best for Grand Terrace if the City Council Members were to have the courage to appoint some one with a view that does not agree with them all the time.
Lee Ann Garcia was first an Appointment. Where was her opinion then? It is ok for her to be appointed but not others? Darcy McNaboe, you have been elected to vote for us as our representative. That includes or should include people outside your supporters and associates. How does a person contact Darcy McNaboe to send her a message regarding this or any issue?
Grand Terrace debates council selection
The council is scheduled to decide tonight what the future holds for the seat vacated by Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz when he becomes mayor today.
The council can opt to appoint someone to the seat, hold a special election, or leave the seat vacant until the next regular election in November 2012.
An empty council seat could lead to potential 2-2 gridlock for the rest of the two-year term.
While the four incoming members say they will consider all sides and any public input, initial positions indicate the decision on how to end the deadlock may deadlock.
Stanckiewitz and Councilman Bernardo Sandoval say the city can't afford the cost of an election. Councilwomen Darcy McNaboe and Lee Ann Garcia say residents deserve to have their voices heard.
An election in the city would cost $45,000 to $50,000, or $31,000 for a mail-in election, according to estimates by the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters. That money would have to come from the city's General Fund reserve of $1.6 million, according to the staff's report.
"We're sitting here talking about conserving our resources, and this has a price tag I'm not sure we can afford," Stanckiewitz said. "That's something we'll have to discuss and come to a solution."
Stanckiewitz said he hoped people who had not previously run would apply for the job, but many think an appointment would go to Sylvia Robles, who lost to McNaboe in November by 45 votes, just over 1 percent.
"I think the voters have already spoken," Robles said. "While the city is considering their cost in an election, my supporters put in a serious cost as far as money and time also."
Doug Wilson, who came in second in the mayoral race, said Robles received more votes only because she was in a smaller field - only Robles and McNaboe ran for the one council seat, while candidates for mayor and the other council position split the vote among many candidates.
"Realistically, this person's already been identified as someone who will vote with Stanckiewitz and Sandoval," Wilson said. "I don't know if that's a good thing, where you automatically appoint your friends."
McNaboe said most citizens she spoke to favored an election.
"What price do you put on democracy?" she asked.
Five of the city's six council midterm vacancies have been filled by appointment. The sixth coincided with the November election, so it only cost $2,000.
Grand Terrace council meeting
The Grand Terrace City Council meets at 7:30 tonight to discuss the future of the vacant seat left open by now-Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz. They will meet at City Hall, 22795 Barton Road
