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September 25, 2008
Low Key
The local Chico election for City Council and School Board have been rather low-key affairs so far.
Usually campaigns become much more visible after Labor Day weekend. This year it feels rather quiet even weeks after Labor Day.
Some campaign signs are up, notably for Andy Holcombe, Ann Schwab, Jim Walker, and Ali Sarsour.
I'm waiting for the big painted campaign signs on undeveloped properties for Larry Wahl. Eventually more of those signs will sprout up around town, especially in the outskirts where developers own undeveloped property.
We can expect a flurry of initial campaign mail to hit in early October since absentee voters begin casting ballots.
I expect one or more "negative" pieces against the current Council majority blaming them for everything, including maybe the financial meltdown on Wall Street and the deteroriating conditions in Afghanistan.
The problem with this strategy of assigning widesweeping blame, like City budget challenges, on a few select "liberal" Councilors is that the longest serving incumbent running for office and longest serving Finance Committee member is "conservative" Larry Wahl.
And this strategy was deployed two years ago and how did that help Dan Herbert and his slate of candidates?
Want to blame the Council majority for projected budget deficits? Wahl has voted for more budgets than any incumbent running for re-election.
Want to blame the Council majority for hiring too many consultants on special projects? Wahl has approved more consulting contracts that City staff recommended than any incumbent running for re-election.
Want to blame the Council majority for unbuilt parks? Wahl hasn't supported most park development impact fee increases to generate revenue for parks and can't necessarily take more credit than any other Councilor for park development.
Significant candidate contrasts can be drawn, as in past election years, on new growth areas, specific land-use issues like Wal-Mart expansion or disc golf, and development impact fees, but other contrasts are more hyperbole than substance.
The reality is that some progress has been made over the past few years on planning the City's budget, road improvements, and developing DeGarmo Park and a few other parks. Interestingly, as the General Plan survey confirmed, the majority of citizens believe Chico is generally on the right track.
And given the housing market slowdown, less people are clamoring for the City to accelerate development.
Today's Scrabble word is eyer, one that eyes.
Posted by dan_nt at September 25, 2008 12:00 AM