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September 16, 2006
Sorensen Gets Police Nod, Nickell Left Out
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| The Chico Police Officers
Association (CPOA) has endorsed Dan Herbert, Mark Sorensen, and Scott Gruendl
for Chico City Council. Groups that represent public employees like police and fire associations make endorsement decisions based on political realities. Incumbents are more likely to be re-elected based on name recognition alone. So the endorsements of Gruendl and Herbert are not much of a surpise. Who they would support as the third candidate has been a topic of discussion around town. Mark Sorensen was selected over CHP Officer Tom Nickell. Nickell has made a number of statements highlighting his support for public safety, and made much of his career as a Highway Patrol Officer. That begs the question "why wouldn't the Chico Police Officers Association support a fellow peace officer in his candidacy"? I worked with Sorensen on the RDA committee, and I expect that the police association saw much of what I saw in Mark. His depth of understanding of Chico's budgetary and economic state is better than the rest of the new-comer candidates, and at least rivals that of the incumbents. The City of Chico is projecting 135,000 residents in the next 20 years (we currently have around 80,000), and the University is planning to add another 4,000 students (from 17,000 to 21,000). Because of these realities the nexus between public safety and re-establishing core economic principles in our City government becomes essential. Sorensen has stated that the City needs to "live within its means" and prioritize public spending to focus on core infrastructure and public service needs. Meanwhile the progressives are suggesting building a homeless KOA. I think that contrast alone could be the basis for the selection of Sorensen by the CPOA. |
Posted by Lon at September 16, 2006 02:03 PM