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Yahoo!Mayoral candidate Steve Cushman has urged rival Dale Francisco — a member of the Santa Barbara City Council now running for mayor — to drop out of the race so he can have a clean shot at beating out Democratic mayoral candidate Helen Schneider. In a letter to Francisco, mailed after a meeting between Francisco and Cushman last Thursday, Cushman said that even if Francisco were to win the mayoral contest, he’d still represent just one vote on the council. But if Cushman won, Francisco would retain his council seat and there’d be two pro-business candidates opposed to “the massive giveaway of city funds to the unions.” Francisco was amused but unmoved by Cushman’s suggestion. “That’s absurd,” he said.
“[T]hese actions, unless denounced by you in public as you did privately with me, will discourage future candidates like you or me from becoming part of the political process.”
Cushman exhorted Francisco to repudiate the avalanche of negative political ads unleashed by Preserve Our Santa Barbara, a political action committee funded by Texas real estate billionaire — and part-time Montecito resident — Randall Van Wolfswinkel. Cushman termed the ads “slander” and “untrue venom,” adding that they’re depressing voter turnout. Thus far, turnout in the city’s first mail-in-only election is running at 17 percent. Cushman claimed 40 percent of the ballots should have been turned in already. In the letter to Francisco, Cushman stated, “[T]hese actions, unless denounced by you in public as you did privately with me, will discourage future candidates like you or me from becoming part of the political process.” Preliminary figures indicate that Democratic voters outnumber Republicans and Declined-to-States roughly by a margin of 3-to-2-to-1, and that the vast majority of those who’ve cast ballots are 65 or above. The effective deadline for mailing ballots in is October 30. After that, city election officials recommend voters drop their ballots off in person at City Hall. The absolute deadline to vote is 8 p.m. on November 3.
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Neither one of these candidates should be considered by any critical thinking voter. The point of the letter, found over at >>>http://craigsmithsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/steve-tells-dale-i-think-you-ought-to.html <<<
illustrates that both Cushman and Francisco are two pompous peas in the same pod and are pissing on each other.
Neither Cushman or Francisco has illustrated that they have the financial acumen to save to 'Save Santa Barbara' from the machinations of the National Chamber of Commerce and the Conservatives in power that brought on this worldwide financial crisis, the cause of our city's financial problems. Francisco is especially stupid in his logic by previously asserting that because he worked for a few years at a "large organization" that somehow he can represent in a democratic body of government. So don't be discouraged. Dig out your ballot and vote for the best candidate who will represent everyone, Helene Schneider. It is your patriotic duty to vote and vote intelligently.
Readers say: Thumbs Up: 1 of 3 • Thumbs Down: 2 of 3
DonMcDermott (anonymous profile)
October 22, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
See, here is an example of why I won't vote for Cushman. He asserts that "...40 percent of the ballots should have been turned in already." Huh? This is the first all mail ballot that SB has had so there is NO data to base this assertion on. It is pure handwaving by Cushman. Since I don't want a handwaver for mayor, I'll find someone else.
Readers say: Thumbs Up: 1 of 1 • Thumbs Down: 0 of 1
SezMe (anonymous profile)
October 23, 2009 at 1:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cushman's commercial states that he's been instrumental to the revitalization of State St. and downtown Santa Barbara...uhhhh, what revitalization? If his influence has led to the local stores leaving empty storefronts and a few being replaced by massive brand names, this is not the guy I want leading the city.
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benjamin (anonymous profile)
October 23, 2009 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Draxor (anonymous profile)
October 23, 2009 at 8:01 a.m.
What a pathetic group of candidates.
I voted but it was a hollow and depressing exercise figuring out who I disliked least.
Readers say: Thumbs Up: 0 of 0 • Thumbs Down: 0 of 0
Justice (anonymous profile)
October 23, 2009 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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