The race between Thompson and Watson has been very interesting.  It is almost hard to believe that the “challenger” (Thompson) even has a chance.  I was reading an article posted earlier this month entitled “Supervisor candidate now fighting with ideas, not fists.”  The opening line of this article cracked me up: “Cliff Thompson is a fighter.  When he was younger, his fights were the kind you settled with fists.”

Cliff Thompson is 57 years old.  10 years ago he settled a fight with fists.  That means he was 47 years old.  Now technically that happened when he was younger, but this is still an adult.  It was humorous to see the author of this story try and get his readers to believe that Cliff Thompson was just an immature young man when he was doing his fighting.

When Cliff Thompson released his arrest record, he made it an important note to say “The above cases of one through eight cases were dismissed or expunged in the course of administrative justice and in the eyes of the law, and I was found not guilty.”  I love that he can’t seem to bring himself to say he was innocent.  This guy did what those charges reported; he just got out of the legal guilt aspect of them.

The article also mentions one of Thompson’s endorsements: Dean Florez.  I still find it hard to believe that anyone takes Florez seriously.  He is a worthless state senator.  Anyone could drive around pointing out all the problems of the world.  And I’ll give Florez that much.  But I want my representatives to be fixing those problems.  Florez calls out the problems and then disappears.  He seems to care, but then he moves on.  His endorsement of Cliff Thompson makes me want to run to vote for Ray Watson.

The article also mentions Thompson’s criticisms of incumbent Ray Watson.  The article states that “roads, air quality and public safety” are Thompson’s top issues.  Well, anyone who has had Watson or one of his volunteers knock on their door also knows these are Watson’s top issues.  So Thompson still has not distinguished himself from Watson except for visiting the outlying areas of the district.  It is important to get around to see the people.  But I must admit that you must do what works.  Watson was recently asked for his appointment book, and we quickly see his determination to get things done.  He does this through meetings mostly in Bakersfield.  I don’t care if he has the meetings in Taft, Frazier Park, or Bakersfield.  As long as he is working for results, I’m behind him.

Thompson has not distinguished himself from Watson enough to gain my support.  In addition, Thompson has questionable character and a meaningless endorsement from a politician just looking for attention.  So we see that Cliff Thompson is not the candidate we need to replace Ray Watson.  Until a better candidate comes along, we need to be supporting Ray Watson for supervisor.

Does anyone out there know who I can talk to about signing the petition for Ken Weir's recall?

I was pleased to hear today that Mr. Weir has been served recall papers.  I have been disappointed in times past of people who are not willing to leave their computer desk and actually DO what they believe needs to be done.

Our public officials must act in a public sphere.  No hiding reasons or donors.  No shying away.  No remaining silent on important issues.  Public means public.  I also expect my public officials to be open.  Mr. Weir has been a very 'closed' person while on the city council.  His attempts to hide, or just not talk about things, is extremely disappointing to me as one of his constituents.

Whether or not he is recalled does not matter.  The process, however, will show Mr. Weir, and our other public officials, that we expect them to represent us.  We expect trustworthiness.  We expect openness.  We expect these things because the Constitution of the United States declares that the People are truly in charge.  The attempt to recall Mr. Weir is a manifestation of the People's power.

I will be signing the petition for his recall.  But I would like to encourage Mr. Weir to resign his post in understanding his loss of the people's trust.  Either way, a victory.