http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261 The race between Thompson and Watson has been very interesting. &nbsp;It is almost hard to believe that the &ldquo;challenger&rdquo; (Thompson) even has a chance. &nbsp;I was reading an article posted earlier this month entitled &ldquo;Supervisor candidate now fighting with ideas, not fists.&rdquo; &nbsp;The opening line of this article cracked me up: &ldquo;Cliff Thompson is a fighter. &nbsp;When he was younger, his fights were the kind you settled with fists.&rdquo; &nbsp; Cliff Thompson is 57 years old.&nbsp; 10 years ago he settled a fight with fists. &nbsp;That means he was 47 years old.&nbsp; Now technically that happened when he was younger, but this is still an adult. &nbsp;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. &nbsp; When Cliff Thompson released his arrest record, he made it an important note to say &ldquo;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.&rdquo;&nbsp; I love that he can&rsquo;t seem to bring himself to say he was innocent. &nbsp;This guy did what those charges reported; he just got out of the legal guilt aspect of them. &nbsp; The article also mentions one of Thompson&rsquo;s endorsements: Dean Florez. &nbsp;I still find it hard to believe that anyone takes Florez seriously. &nbsp;He is a worthless state senator.&nbsp; Anyone could drive around pointing out all the problems of the world. &nbsp;And I&rsquo;ll give Florez that much.&nbsp; But I want my representatives to be fixing those problems. &nbsp;Florez calls out the problems and then disappears.&nbsp; He seems to care, but then he moves on. &nbsp;His endorsement of Cliff Thompson makes me want to run to vote for Ray Watson. &nbsp; The article also mentions Thompson&rsquo;s criticisms of incumbent Ray Watson. &nbsp;The article states that &ldquo;roads, air quality and public safety&rdquo; are Thompson&rsquo;s top issues. &nbsp;Well, anyone who has had Watson or one of his volunteers knock on their door also knows these are Watson&rsquo;s top issues. &nbsp;So Thompson still has not distinguished himself from Watson except for visiting the outlying areas of the district. &nbsp;It is important to get around to see the people.&nbsp; But I must admit that you must do what works.&nbsp; Watson was recently asked for his appointment book, and we quickly see his determination to get things done. &nbsp;He does this through meetings mostly in Bakersfield.&nbsp; I don&rsquo;t care if he has the meetings in Taft, Frazier Park, or Bakersfield. &nbsp;As long as he is working for results, I&rsquo;m behind him. &nbsp; Thompson has not distinguished himself from Watson enough to gain my support. &nbsp;In addition, Thompson has questionable character and a meaningless endorsement from a politician just looking for attention. &nbsp;So we see that Cliff Thompson is not the candidate we need to replace Ray Watson. &nbsp;Until a better candidate comes along, we need to be supporting Ray Watson for supervisor. &nbsp; The race between Thompson and Watson has been very interesting. &nbsp;It is almost hard to believe that the &ldquo;challenger&rdquo; (Thompson) even has a chance. &nbsp;I was reading an article posted earlier this month entitled &ldquo;Supervisor candidate now fighting with ideas, not fists.&rdquo; &nbsp;The opening line of this article cracked me up: &ldquo;Cliff Thompson is a fighter. &nbsp;When he was younger, his fights were the kind you settled with fists.&rdquo; &nbsp; Cliff Thompson is 57 years old.&nbsp; 10 years ago he settled a fight with fists. &nbsp;That means he was 47 years old.&nbsp; Now technically that happened when he was younger, but this is still an adult. &nbsp;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. &nbsp; When Cliff Thompson released his arrest record, he made it an important note to say &ldquo;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.&rdquo;&nbsp; I love that he can&rsquo;t seem to bring himself to say he was innocent. &nbsp;This guy did what those charges reported; he just got out of the legal guilt aspect of them. &nbsp; The article also mentions one of Thompson&rsquo;s endorsements: Dean Florez. &nbsp;I still find it hard to believe that anyone takes Florez seriously. &nbsp;He is a worthless state senator.&nbsp; Anyone could drive around pointing out all the problems of the world. &nbsp;And I&rsquo;ll give Florez that much.&nbsp; But I want my representatives to be fixing those problems. &nbsp;Florez calls out the problems and then disappears.&nbsp; He seems to care, but then he moves on. &nbsp;His endorsement of Cliff Thompson makes me want to run to vote for Ray Watson. &nbsp; The article also mentions Thompson&rsquo;s criticisms of incumbent Ray Watson. &nbsp;The article states that &ldquo;roads, air quality and public safety&rdquo; are Thompson&rsquo;s top issues. &nbsp;Well, anyone who has had Watson or one of his volunteers knock on their door also knows these are Watson&rsquo;s top issues. &nbsp;So Thompson still has not distinguished himself from Watson except for visiting the outlying areas of the district. &nbsp;It is important to get around to see the people.&nbsp; But I must admit that you must do what works.&nbsp; Watson was recently asked for his appointment book, and we quickly see his determination to get things done. &nbsp;He does this through meetings mostly in Bakersfield.&nbsp; I don&rsquo;t care if he has the meetings in Taft, Frazier Park, or Bakersfield. &nbsp;As long as he is working for results, I&rsquo;m behind him. &nbsp; Thompson has not distinguished himself from Watson enough to gain my support. &nbsp;In addition, Thompson has questionable character and a meaningless endorsement from a politician just looking for attention. &nbsp;So we see that Cliff Thompson is not the candidate we need to replace Ray Watson. &nbsp;Until a better candidate comes along, we need to be supporting Ray Watson for supervisor. &nbsp; en-us <p>The thing I like the most was in this paper they endorsed him, but said he was out of touch with the voters.</p> <p>Ray Watson, he the out of touch but the only one that walks out to houses and asks them to support him. I saw him across the street when one of his volunteers came to my door. The best part wasn't asking me for support or him actually out there with his wife but was his guy who was polite, asked me what I thought needed improvement and what if anything I wanted from Ray. I thought that was great.</p> <p>I've got no complaints for Ray I like what he's doing and like what he will do in his second term in office</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243874 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243874 <p>The thing I like the most was in this paper they endorsed him, but said he was out of touch with the voters.</p> <p>Ray Watson, he the out of touch but the only one that walks out to houses and asks them to support him. I saw him across the street when one of his volunteers came to my door. The best part wasn't asking me for support or him actually out there with his wife but was his guy who was polite, asked me what I thought needed improvement and what if anything I wanted from Ray. I thought that was great.</p> <p>I've got no complaints for Ray I like what he's doing and like what he will do in his second term in office</p> <p>I agree. Vote Watson on June 3rd.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>-Ace</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243876 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243876 <p>I agree. Vote Watson on June 3rd.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>-Ace</p> <p>I can't argue with your assessment of Cliff Thompson's past, and the preponderance violent confrontations. However, I just don't see Ray Watson doing anything differently than he has already as an elected Supervisor. Watson is not for smart growth, or for more effective land use. The massive amount of sprawl without completion of roadways and necessary infrastructure to support the build-out shows absolutely no foresight or governance abilities. His elections to office continue to demonstrate he only knows where to go to fund his campaigns.</p> <p>Bakersfield and Kern County have had major issues over Animal Control, and the woefully underfunded department in charge of killing stray pets for years and years. Nothing gets done with the Supes in charge in this county. The latest report from U.C. Davis is just another condemnation of&nbsp; local government efforts for failing to get a grip on humane&nbsp; practices of animal control to better serve the pet population of this growing community. The Supervisors refuse to properly fund this important county department and provide management with enough resources to make a difference.</p> <p>Watson was on board with all the mega dairies getting the thumbs up to land here in the county, but there are no plans for oversight to ensure that the huge waste from these businesses get properly disposed of, or recycled into green energy initiatives. These dairies now are coming perilously close to residential areas&nbsp; and water sources. They are a huge pollution problem in a part of the state that already cannot comply with mandated pollution standards for the existing population. What has Mr. Watson done, or argued for that would in the slightest mitigate the terrible air quality in this county?</p> <p>I would not vote for any incumbent at this juncture. Cliff Thompson is not perfect, but at least he has the courage to say enough to unbridled sprawl in this county.</p> <p>I also think it is very unfair to criticize Dean Florez in such a harsh manner. Dean Florez was the driver who put a stop to the bio-solids and toxic dumping in this county. He has worked for better oversight and regulation of crops, livestock and packaging methods to better serve and protect the consumer. During these past few years the&nbsp; amount of produce contaminated with deadly bacteria has increased dramatically. We have seen downer cattle forced into the slaughter pens and then into our schools lunch programs. Florez has been tireless in trying to obtain better working conditions for agriculural workers and for better controls on pesticide uses in the valley.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243882 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243882 <p>I can't argue with your assessment of Cliff Thompson's past, and the preponderance violent confrontations. However, I just don't see Ray Watson doing anything differently than he has already as an elected Supervisor. Watson is not for smart growth, or for more effective land use. The massive amount of sprawl without completion of roadways and necessary infrastructure to support the build-out shows absolutely no foresight or governance abilities. His elections to office continue to demonstrate he only knows where to go to fund his campaigns.</p> <p>Bakersfield and Kern County have had major issues over Animal Control, and the woefully underfunded department in charge of killing stray pets for years and years. Nothing gets done with the Supes in charge in this county. The latest report from U.C. Davis is just another condemnation of&nbsp; local government efforts for failing to get a grip on humane&nbsp; practices of animal control to better serve the pet population of this growing community. The Supervisors refuse to properly fund this important county department and provide management with enough resources to make a difference.</p> <p>Watson was on board with all the mega dairies getting the thumbs up to land here in the county, but there are no plans for oversight to ensure that the huge waste from these businesses get properly disposed of, or recycled into green energy initiatives. These dairies now are coming perilously close to residential areas&nbsp; and water sources. They are a huge pollution problem in a part of the state that already cannot comply with mandated pollution standards for the existing population. What has Mr. Watson done, or argued for that would in the slightest mitigate the terrible air quality in this county?</p> <p>I would not vote for any incumbent at this juncture. Cliff Thompson is not perfect, but at least he has the courage to say enough to unbridled sprawl in this county.</p> <p>I also think it is very unfair to criticize Dean Florez in such a harsh manner. Dean Florez was the driver who put a stop to the bio-solids and toxic dumping in this county. He has worked for better oversight and regulation of crops, livestock and packaging methods to better serve and protect the consumer. During these past few years the&nbsp; amount of produce contaminated with deadly bacteria has increased dramatically. We have seen downer cattle forced into the slaughter pens and then into our schools lunch programs. Florez has been tireless in trying to obtain better working conditions for agriculural workers and for better controls on pesticide uses in the valley.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>I agree, Mr. Payne, that Thompson has courage to speak out and run.&nbsp; Definitely.&nbsp; But his character is questionable, due to his past.&nbsp; You know the old saying &quot;The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior.&quot;&nbsp; Now, I know this may not always be true, but when a grown man has these issues, I become less trusting.Character should be important in a candidate.&nbsp; Remember why Jefferson won over Burr?&nbsp; It was all about character.&nbsp; Even Jefferson's &quot;enemy&quot;, Hamilton, knew that Jefferson had to be chosen.&nbsp; He was the one with the character.</p> <p>Maybe I was a bit harsh on Florez.&nbsp; But I am so sick of seeing him hold press conferences, and then just walk away.&nbsp; I don't deny that he has worked for causes.&nbsp; But I also am suggesting that he tends to call out the evils more than focusing on one to fix.&nbsp; This all suggests to me that he is just pushing for name recognition.&nbsp; I want to see him fight for an issue until it's solved, instead of jumping off the bandwagon everytime the media loses interest.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243889 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243889 <p>I agree, Mr. Payne, that Thompson has courage to speak out and run.&nbsp; Definitely.&nbsp; But his character is questionable, due to his past.&nbsp; You know the old saying &quot;The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior.&quot;&nbsp; Now, I know this may not always be true, but when a grown man has these issues, I become less trusting.Character should be important in a candidate.&nbsp; Remember why Jefferson won over Burr?&nbsp; It was all about character.&nbsp; Even Jefferson's &quot;enemy&quot;, Hamilton, knew that Jefferson had to be chosen.&nbsp; He was the one with the character.</p> <p>Maybe I was a bit harsh on Florez.&nbsp; But I am so sick of seeing him hold press conferences, and then just walk away.&nbsp; I don't deny that he has worked for causes.&nbsp; But I also am suggesting that he tends to call out the evils more than focusing on one to fix.&nbsp; This all suggests to me that he is just pushing for name recognition.&nbsp; I want to see him fight for an issue until it's solved, instead of jumping off the bandwagon everytime the media loses interest.</p> <p>Watson's past behavior as a supervisor&nbsp;is well documented and Adam lists several things that can only be taken as indicators of future behavior.&nbsp; Behavior that is not in the best interests of the residents of the 4th District.&nbsp; If memory serves me correct, Thompson's &quot;fight&quot; was over insults made to/about his wife in a bar, a clear invitation for a popknot.&nbsp; Thompson's behavior on the city council was restrained and professional when he was getting ganged up on and recalled for exposing behavior that was borderline corruption.&nbsp; Watson seems more interested in dollars than people.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243911 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243911 <p>Watson's past behavior as a supervisor&nbsp;is well documented and Adam lists several things that can only be taken as indicators of future behavior.&nbsp; Behavior that is not in the best interests of the residents of the 4th District.&nbsp; If memory serves me correct, Thompson's &quot;fight&quot; was over insults made to/about his wife in a bar, a clear invitation for a popknot.&nbsp; Thompson's behavior on the city council was restrained and professional when he was getting ganged up on and recalled for exposing behavior that was borderline corruption.&nbsp; Watson seems more interested in dollars than people.</p> <p>I can't think of one thing Watson has done to improve our quality of life.  I specifically remember him insisting on approving a mega dairy less than two miles from a school and and less than three miles from a city after both the school and the city asked him to deny the permit.  I also remember him at the welcoming ceremony for the sludge dump from LA which Dean Florez is still fighting to close down.  I also remember him letting a couple hundred thousand tons of hazardous waste sit out on some land next to the Kern Wildlife Refuge.  It was his district and he didn't have a clue that stuff was out there until Wasco residents made enough noise he couldn't avoid the issue any longer.  I remember him shutting down the moratorium on new factory dairies in Kern County and insisting that new permits be processed.  He has also approved all sprawling developments that have come under his perusal.</p> <p>It is clearly time for a change.</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243996 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_243996 <p>I can't think of one thing Watson has done to improve our quality of life.  I specifically remember him insisting on approving a mega dairy less than two miles from a school and and less than three miles from a city after both the school and the city asked him to deny the permit.  I also remember him at the welcoming ceremony for the sludge dump from LA which Dean Florez is still fighting to close down.  I also remember him letting a couple hundred thousand tons of hazardous waste sit out on some land next to the Kern Wildlife Refuge.  It was his district and he didn't have a clue that stuff was out there until Wasco residents made enough noise he couldn't avoid the issue any longer.  I remember him shutting down the moratorium on new factory dairies in Kern County and insisting that new permits be processed.  He has also approved all sprawling developments that have come under his perusal.</p> <p>It is clearly time for a change.</p> <p>Somebody on the KC Board of Supervisors wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars of the Taxpayers' money going after Sheriff Carl Sparks over the pay for department heads issue.</p> <p>I suspect it was Ray Watson and I think he should not be re-elected for that reason.&nbsp; Maybe someone in the know could tell me if I'm wrong?</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_244032 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_244032 <p>Somebody on the KC Board of Supervisors wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars of the Taxpayers' money going after Sheriff Carl Sparks over the pay for department heads issue.</p> <p>I suspect it was Ray Watson and I think he should not be re-elected for that reason.&nbsp; Maybe someone in the know could tell me if I'm wrong?</p> <p>It wasn't pay <b>for</b> Dept Heads at issue wnewbury............ more correctly it would be&nbsp; &quot;pay <b>by</b> Dept Heads&quot;.......</p> http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_244038 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/ThatBonnyLoon/27261/#c_244038 <p>It wasn't pay <b>for</b> Dept Heads at issue wnewbury............ more correctly it would be&nbsp; &quot;pay <b>by</b> Dept Heads&quot;.......</p>