HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-2013 B1 GradyGoodwin, Heather
Grimes, Maeve
Tuesday, February 05, 2013 8:12 AM
To: Goodwin, Heather
Subject: FW: City Council Vacancy
Attachments: City Council Vacancy.docx
Heather,
Please forward as Agenda correspondence for tonight's meeting, Item 131.
Thank you.
maeve kennedy cmmes
City Clerk
city of san lugs oBispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
phone: (805) 781 -7102
emAft: mgrimes@slocity.or
1m: Carter, Andrew
it: Monday, February 04, 2013 9:52 PM
.%j: Grimes, Maeve
Subject: FW: City Council Vacancy
Public record.
Andrew Carter
Council Member
City of San Luis Obispo
From: John Grady Dohngrady5 @yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2013 9:08 PM
To: Marx, Jan; Smith, Kathy; Carter, Andrew; Carpenter, Dan; Ashbaugh, John
Subject: City Council Vacancy
Dear Mayor Marx & City Council members,
RECEIVED
FEB 0 5 2013
SLO CITY CLERK
AGENDA
CORRESPONDENCE
Date "�, {,;a� Item #�_
Attached please find a letter expressing my views regarding the upcoming vacancy on the city council. Thank
you for your thoughtful consideration of my thoughts on this very important matter.
Regards,
John Grady
Luis Obispo
i
Dear Mayor Marx and City Council Members,
I urge you to all support a special election to replace the vacancy created on the city council by the
departure of Andrew Carter. There are several reasons why I believe this is your best course of action.
First of all, the cost of an election ($65,000) is a small price to pay for democracy and for our right to
vote. I believe that high school government teacher Jeff Aranguena would heartily agree with this. With
the city having over 27,500 registered voters, this works out to only $2.36 per voter to let the people's
voices be heard. I believe most city residents would agree their vote is worth this small price.
Second, I feel it safe to say that Mr. Carter's service on our city council has saved our city and will
continue to save us long after his departure millions of dollars due to his keen eye for fiscal
responsibility and his courage to lead the discussion of our city's fiscal sustainability. The city can well
afford this small expenditure due in no small part to Andrew Carter's fiscal conservatism.
Third, the city faces many significant and contentious issues in the coming two years, including
homelessness, the effort to extend Measure Y, and seven recently adopted major goals the council will
need to address within our limited resources. I believe the council will be far better served and more
credible to our community by having elected members who can be held accountable by their
constituents.
Lastly, I find it troubling that partisan politics is being used to try to influence your decision in this
matter. While council seats are non partisan, the homepage of the San Luis Obispo County Democratic
Party's website urges its members to email you (city council) to urge the appointment of Jeff Aranguena
to fill the vacant seat. And turnout is encouraged to address council Tuesday evening in support of Jeff.
Such partisan politicizing of this issue is regrettable and I hope you do not succumb to such pressure,
regardless of how many letters you receive or public speakers you may hear from in support of Jeff.
I do not know Jeff personally and like most city residents have only read positive comments of his
teaching ability as a high school government teacher. This does not make Jeff qualified for council nor
does it make him the logical choice as a city council appointee. Nor should he be appointed simply
because he ran in the last election and finished in third place - over 3,000 votes shy of the second place
candidate. Many citizens contribute to your discussions of issues vital to our city's well being by their
regular attendance and involvement in city council meetings. Many individuals could legitimately claim
they deserve your consideration, but an election is your best course of action. Let Jeff and others run
for office again if they truly are committed to public service and let the voters decide on whom to elect.
In closing, a special election is in everyone's interest — both the council and the citizens. To quote the
Tribune's editorial on February 3, 2013: "Elections are one of the costs of doing business in a democracy.
.. $65,000 is money well spent if it gives voters the opportunity to directly elect their representatives."
Very truly yours,
John Grady
San Luis Obispo