San Bernardino City Council Race Ward Five: All That Chas!
Posted by: SB Insider | 11/07/2007 4:30 PM
Many observers surprised by the strong show of support for first-term city councilmember Chas Kelley in North San Bernardino's Ward Five. Kelley, who squared off against three challengers, beat his closest opponent by nearly a 3:1 margin.
Kelley's large margin of victory takes on greater significance considering his lackluster mayoral campaign in 2005 and the fact that his chief opponent had the formal support of the city's popular mayor.
Chas Kelley's greatest strength in the race appears to be Chas Kelley. Kelley, who won a close race four years ago, never really stopped campaigning. From regularly holding town hall-style constituent meetings to focusing on community improvements, Chas Kelley was considered grounded, accessible and approachable. His neighbors in the Fifth Ward noticed and endorsed his re-election with an astonishing level of over 60% of the vote.
Of course, Chas Kelley benefited from somewhat weak competition. However, Kelley's significant victory cannot be solely attributed to poorly-prepared challengers. Carolyn Tillman, who was Kelley's main challenger, is an education professional who won the backing of the San Bernardino County Democratic Party, the San Bernardino Sun newspaper, and Mayor Pat Morris. Tillman also raised a chunk of cash and prepared good campaign materials.
In debates and forums, she acquitted herself well, with a good command of the issues.
Chas Kelley's other two challengers, contractor Rick Avila and publican Randy Lee, were without meaningful support and never really factored in the race as credible candidates. In the closing days, Avila distributed an unintentionally hilarious campaign mailer that showed the candidate "putting out a fire" in San Bernardino...while he was dressed in a cotton t-shirt holding a garden hose!
However, Chas Kelley is a true citizen politician, and voters preferred his earnestness and somewhat unpolished - yet sincere - demeanor for another four years.
On the professional front, chalk up another victory for consultant Chris Jones on this one, too.
Kelley beat former Councilmember Joe Suarez by a 2 to 1 margin. It was never close.
Again Chas was bought and paid-for by the unions who drain 2/3 of the city budget with their high wages, benefits and unnecessary, lucrative overtime. When are we Republicans going to return to the conservative values of small budgets and lower taxes?
Yes, Chas is a nice guy, but his simpleton, substance-free style of politics does not play well in more sophisticated wards, as evidenced by the beating he took when he tried to run for mayor. Chas and the "fab free-spending four" pro-union councilmembers cause us to be the city with the highest tax rate in the county.
What do we get for our tax dollars? The highest crime rate and most expensive fire and police departments in the Inland Empire. Chas, Neil, Tobin and Wendy are union-bought hypocrites and should be expelled from our party.
#1 -- Who says that our mayor is popular?!?
#2 -- I believe that is was our mayor who pushed through the latest tax increase only to see our revenues go down and now he lacks the ability to even hire enough police of off-set retirements!
Way to Go Chas!!!!!
The council unanimously endorsed the 1/4 cent sales tax increase, along with many fellow "Republicans" like Jerry Lewis, Martin Matich and Larry Sharp.
The sales tax increase hasn't produced much revenue in comparison to the millions produced by the 7.8% utility tax, alarm tax, dog tax, apartment tax, business license tax and large assortment of other taxes and fees which were drastically increased a couple years ago.
Wake up, Republicans! The unions are bleeding us dry, and "Republican" councilmembers are making the incisions!