From the Neely campaign:
The election of County Supervisors this November is one of the most important we’ve seen. This next Board is going to adopt a General Plan that will set the rules for the next thirty years of Humboldt County growth. The race between Bonnie Neely and Virginia Bass presents a stark contrast.
From: Bonnie Neely for Supervisor < www.bonnieneely.com>
A press conference will be held at Bonnie Neely’s new headquarters in Old Town Eureka announcing her campaign as a call to voters to choose the candidate whose values we share.
We would like to extend a formal invitation to all of our supporters. As a united community we will rise to this challenge and win this election, maintaining the values of Humboldt county residents.
Please join us this Tuesday. Refreshments will be served.
What: Bonnie Neely Campaign Announcement
When: Tuesday, August 31st at 11:00a.m.
Where: Neely Headquarters- 426 3rd Street, Eureka
Addendum: Both candidates responded to questions from KHSU about the Balloon Track development proposals. Heraldo has his own take on the interviews, but I haven’t heard either yet and obviously everybody should listen on their own and draw their own conclusions. Heraldo will be posting links.
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August 29, 2010 at 5:25 pm
mresquan
“at 11:00a.m.”
Sigh….I sure wish they would have these things at times to accommodate those of us who have to work.
August 29, 2010 at 7:11 pm
Eric Kirk
Copy that.
August 30, 2010 at 6:41 am
Anon
Bommie and her attacks are starting to look kind of pathetic. I’m not suggesting that she should quit but she should consider going out with a little class.
August 30, 2010 at 7:43 am
Eric Kirk
Don’t be writing her epitaph just yet. Bonnie has a new team and a new focus this round.
August 30, 2010 at 8:02 am
Anonymous
So far that “new” focus is attack, go negative, attack. I guess we’ll see how that works for her. Personally I think voters are fed up with that kind of campaign, maybe thats just wishful thinking.
August 30, 2010 at 8:20 am
Heraldo
It’s not exactly a kick-off. This is more like round two.
August 30, 2010 at 8:22 am
Eric Kirk
Well, a kick-off for the fall campaign, just before Labor Day.
But your comment reminds me of an old Mad Magazine joke about John Paul Jones, where he says, “I have not yet begun to fight,” and one of his crew responds, “well don’t you think it’s about time you started? The bloomin ship’s about had it!”
August 30, 2010 at 8:26 am
Eric Kirk
So far that “new” focus is attack, go negative, attack.
Well, there’s plenty of that to go around, but I don’t see any attacks in this press statement. You have to contrast your policies from your opponents, and say that your policies are the right ones and theirs are wrong. If that’s an “attack” then “attacking” is essential.
August 30, 2010 at 8:30 am
Heraldo
It seemed to work okay for Bass. Neely will easily win any debate on the issues.
August 30, 2010 at 8:42 am
Eureka Voter
The “attack” that everyone is referring to is Bonnie’s latest attempt to smear Virginia with TV and radio ads that started this past weekend using lies.
To comment on “Bonnie has a new team and a new focus this round” without laughing would be tough.
One would think that a 24-year incumbent would have had the winning team in place the first time around, not bought and paid for political consultants from Sacramento.
Where was Bonnie’s focus in the June primaries?
With 68% of the voters NOT voting for Bonnie (the 24-year incumbent) – that speaks volumes.
The meaner, nastier and dirtier Bonnie plays only makes Virginia look better.
Kind of like Cinderella and her mean step-sisters. The voters will only despise Bonnie more and like Virginia better.
Finally Virginia will get a minimum of 50% of the Jeff Leonard voters (more like 2/3).
Do the math.
If Virginia only gets half of Leonard’s voters that puts her at 57% to Bonnie 43%.
Blow out.
Game over.
You know it. I know it. And Bonnie’s team knows it.
So on November 3rd I won’t have to say, “I told you so.”
August 30, 2010 at 9:56 am
Eric Kirk
June was a conservative-heavy election, because the Republican top tickets were competitive and the Democrats’ not. There will be some different demographics this time around, and progressives in Eureka will be working on turn-out in several campaigns. This is why Virginia’s people really wanted to end it in June, and they came very close. But it’s a whole new ballgame now.
August 30, 2010 at 10:40 am
Anonymous
“Neely will easily win any debate on the issues.” Without conceding the point debates only matter to the 5% of voters who are still undecided and happen to be watching the debates. I figure thats good for maybe 10 voters in the Fourth.
“It’s not exactly a kick-off. This is more like round two.” This has to have sounded stupid even as it was being typed. It sure did to anyone with a brain reading it.
“June was a conservative-heavy election…”
“There will be some different demographics this time around…”
Where exactly is there a single fact that substantiates this assertion? While there may be slightly different trends locally every single poll and analyst is projecting a much stronger turnout of independants and conservatives in November. While the Bass/Neely race is not a typical conservative – liberal contest it is certainly portrayed as such which would seem to favor Bass. Then of course there is measure N, which dispite the fact that it does not get my support, it seems to be extremely popular which also benifits Bass. As was previously stated voters are fed up with negativism. Without debating it’s accuracy, the common perception is that Bonnie is mean and Virginia nice. Doesnt have to be true though I believe it is, advantage Bass. Fundraising – Unless Bonnie has found a new source of local money once again the only way she can be competitive is with big money from Pierson, Blue Lake and non-local donors. Pierson can more or less get away with it, Blue lake buying local elections looks really bad and is sure to look worse (and start hurting their business), and out of area big bucks, well thats obvious. Again, a plus for Bass. Couple all this with the fact that this election really has already been run and the winner declared the fight is really only about a few percent who remain undecided.
I guess I give up. Barring a major blunder or Virginia totally slacking off just how do you think Bonnie wins?
August 30, 2010 at 10:49 am
Eric Kirk
Well, you may find out in November.
Again, while the conservatives are energized in November, the local progressives will be as well – due in part to Prop 19, but also to vote for Boxer and Brown, who did not face serious primary opposition.
And now we have LeVallee and Glass in campaigns in which progressives will be working turnout in Eureka rigorously. Plus we finally have the Marina Center on the ballot, at least conceptually. Progressives, who have been asleep at the wheel in prior Eureka elections, are motivated. I’m seeing the most energy I’ve seen since the Kerrigan elections, and June may have awakened a sleeping giant.
Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
August 30, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Anonymous
10:40, Sonoma County Water Money was poured into the Bass campaign at the last possible moment. Obviously, they didn’t give earlier because they didn’t want to get found out. Now people know, and Bonnie gets another chance.
August 30, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Anonymous
We all have a stake in Neely and Cleary’s election to the Board of Supervisors. It’s about OUR water. FOER?
August 30, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Anonymous
Anybody else think the conservatives are getting a little cocky?
August 30, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Eureka Voter
I wouldn’t say the Conservative are getting cocky. It’s just that they smell blood in the water.
Tell me why you are voting for Jerry Brown without using the word “Democrat” in your answer?
Is Jerry Brown even running a campaign?
Ask anyone under age 35 about Jerry Brown and they will say, “You mean that old, bald dude? Wasn’t he Governor or something back in the 70s?” (Yes, he was Governor in the 70s.)
Meg Whitman has been to the North Coast three times so far. Jerry Brown has been here how many times?
Carly Fiorina made it up to the North Coast. Has Barbara Boxer EVER been up here?
Steve Cooley, Attorney General candidate made it up to the North Coast last week. His opponent?
The point is you can’t take voters for granted and the Democrats have been doing that for years here in Humboldt County.
Prop 19 is so poorly written that it will probably lose, even in Humboldt County.
I don’t want my kid’s bus driver getting high morning, noon and night and then using Gallegos line of. “I need my meds, dude” and having this be a workplace protected right.
“Progressives, who have been asleep at the wheel in prior Eureka elections…”
Hate to tell you but it’s the proponents that see Measure N winning in a huge landslide. Outside of Heradoville – and what’s with Heraldo censoring comment she doesn’t like? I’m hearing this from more and more people.
You want to be a political candidate standing in front of cleaning up the Balloon Track now, today – not 50 years from now?
(If ever, if Bill Pierson had his way.)
Ask Bonnie Neely whether she supports the Marina Center as it is now proposed and watch her squirm.
Ask Larry Glass whether he supports the Marina Center as it is now proposed and watch him squirm.
Ask Ron Kuhnel whether he supports the Marina Center as it is now proposed and watch him squirm.
I think you get the picture.
Voters respect Frank Jager.
Voters laugh at Peter LaVallee.
This won’t even be close.
Jager beat George Clark by almost 30 points and that was when he was Humboldt County Coroner and couldn’t campaign much due to his job, while Clark was retired, campaigning full-time and riding the Democratic “Obama” wave.
Glass is an incumbent and has a chance. It’s just that so many voters HATE the man.
The DA’s race is too close to call. Gallegos thought he had it won in June. The voters thought different.
Bottom line: those candidates that campaign hard and understand the political minefield will win.
Those that go negative will lose.
August 30, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Eric Kirk
Well, you sound pretty optimistic.
As to why I’m voting for Brown, I don’t even know where to start. Meg Whitman’s deathly fear of the media is one. Her platform to revive the war on the poor is another. Her tired rhetoric about “running government like business” is another. Her positions on a slew of issues from gay marriage to the refusal to raise taxes when we’re almost ready for default.
Brown is a bit of a centrist for my tastes, but the contrast is enough.
As for Prop N and the Eureka City Council races, well, again, you may be in for some surprises. It may play out as you say, but I think Glass and Kuehnel will win hands down, and I don’t know anyone “laughing” at LeVallee. Certainly not his opposition.
August 30, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Anonymous
“Those that go negative will lose”
Advice to lose by.
August 30, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Anonymous
When you catch the other side taking Sonoma County Water Agency money, is it “going negative” to point out that we need Bonnie Neely to protect our water??
August 30, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Eric Kirk
To clarify one other point – whether prop 19 passes is irrelevant. The point is that it’s going to bring out a slew of voters who might not otherwise bother, which might mitigate the enthusiasm gap everyone’s talking about, in California.
August 30, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Eric Kirk
“Those that go negative will lose”
I wish that was true. Unfortunately, voters reward negativity. If they didn’t, nobody would do it.
August 30, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Anonymous
I’ve heard a lot of things about Nick Bravo.
August 30, 2010 at 6:56 pm
brian
“Save our water?” Neely has been in office for 24 years…. You mean to say that “our water” is not already saved? What has she been doing about “our water”.
August 30, 2010 at 7:24 pm
Anonymous
Eric decries “tired rhetoric” with tired rhetoric of his own…
“Her platform to revive the war on the poor is another. Her tired rhetoric about “running government like business” is another.”
Gee, I didn’t know she had a “platform to revive the war on the poor”…sounds a like a bit of tired rhetoric to me, Eric.
August 30, 2010 at 7:28 pm
humboldturtle
More water goes into the Eel now than before. But Sonoma County water money in Humboldt politics???
August 30, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Anonymous
“Gee, I didn’t know she had a “platform to revive the war on the poor”…sounds a like a bit of tired rhetoric to me, Eric.”
It’s only “tired” because the attacks on the poor are tired. Most of us thought it was tired when Reagan was ranting about “welfare queens.”
August 30, 2010 at 8:57 pm
moviedad
Fox Inc. will deliver the 2010 elections to the Tea-Baggers.
August 30, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Anonymous
Only if people are stupid.
August 30, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Eureka Voter
“Whether prop 19 passes is irrelevant. The point is that it’s going to bring out a slew of voters who might not otherwise bother”
I got two problems with your analogy Eric.
#1 – most of the Prop 19 voters live in SoHum, not the Fourth District.
#2 – most of them will be voting against Prop 19, if they remember to vote between their bong hits.
And let me add #3 – those who WILL show up to vote against Prop 19 tend to be moderate-to-conservative. These people will show up in droves.
So I’m not sure where you’re getting your “Proggie energy” thing?
I seem to remember the Mormons turning out the vote against (or was it Yes on 8?) a few years ago. No Proggie energy there either.
August 30, 2010 at 10:47 pm
the reasonable anonymous
Well, let’s all remember these predictions in November, and see what actually happens. “Eureka voter” is on record predicting that most Sohum voters will reject Prop 19, and implying the same for the Fouth District.
August 30, 2010 at 11:23 pm
mresquan
“#1 – most of the Prop 19 voters live in SoHum, not the Fourth District.”
Prop 19 will gather 60% in the 4th,compared to maybe 51% in SoHum.
“And let me add #3 – those who WILL show up to vote against Prop 19 tend to be moderate-to-conservative. These people will show up in droves.”
The most likely place in the county for conservatives to show up in droves would be in the Eureka areas sitting in Bonnie’s district,a district in which prop 19 garners 60% due to those voters also voting no on N,for Gallegos,Lavallee,Glass,Kuhnel (Xandra voters will also overwhelmingly support 19)Debra Bowen,Boxer,and Jerry Brown.
August 31, 2010 at 4:05 am
brian
I guess not much.
August 31, 2010 at 8:16 am
Eric Kirk
I think the whole grower opposition thing is being overhyped. I’m predicting that Sohum will vote for the measure in significant numbers. While there may be less money to be made, they want prohibition to end because they’re tired of the raids, the killings, and living in fear in these hills whether they grow or not.
And there are significant numbers of Prop 19 motivated voters in the fourth district as well. How much of an impact they’ll have I can’t say. But some of them showed up to polls in June expecting to vote on the issue. Most of them will vote for progressives as long as they happen to be in the booth.
August 31, 2010 at 10:09 am
ED Denson
Some of us in Sohum want Prop 19 to win so prohibition will end because prohibition is morally wrong, and in practical terms causes many times more problems for society than benefits. Might even be some people of this opinion in other parts of the county, don’t you think?
August 31, 2010 at 10:47 am
Eric Kirk
Absolutely.
September 1, 2010 at 9:37 pm
mresquan
This is good news.
California Legislature Passes Marijuana Decriminalization Bill
by Phillip Smith, September 01, 2010, 11:58am, (Issue #647)
Posted in:
Just hours before the state’s legislative session ended Tuesday, the California Assembly voted to approve SB 1449, Sen. Mark Leno’s bill to fully decriminalize simple marijuana possession. The bill passed the Senate in June and now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk.
The vote was 43-33 and largely along party lines. Democrats supported the bill 40-8, while Republicans opposed it 23-2.
Under current California law, possession of less than an ounce of pot is punishable by no more than a $100 fine, but is still a misdemeanor. That means people busted for a joint or a half-bag must be arrested, booked, and appear in court, and they get a criminal record. It also means meaningless work for the police and the courts.
Marijuana possession is the only California misdemeanor with a set maximum fine and no possible jail time. The Leno bill changes the offense to an infraction, meaning no arrest, no booking, no court appearance, and no criminal record.
“The penalty for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a fine of $100, with no jail time,” Leno said on introducing the bill. “If the penalty is $100, with no jail time, that is an infraction. That is not a misdemeanor.”
Keeping simple possession a misdemeanor has had “serious unintended consequences,” the San Francisco Democrat said. “As the number of misdemeanor marijuana possession arrests have surged in recent years, reaching 61,388 in 2008, the burden placed on the courts by these low level offenses is just too much to bear at a time when resources are shrinking and caseloads are growing.”
Sacramento, CA
United States