Ugly Campaign Tactics

[momma]

My husband just got back from the little burger stand on the corner of Sierra Madre and Azusa/San Gabriel. According to him, either Andrea Cruz (or her identical twin) was removing the Angel Carrillo campaign signs from the property!

My husband questioned her about it and she explained that the owner must not know that Carrillo was endorsing Chagnon instead of Rocha and, therefore, the sign had to be a mistake! She said she was going to call the owner about it later on.

What nerve! Is this even legal? Sounds dirty and underhanded to me.

[29Mossdale]

Removing Angel Carrillo's signs could be a bigger problem. I gave permission to have a Carrillo sign placed on my front lawn, and someone removed and took the sign the next evening. It could be a coincidence, but I noticed that all the candidiate's campaign signs have disappeared on my street block.

[athena]

Talking about "dirty campaign tactics" a few others that I've heard came to mind .....
What do you think?

On Superbowl Sunday, Chagnon was seen targeting homes with Rocha signs and pleading with seniors into removing his signs and replacing them with hers. Pressured seniors gave into her tactics. Concerned neighbors reported this and took photos!
Ooops! Don't want those in the family photo album, huh?? :-(

Also, I thought it was interesting... that Chagnon lists "Heath Burke Hamilton" as an endorser in her latest mailer. Heath is School board member Burke Hamilton's son. However, Heath's middle name isn't "Burke" it's "Christian". Since she couldn't secure Burke Hamilton's endorsement, was she trying to trick people into believing she got the real thing by intentionally replacing his son's middle name?

More importantly, did that LACK of endorsement from Burke for Chagnon play a role in him being forced to resign from the planning commission? That one sure raised and eyebrow!!

Also....if conflict of interest was a concern in Burke's case, why was planning commissioner Dierking allowed to run for school board on the last school board election? Hmmm......interesting huh? Yup...I thought so too.

Oh...and talk about interesting.....Don't you think that it's interesting that the City Clerk's office was issuing "outdated" voter registration cards? Volunteers for Rocha and Macias were given those "outdated" voter registration cards. The County Clerk office threatened not accept hundreds of those new voter registrations because they had PREVIOUSLY told the CITY CLERK that the applications were outdated. This one is way too obvious given the experience of our city clerk and the prior warning to them.
Hmmm......wonder who the city clerk is supporting

The affected candidates called and asked that the county accept those new registrations. However, the County clerk said they would accept them but may have to issue addendums to those new voters.
Makes you wonder...why were these "outdated" voter applications being issued in the first place? Incompetence or underhanded tactics? You choose.

And......by the way, don't you think that it's interesting that Chagnon has raised over $29,000 in campaign contributions. Most of it is from outside developers.

Makes you wonder, who will she be accountable to, the residents of Azusa or special interest contributors?

Wow! is that even legal?? and even if it is..... is that ethical???
You decide.
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[wireman]

If anyone has had their sign removed Saturday night..... I might have it. I picked up a of bunch of them Sunday morning laying all over the street, Macias, Rocha, I think 1 or 2 Chagnon signs. Anyway feel free to pick them up, 21 Mossdale Ct. They're on my porch.

[Bill]

athena said:

On Superbowl Sunday, Chagnon was seen targeting homes with Rocha signs and pleading with seniors into removing his signs and replacing them with hers. Pressured seniors gave into her tactics. Concerned neighbors reported this and took photos!
Ooops! Don't want those in the family photo album, huh?? :-(

"Athena", Joe Rocha rang my doorbell this past weekend (I have a Vote for Chagnon sign in my front yard). It was very cordial and I think he's a great guy.

Additionally, Joe and I did discuss the election and the issues on the phone recently (it was right after his Kick Off event at Pioneer Park). I listened to him and told him I was voting for Chagnon and why, and I wished him good luck.

He's a great guy, but he's not right for Mayor of Azusa at this time. And, we need to keep the experience base of our council in tact. Period.

We need to see past the personal attacks here and look at the big picture. Again, I'm not sure why you are personally attacking Chagnon with such venom. Most of that stuff you said is basically not worth responding to.

Again, I know who you are and I'm surprised you are willing to throw such words at Chagnon and at my post. In my opinion, whoever wins, we still live in the same city and in fact, neighborhood.

And, I still stand by my previous post, no matter how much Rocha runs with the Vulcan issue during this campaign season, really it's going to take many, many, many people and government officials to stop Vulcan.

[momma]

UPDATE ON THE CORNER SIGN REMOVAL

My husband returned to the "scene of the crime" this morning to speak with the woman (owner of the property) herself. Guess what??? Andrea Cruz (or the identical twin) never called her to check about removing the Carillo signs. She found out because they were lying in the trash can, smeared with old food this morning.

Evidently, the fact is, NO ONE asked permission to place any signs there except Mr. Rocha.

The rest just started "appearing" ... including Macias, Carillo, Alvarez and Cruz herself!

The owner said her husband had no problem with any of the signs being there. His philosophy was to support anyone who might be a customer. (Good business man! <lol>)

Very polite of Mr. Rocha for "asking".
Very presumptuous of everyone else for assuming.
Very lucky of Mayor Chagnon for not being at all involved.
Very dirty and underhanded of Cruz (or the evil twin) for removing and trashing her competitor's signs!

[momma]

Dear Athena,

There is nothing unethical about friendly door to door campaigning. I have a Chagnon sign in my yard and, still, also spoke to Mr. Rocha and Mr. Macias. Mayor Chagnon has as much right to ring doorbells as they do.

Anyone who knows Diane knows that she is not going to "pressure" anyone ... especially seniors. She's an intelligent, well spoken, highly ethical lady who has led a positive campaign without attempting to sling the type of mud you just did in your post. Shame on you for attacking her that way.

Honestly, I think that photo you sarcastically referred to would be a fine remembrance of a candidate going door to door, speaking to her community, working for her re-election. Nothing more.

As for outside contributions made to the mayor, did it ever occur to you that perhaps there are investors in our community who believe that Diane Chagnon is vital to keeping our city government stable? Without her 80% of our city council will have had 2 years or less experience in that position.

Did it ever occur to you that perhaps there are investors in our city who believe that Diane Chagnon has the leadership skills and experience that are vital to seeing the downtown redevelopment project through to a successful completion?

Let me remind you that what may be considered HUGE amounts of money to you and I is merely a drop in the bucket to the people who are financially able to make those contributions. Simple as that.

Mayor Chagnon has done an excellent job in putting our redevelopment plan into action. I, for one, value her experience and her record for success. I plan on giving her my vote on March 6.

[athena]

Bill
First let me tell you that I like and respect you as a person. I also believe you have the right to choose to vote for whomever you choose and to express your reasons for doing so.

I would hope that you also respect my right to disagree with you and to delineate my reasons for doing so. That's the beauty of our democratic process don't you agree?

Our difference of opinion is absolutely nothing personal. I hope you can see it as such.

And yes....I knew you would know exactly who I was after I mentioned the "private" meeting we had at city hall to discuss the Vulcan issue. There wasn't that many of us there.

Frankly, that's precisely why I'm surprised that you are supporting Chagnon. It was very clear at both the community meetings at the lodge and the private meeting as to where Chagnon stood on the Vulcan issue.

After throughly researching both sides of the issue, I have decided that I, personally, can NOT sell out my children's or families health or anyone else's health for that matter for any promise of a nicer library, other luxury or benefit to the the city coffers.

Also, the amounts of monies received by Chagnon, whether large or small, creates a trust issue for me. Then there was the fact that, two years ago, she openly admitted at the forum here at the Cove that she had taken money from Vulcan then promptly returned it when she saw the outcry from the residents, I was very uncomfortable with that.

I have nothing personal against Mayor Chagnon. I've merely shared some information and made some personal observations and you or anyone else are free to disagree with me. I respect that.

However, for me the choice is not about whether or not she has done a good job or has experience. I think it takes the full council and city staff to work together to accomplish the large and difficult job they have before them.

To me the choice is about whether or not I feel I can trust this person with the health and welfare of my family and I. Can I trust this person to represent me and my family....regardless of my color, gender or sexual orientation, regardles of religious or economic background.
I want someone who will be beholden to us the residents and not "Fortune 500" corporations or developers and won't be afraid of doing what the people call for and expect of them.

My choice is an ethical one and that choice is Mr. Rocha for Mayor. Everyone has to make their decision based on what is important to them.

And by the way.....since you do know me....it shouldn't surprise you or anyone else, at all that I'm willing to stand up, and speak up, for what I believe in.

Thank the Lord, this wonderful country, and all the lives that have been lost protecting it, have given us the right to do just that.