Anna Ferrera Wants YOU to Vote for Yourself

It will soon be time to make up our own minds about Davis City Council candidates.

Probably because I am a glutton for punishment, I feel compelled to say something about the upcoming city council race here in our fair city.

Aunt Anna Wants You... to Vote for Yourself.

Let’s see.  We have the high-profile fighting on the dais at City Hall that was watched by our citizens over and over on cable right before this campaign moved into full swing…

Then there’s controversy over the movement of Mayor Pro Tem Don Saylor off the council bench to the County Board of Supervisors in January and whether or not we will have a costly special election; the question of whether or not The Grad was single-handedly responsible for the Picnic Day fiasco (it wasn’t); and the more recent scandal involving an Independent Expenditure Committee’s actions on behalf of just one candidate that has resulted in the filing of a formal complaint with the City Attorney.

These are all issues that are orbiting around this race, and they’ll inevitably exert some influence over voters’ decision.  Some people will form opinions about public service, or even about the candidates themselves, based on some of these events.  But I’d advise you to not let it cloud your thinking too much.

Focus on the Candidates, not the “Conventional Wisdom”

Let’s get back to the candidates.  The reality is, each and every one of them are good and caring people – and our town should be grateful for that.  We are fortunate in Davis because, from what I am hearing and experiencing, most of us will have a hard time deciding which two to vote for.

They have all shown a great desire to serve.  And I respect anyone in this political environment and economy who is willing to wade in and do this.  And let’s not even go into the campaign fundraising needs vs. rules that hold sway.

I’m asking you to join me in doing our part of the job and carefully consider our town and its future.  What kinds of things you want to see happen here? What it is that you don’t want to change? Ask the candidates what their plans are and apply your own individual yardstick to the candidates.

It shouldn’t be based on how much money they can raise, who is the darling, or whether or not they are supported or opposed by someone we despise or adore.

The recently announced departure of DJUSD Superintendent James Q. Hammond, whether or not he did great things for the schools in this community (he did), makes me also think we should be looking for signs as to whether the candidates are truly invested in Davis and IN THIS JOB.  While we are at it, how well are they doing their current job?  What is their current job?

Get Out and Meet the Candidates

If you want an opportunity to talk with them face-to-face, you don’t have to go out of your way.  The candidates are everywhere right now and will probably be somewhere you are already going.  Check out the Davis Enterprise “Briefly” section mid-week to find their schedules.  Google the candidates names + Davis and the events will spill out.  Coffee shops, bike rides, school and cultural events.  Most, like the rest of the community, are at the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.

I can tell you from campaigning on behalf of candidates and other good causes in this town that many of our fellow citizens scurry by the political booths and look at the candidates with eyes that say, “I know who you are”.  That predisposition is probably based on something they have read or on something someone has told them – and then they say nothing to the candidates.

When we don’t ask our candidates to listen and work toward collective goals and solutions, should we participate in the tsk tski-ing that goes on when things don’t function as they should?

When open hostility spills out in places it probably shouldn’t…could it be because our candidates truly believe they are representing a segment of our community that got them elected and should oppose anything that comes out of the mouths of others who represent a different segment?  Just asking…

We could say that Davis is not so different from the rest of the country – arguing over whether we are becoming socialists, or racists, lacking in compassion or lacking in oversight when we ‘drill baby drill’.  You can see where that’s getting us…

Use Your Own Yardstick to Measure the Candidates

No, we are Davis, and I hope we are different, but I am afraid that factioning has caused a great majority of locals to take up the belief that government doesn’t work.  I am excited that we have a great opportunity to move toward a better functioning council with these excellent candidates.  Let’s not blow it by simply letting others tell us who to vote for.

Let’s use our own yardsticks and ask them a few questions that count.

We have a unique community with a University of California in our midst.  How are we going to use those resources and integrate them?  We should also work to make students feel that they too belong – that Davis isn’t just a rest stop on their way to somewhere else.  Mutual respect is tantamount in this discussion.

And respect is also important with our public servants, you can oppose their positions, but don’t vilify them.  Stop the gossip.  Speak openly about issues, not people.

Vote on Tuesday, June 8th, 2010.

Bring all of your good ideas and share them – don’t worry who carries the ball forward.  We have a lot of work ahead of us and more change and budget issues are coming.  Our elected officials can’t face it all in a vacuum – or hearing only from some of us.

And once you decide, please don’t forget to vote on June 8th.  It’s all for nothing if you don’t take the time out of your busy schedule to exercise that right.