Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/9824
4A – Daily News – Friday, April 30, 2010 Opinion Get to know your candidates D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 A friend today proposed an idea for the Daily News during this local elec- tion season — publish essays submitted by each local candidate so readers could learn something about the candidate’s background and position on issues. The goal is admirable, but I Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 begged to differ on the path- way to that goal. The biggest difference being the end result. The Daily News will be publishing articles in the com- ing month about each local race, giving each candidate’s background and responses to questions about local issues. I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls asking why we haven’t started writing these articles yet — it happens every election, as soon as campaign signs start populating the land- scape. Experience tells me the month leading up to an elec- tion is the best time. When I’ve run articles sooner, I get far more calls from folks who missed them because they were too far in advance, when nobody was paying much attention to the coming election. In addition, the Daily News has teamed up with the Tehama County Farm Bureau and will be hosting a can- didates forum at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Veterans Hall in Red Bluff, corner of Oak and Jackson streets. This will give the public a chance to hear from the candidates in their own words and submit written questions to be asked of the candidates. Doors open at 6 p.m., so arrive early to submit your questions. Monday’s format will allow candi- dates to make brief introductory remarks before taking submitted ques- tions. Candidates will be welcome to stick around after the 8 p.m. conclusion of the forum to take one-on-one ques- tions. Similar forums are scheduled throughout the county, so there is sure to be one in your town. So why is this preferable to publishing essays from each candidate? As I said, the end result. Readers should come away with a good understand- ing of each candidate’s posi- tion on key issues and be able to make informed choices come June 8. Chip Thompson 545 Diamond Ave. While local candidates are much less likely to engage in talking points and political spin than those running for state or national offices, they aren’t any more eager to answer tough questions. Don’t get me wrong, we’re not going to try to nail candi- dates, but we may ask them about an issue with which they aren’t so familiar — one they probably wouldn’t choose to address in a submitted essay. Of course, candidates are able to place paid political advertisements — clearly labeled as such — and say just about anything they want. But that hap- pens on the other side of the building. I can’t promise we’ll use them, but readers are invited to send me questions to which they would like candidates to respond. Just make sure questions apply to all candidates in a race for a particu- lar office. If we can’t use your question in one of our articles, it may show up at Monday’s forum. Chip Thompson can be reached at 527-2151, Ext. 112 or by e-mail at editor@redbluffdailynews.com. Look further at report Editor: In regard to Dave Baker’s letter of Tuesday, April 20; he makes some very good points. How- ever, you need go no further than the arbitrator’s report of Feb. 19, 1997 in the matter of whether or not Parker deserved to be fired when working under Sheriff Rob Heard. I might add this gentle- man, Donald H. Wollett, was an independent arbitrator of Parker’s choosing. I quote from page 1 of his report, with regard to an act of Parker’s: “I do believe he committed a serious disciplinary offense for which he was deserving a very severe punishment.” He goes on to say on page 2 of the report: “That’s the error, the duplicity, the dishonesty Your Turn involved in that whole structure of on the 2nd of January of 1996 conveniently going into the sher- iff’s office and being told by a receptionist, identi- ty unknown, that he was not available and then say ‘I’m acting sheriff so I can do this.’ That is in my view a disingenuous, flimsy subterfuge. I don’t think he had the authority to do that.” Finally, in page 4, he sums up with this state- ment: “I think it is exactly what I characterized it to be, an act of duplicity and a dishonest, sneaky way to accomplish an objective.” Everyone knows you don’t change the spots on a leopard. Space does not permit a full reprint of the arbitrator’s ruling or comments. It is a matter of public record. Tom McCay, Los Molinos Thanks for clean city Editor: Just a note of thanks to the Tehama City Coun- cil Members for getting all of the empty semi-trail- ers moved off of the street that everyone uses as they come into and leave Tehama on Fifth Street. We have a beautiful little city here, and it was beginning to look like a truck stop. Your decision on this matter is greatly appreciated. Keep up the good job of keeping Tehama a clean little city, and a neat place to live. Thanks again. Bud Johnson, Tehama Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Doing something for nothing Commentary I know that’s a fragment, but it represents an ideal which is all too foreign to many people. One of the more difficult lessons a person should learn in life is the ability to give without the expectation of receiving any- thing in return. That includes a simple "thank you." I know – an unsuspecting source taught me that some years ago. I had this girlfriend and I did many nice things for her. What bothered me is that she would rarely say, "thank you." So, I called her on it one day. "Why is it I do all this stuff for you and you can’t even say thanks?" Her answer dumbfounded me at first; I even saw it as some kind of rationale for what I thought was her rude behavior. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized she was right. "If you do something and expect something in return, you might as well not do it in the first place," she said. I guess it was wrong of me to expect a thank you. After all, that’s something, right? Her reasoning, I still think, was a tad exaggerated, but she did make a good point: if a per- son wants to be truly selfless in his actions, then he should not consider what he will receive in return. As a teacher, this must be second nature. In addition, other parts of my life render other pos- sibilities. To whit: "Why do you write a column if you don’t get paid?" I hear this question all the time, but my answer is always the same: "I get satisfaction in other ways." After all, a person shouldn’t be motivated by money alone, right? There are two important rea- sons I do this: first, it makes me feel good; second, it gives me a platform to share ideas. Simply put, the column gives me a voice to the community. How many people get that chance? I admire folks who stand up and do something great and ask for nothing in return. I saw this first hand the other night as Rena and I sat at the Riverside to have dinner. It was prom night, and not ten minutes after we sat down, around 30 seniors showed up all decked out in their fancy for- mals. Apparently, they rented the private dinner room; they also brought their own music in which they could dance. What a cool idea, I thought. So, being nosey, I asked around. Turns out, Christy Wise and her daughter Katelin put the whole thing togeth- er. So I asked momma seniors in attendance that night at the Riverside. In certain social circles, prom night, more than any other, brings such high price tags and expectations for kids. Not these. They Wise about it. She said it was all Kate’s idea. "She came to me and asked what I thought of all of them having din- ner together at the same restaurant here in town. "Since parents wouldn’t have to worry about their kids being on the road, I thought it was a wonderful idea." "What were their expecta- tions?" I asked. "Absolutely nothing," Mom replied. "They just wanted to be together." I heard these same words uttered by a number of those Pat Gleason Simply Put just wanted to hang out, which I thought was pretty amazing. It’s almos0t nauseat- ing at times watch- ing teens promoting their own self image at the expense of others. With this group, I saw none of that. I also think that’s true of this year’s senior class. They are self- less kids who do a great job of taking Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us. care of one another. And they ask for nothing in return. Apparently, they’ve already learned that lesson. Have a great Friday. ———