Single Gal and TV Ads

I have not seen any TV commercials for any candidate for mayor.  Maybe it’s because I choose to get my information from the Mercury News or, more likely, because I have TiVo and hate commercials more than most anything in the world, I fast-forward through every TV program I watch. So this week I am asking for help from our readers in filling me in on what I might be missing. 

Who has strong ads? Who is mud slinging?  Who is taking the high road, if anyone? From what I already know about the candidates, I think I can envision their “message,” but curious as to how it’s being delivered. 

I have been receiving direct mail pieces, but mainly from the Cindy Chavez campaign.  I received two in one day last week.  Maybe she needed two mailers to hold the list of all of her endorsements?  But I digress…

I haven’t received a phone call from any candidate trying to win my vote yet either, but my phone is on the Do Not Call list.  However, a friend’s mother did receive a political phone call last week—a recording of a woman who claimed that Cindy Chavez tried to “steal a home” from her.  My friend’s mother hung up before she could hear the entire message.  What is intriguing to me is: whose campaign is running this blast phone call?

Campaigns are always interesting, and it’s even more interesting to see what tactics tend to work.  Unfortunately, not all candidates can stay principled and positive, or maybe we aren’t to crunch-time, where the fangs really start coming out.  So strap on your seat belts, I think we are in for much, much more in the coming weeks.

And please help this TiVo-obsessed, commercial-challenged Single Gal to find out what’s going on out there.

66 Comments

  1. #4 – Right on target. These folks need to be exposed before it is too late.
    I, too, have not seen any ads on TV although I have seen 1 or 2 online. I still chuckle over the one that has Cindy jumping out of the police car and “taking control of the situation.”
    If voters would actually do their homework and not rely on sleazy mailers or even sleazier TV ads, we would elect a better quality candidate.
    Interesting though, that despite condemning the Chamber of Commerce piece about the Grand Prix, Cindy now says she would have handled that vote differently. Too little, too late. You’d think she was a rookie councilperson who just didn’t know what she was doing. Her regret is that she got caught—just like her mentor, Gonzales.
    Do your homework folks. Vote for better candidates—not just the ones who have the most money.

  2. I caught Dave C’s ad on TV recently.  Not a very powerful message.  I was disappointed.  It seemed sugar coated and vague.  Sure would be nice if we had some spark from this group that would ignite some interest from the voters at large and not just us few bloggers here.

  3. Cindy Chavez is running a commercial where Jill Cody describes how Ms. Chavez took control of some unknown situation during Mardi-Gras.  I called her campaign office to find out what Ms. Chavez actually did but her office could not provide any details.  They did say it was not “newsworthy” enough to be reported in the Mercury News.

  4. Stadium development watchers might be interested in today’s Redevelopment Agency meeting item on the purchase of two parcels between Autumn and Montgomery Streets for about $12 million (item 5.1). The report can be read here:
    http://www.sjredevelopment.org/Agendas2006/5-23-06/5-1-Mieul-iButcherPurchaseAmend.pdf
    Redevelopment Agency Executive Directory Harry Mavrogenes astutely states that the acquisition is for housing: “The properties are part of a 14-acre land assembly effort for transit-oriented mixed-use housing development in the vicinity of the Diridon Station.”
    Anyone know if $6 mil/acre is the going rate these days?

  5. I thought Victor A, the guy who tells Chuck Reed when to get food and when to do his jumping jacks was the only sleaxe ball in Milpitas.  Notice how Chuck refuses to comment on that?  Rumor has it Vic tells what to comment on.  Who is the Mayor and who is the wooden dummy?

  6. #4. Thanks for reminding us of the campaign tactics that got Nancy Pyle into office by a razor-thin margin.

    Now two years later it was Pyle (with Campos) who injected the first dirty politics into the Mayoral campaign with her groundless attack on Cortese at the behest of Chavez.

    In that light it’s ironic that we now see Chavez crying crocodile tears about how SHE’S the victim of a smear. Poor Cindy!

    I still question how it’s a smear for the chamber to accurately point out Cindy’s voting record on the Tropicana and Grand Prix. Somehow those facts seem to have been lost in the Cindy-Spin.

    I hope the good folks in Almaden are working to find a strong candidate to challenge Pyle in ‘08. She deserves to be sent packing along with any remnants of the Gonzales controlled City Hall. 

    Cleaning a house this dirty is going to take a few years, but will be worth the effort.

  7. The flyer on Cindy by COC was very well conceived. It exposed her and now the democratic party and the unions are mad!
    Cortese seems like a nice guy. #6 you have it right. Cortese is trying to get elected using the sugar coated and vague platform. So is Cindy. The other 3 at least have taken a firm stance on their issues. Cortese and Chavez have platforms that may be OK if they were running for council but the Mayoral job is more complex than what they are offering,
    (at least in public). Unfortunately the public as a whole may not see it and we could very well have a run off between those two.

  8. #4 – If these candidates associate with, and rely oin, people with questionable ethics now – what will they do once in office?

    I think Seaton was involved w/Terry Gregory, and look where that has gotten us.

    It just goes to show that if you are going to run a condidate that has no qualifications and no experience that will serve well on the council, just attack the competition. Let history serve as a lesson, is an attack comes from one of these people associating with slime, we all have to rally with the offended!

    You know it’s bad when the Mrcury calls Seaton “Slime”

  9. I agree with Jerry that this could come down to a run-off between two of the three insiders.  I hope it’s between Dave & Chuck.  Cindy couldn’t take control of a situation even if she ended up as dog catcher.

    But I can’t vote for Chuck.  His eagerness to brush the Cisco deal under the rug stunk pretty bad.  Combine that with his representation of the Council district where Cisco is located and the smell is intolerable. 

    Still can’t see myself voting for anyone other than Mulcahy or Pandori.

  10. I think it’s amazing that once start naming names of questionable campaign advisors lobbyists they suddenly go into hiding here.  I’d sure to read some of these campaign advisor’s posts here.  I guess they won’t say anything now.

  11. Dan, not just the advisors—don’t forget the volunteers. 

    Imagine the hit piece that could still arrive in your mailbox from Cindy’s camp, a caustic cocktail berating anyone who wasn’t hopping onto Cindy’s wagon, concocted and served up by Reality Check. 

    The fire dept would be kept really busy hosing down mailboxes from that one.

  12. Who needs a TV ad when we have this wonderful series of neighborhood debates. Caught most of the Rose Garden/College Park gig last night, and I must confess, as an ex-high school debater of some repute, from a mere debate standpoint, it’s Game Set Match Pandori. Reed’s the only one who gets close to Pandori in terms of arguments (they’re both lawyers) but still, Pandori smacked him down pretty hard on the Police Officer’s raise/layoff fiasco.

    Everybody complains that Pandori is hard to get along with, but boy, if our current council and mayor is what you get when you aim for consensus and getting along-ness, I’d take a difficult leader anyday.

  13. We looked at the famous battle Dennis Kyne fought for democracy.  He is yelling at Ron and saying “you are censured, yo can’t say anything.”

    CENSORED MEANS SILENCED.  GOT IT DENNIS.  I KNOW YOU CLAIM TO BE THE MOST BRILLIANT STUDENT EVER TO GRADUATE FROM SAN JOSE STATE, BUT CENSURED DOES NOT MEAN RON HAS TO BE SILENT.

    what we are reading on this blog, today, tells me, Seaton should stay silent.  Or at least out of the mailing business.  Wal Mart hires every day.  Perhpas Darren, Erik,Victor, Dale Warner, and Dennis could get jobs as greeters.

  14. Much of the distaste for politics comes from the perception that all negative campaign material is false.

    Only some pieces are false. 

    Campaign Advertising is similar to blogging;  anyone can say anthing about anybody with or without evidence. 

    Responsible advocates of ethical conduct use material based in fact.  It is not necessary for one side to “tell the whole story”.  Advocacy is about telling only your side.

    In addition, not all negative information is “false” and not all positive information is “truth”.

    The electoral process calls for the voter to participate in the most minimal level.  They must simply review the material and source the allegations.

    It takes less than two minutes on a computer.  But even this is too much for most, which is why completely false advertising works well.

    If people are truly sick and tired of false campaigns, they need to punish those who engage in them.  Until then, it is cavaet emptor.

    In other words, like this blog—don’t believe everything you read.

  15. Rich,

    The people have long ago indicated they don’t like negative campaigns, but the campaign managers don’t listen.  Everybody ends up sending out negative mailers or running negative ads in the media as election day gets closer.  We end up voting for people who campaigned in exactly the way we indicated we didn’t want them to. 

    Sadly, the candidates seem not to have a choice in the matter.  Their camps have no choice but to respond to negative claims that have been made against their candidate, otherwise there could be a perception of weakness. 

    I haven’t seen anybody elected who stated they’d take the high road and actually stuck to their promise.  THAT is a sad commentary indeed, and only adds more fuel to the negative campaigners’ fire.

  16. It is really refreshing to read an R.R. posting (#20) where Mr. Cupertino is not promoting Ms. Angelic Chavez.  But all Rich is doing is spinning Ms. Chavez for more votes.  I wonder who advised her to use Cindy Chavez politically rather than Cynthia Potter who she really is.  Probably hopes to capture the hispanic vote.
    I was supporting Ms. Sinunu for DA until I read the unrefuted article in METRO.  If she disproves the accusation then I will support her.

  17. Re #22: An old Eastsider told me once that at the beginning of her career, County Supe Blanca Alvarado used to go by the name “Blanche.” (Not Does anyone know if there’s any truth to that? Can Leonard McKay help us?

  18. I have not seen any TV ads for the Mayor campaign.  I have received lots of mailings and front door throwaways.  I received an entire book from Dave Padori which was quite interesting but the loudest campaigning seems to be going on here in San Jose Inside.  I would guess that unless one is online, one is really out of the loop.  I have gotten so many phone calls I can’t count them even though I’m on the do no call list and the number is unlisted.  I simply hang up on all the political calls.  It is amazing how hysterical the comments are getting for this election.  I can only guess because the general public is so upset with the present Mayor and Council.  Especially the two at the top.

  19. In the TV ads, there is no mud slinging per se.  Chavez and Pandori take the high road, while Cortese and Mulcahy take a negative approach.  Reed is a no show.

    Cortese’s is probably the worst.  He is awkward and gives no indication why he is qualified and what he will do.  He flashes his web site, but does not say it.  Talks about $8 mil in cuts to police and fire, millions given to Grand Prix and then gives out the mayor’s phone number.  Why?  We already know we need a new mayor. [Grade: F]

    Mulcahy’s is better with some nice sound effects.  Talks about garbage contract, $4 mil Grand Prix and $36 mil lawsuit.  Says he will work for sunshine, accountability, and audits.  Flashes his web site, but does not say it.  No live spots.  [Grade: C+]

    Chavez’s first ad is polished looking but comically bad.  Talks about endorsements, gangs, police and jumping out of a police car during Mardi Gras.  She flashes her web site, but does not say it.  The ad does not end with “FOR MAYOR”.  It says “Cindy Chavez, getting it done for our neighborhoods.”  [Grade: D-]

    Chavez’s second ad is also polished and expensive looking, but much better.  The music is sickening sweet with nothing negative.  Talks about gangs, schools, housing, and open government, also with an endorsement.  She flashes her web site, but does not say it.  Ends this time with “For Mayor”.  [Grade: A-]

    Pandori’s is very good.  It is an ad for his book, “A Better San Jose”, also the name of his web site, http://www.bettersanjose.com/book.  Talks about ethics, parks, gangs, savings account.  Only minor negative point was “Pandori exposes the bad decisions at city hall.”  No live spots.  [Grade: A-]

  20. Single Gal – After getting opinions from your readers, you can see all the commercials, as well as listen to all the debates at:

    citizensanjose.com/blog

    Just scroll down and find the video.  They are all being PODCAST from this site.

  21. #20 Oh, puhleez stop with the Cynthia Potter stuff…if you can’t argue issues you aren’t going to make any points with this.  Women don’t have to change their names any more than men do when getting married. .. and for that matter we don’t have to get married anymore, either.  If we choose to identify ourselves professionally with a different name than what was on our birth certificate, as long as we’re not committing fraud it’s none of your frickin’ business and your silliness on this issue only shows that it doesn’t really matter what she’s done or who she is..she’s a woman and that evidently offends your sensibilities.  It would be funny if not so pathetic.

    As for the “Chavez = Hispanic Votes” you are obviously assuming that hispanic voters have no minds of their own and would blindly vote for a name; what a paternalistic attitude. 

    Sounds like you’re afraid that somebody other than a white male might gain an office somewhere…gee, that would be awful, wouldn’t it?

    As for what people call themselves…all of you, really is that the issue here?  If so, should a Thomas be allowed to call himself Tom?  And, Dan, is it Daniel?  I notice a lot of people not using names at all on this blog, but evidently that’s ok.

    If, in assimilating into a country people name their kids with “American” names and the kid grows up and wants to identify more with his or her heritage, or if they just want to use professionally the name that their family uses around the house, what’s the big deal?  #22 are you seriously trying to say that “Alvarado” may not sway a voter, but “Blanca” will?

    As for the original question about the ads..none of them stand out, but I haven’t seen them all, yet.  As for the mailers, I’ve received more in numbers from Cortese, greater bulk from Pandori and 3 mailers and the phone call from the Chamber..and those can’t be called anything but hit pieces.  Does the chamber phone call qualify as exempt from the “do not call” list since it neither identified a candidate or issue?

  22. Don’t knock the Richmeister.  He is a pretty cool cat.  Rich, can you give us some thoughts about who is a good choice for supervisor.  I got this absentee ballot and I am never heard of Mahan, and I get good service from Linda, but people seem to like Ken.  Can you give us the real dope on this?

  23. The do-not-call list is for commercial telemarketers and is NOT cross referenced to the Registrar of Voters database, to my knowledge.

    I should note that I’ve gotten some email from candidates: a little from those who I had given my email address in my political activities over the past couple years, and tons of spam from Ms Chavez, who, despite the fact that I live in unincorporated San Jose, has been sending email several times a week. She is using the email address that is in the ROV database, because they are the only ones that have that particular ‘version’ of my email address.

    I would unsubscribe, but I like to hear what other campaigns are saying. When I got one of her whiny pleas late last week for money I made another donation to the competition via PayPal at the last minute, despite having already mailed in a check earlier in the week. I’m sure that was an unintended consequence of her email campaign. Oops!

  24. The Company They Keep

    You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep.

    Candidates for all offices have choices when they run for office. One of the most important choices that they can make is who they choose to work for them, including their consultant. One consultant, Darren Seaton has an incredible reputation for dirty politics. In November of 2004 the Mercury News reported on these low-life tactics, “Take Darren Seaton. He’s developing a knack for oozing his candidates into office on a trail of slime that would turn a banana slug green with envy.”

    This is the consultant who resorted to these tactics when seeing his client, Nancy Pyle, trailing in the days leading to the election: “The hits against De La Rosa focused on his involvement with the Tropicana shopping center, whose owner, Dennis Fong, fought a city takeover and won. Pyle and Seaton claimed De La Rosa set out to fleece taxpayers and attributed this to Mercury News articles—but De La Rosa was not part of the group that joined Fong’s lawsuit, and he neither asked for nor received money for his work with Tropicana merchants. Besides telling lies, the pieces were not-so-subtle reminders that De La Rosa is a Latino with East Side—not tony Almaden—connections.” (Mercury News, 11-04)

    This same consultant used similar tactics in the Milpitas race against Debbie Giordano, and the D-3 race against Tony West.

    Who has hired Seaton now? Manny Diaz and Jay James.

    As Robert Kieve of KLIV states, “And the Merc stressed the fact that, in the end, it’s the candidate who is responsible for the material that the consultants send out. Agreed, and now we should do something about the fact that the dirty political pieces are sent at the end of a campaign—leaving those of us who complain about them to vent our frustration after the votes have been cast. We should alert the public the minute a candidate hires a consultant with a dirty record. We should let the public know what that candidate’s campaign is likely to produce in its final days. Maybe that will allow the public to discount those pieces when they arrive.”

    Funny how Cindy and the folks at labor bemoan the Chamber’s ‘hit’ pieces that were factual, but have no problems with thei labor candidates creating pieces with Seaton that are lies, based on distortions of misrepresentations.

    You can tell alot about a candidate by the company they keep – and it shows low morals and ethics in Manny Diaz and Jay James!

  25. The Manager has left the building….I must respond…..

    Definition of censure (verb)
    to criticize; disapprove of

    Right out of the GMAT practice test book comes this definiton.  I am not trying to pretend I am the most intelligent, but I am the winningest (CEDA) debator in San Jose State history.  Maybe Rose Garden Dad can explain what it means to debate definitions.

    The definiton is not silence. 

    So, when the City Council censured Gonzo, that means he is not allowed to speak from a position of authority (because he has been dis-approved by the council) on their or the citizens behalf.  That is why he was ridiculed for chairing the VTA meeting recently….and that is why Cindy was ridiculed for sitting right next to him and letting it happen. 

    This is a hard and fast rule, just like time limits.  The guy has ZERO authority, but is still walking around telling citizens and city employees what to do…….it’s a disgrace. 

      I was sworn in to defend the constitution of this nation when I was 17 years old.  I have been doing it for two decades, it is a tradition in my family.  Yelling GOT IT at me in a blog isn’t going to deter me from Supporting The Truth.

  26. Re # 27
    posted by Richard Robinson is ok with me.

    Your question of who to vote for I say go with Lezotte.
    I met her the other day after the league of womens voter forum.
    She was very personable and real.

    MAHAN and her fellow councilmember Jamie Mathews are about to get broiled over a questionable election piece for her run against John McLemore.

    Ken was also very personable and would be a very good choice also.

  27. Does Dennis wear a paper hat when he types how brilliant he is?  I was always taught that boasting about what you did in college, and we have other nitwits talk about colleges before on this blog, and they left with as much deflation as Kyne is going to experience, is the refuge of people who have done little else.  I have the greatest debate trophies in the history of san jose state, oh boy,.

    “Yawn”

  28. Did anyone see the CBS5 poll that just came out? Poor David Pandori got lumped in with “other”! I wasn’t going to vote for him anyway but I do think he has really good ideas. I just can’t take that strident attitude, almost whining. A Mayor needs to have some tact and finesse and it just seems to be missing in David. And don’t even get me started on Dennis Kyne! He is the most uncouth, blabbering, attention seeking child-man I have ever seen, heard or read. If he was on council, i’d move out of San Jose.

  29. Dan;

    If you don’t have objections to women in office, then stop the insulting practice of trying to denegrate a candidate based on whether she does or does not use her husband’s name…we quit being chattel a long time ago.  It also gives the impression that you are chauvinistic in attitude and when I confront people (such as you) about that they are genuinely dismayed that they are giving that impression…I’m sure you don’t want me or anybody else to think you are some neanderthal.  It’s not just politically incorrect (and I am the last person to use that as justification), it is as insulting and as reprehensible as using racial slurs or any other epithet.  I respect your reasons for supporting (or not supporting) candidates more when you don’t use these tactics…and I’m pleased to meet you, also.

  30. #27
    Ken and Linda are both good honest people.
    I am going with Linda because she has a much better understanding of land use issues.  Perhaps due to her years on the planning commission.  All you have to do is look at their voting records on projects that cost the citizens of S.J. millions in the courts.  Tropicana,  Fairgrounds,  Markovitz and Fox, I.B.M. building # 25, and North San Jose.  You will find Linda voted on the right side of the law more often than Ken.  You will also find Ken voted to demolish three of our historic landmarks including the Del Monte PLant #3 in his district.  My only problem with Linda is her endorsement of Cindy Chavez after all that has come out.  I hope it was genuine and not an attempt to get the labor vote.  I chose to think the prior.

  31. Censure  

    1.  An expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism
    2. An official rebuke, as by a legislature of one of its members

    A censure does not remove an elected Mayor from office

    Your delusions of grandor about being in the Army or a school boy debater don’t change the facts – you are wrong again Dennis you really need to take your meds on a regular basis

  32. The question was:

    If the election for Mayor were today, and you were standing in the voting booth right now, who would you vote for? Cindy Chavez? Dave Cortese? Michael Mulcahy? Chuck Reed? Or some other candidate?

    I got the call too, in the same order!  They didn’t even bother to randomize the names.

    Prompted with a list, people are most likely to pick the first choice or last choice.  Duh!

    Try putting Chavez in the middle and Pandori in the first prompt.

    Idiots!  Go back to SF!

    Email [email protected] or call (415) 362-5550 to complain.

  33. Has anyone heard when the D.A’s report will come out.  I hope it comes out before the election.  It is only fair to Cindy and the voters to let us know if she knew anything about Norcal prior to the investigation.  Then we can go on with all of the other issues.

  34. From the CBS Link I find this statement.

    The polling firm SurveyUSA on behalf of CBS 5 KPIX interviewed 1,400 adults in the City of San Jose between May 20-22. Of them, 1,174 were registered to vote and 697 were judged to be “likely” voters.

    1,400 adults (In a city of 1 million).  Less than half of the polled are “likely” voters.  This is hardly a legitimate poll.

    Pandori wasn’t even included in the question.  The question excluded him, that is why he wasn’t in the results. 

    This is a pathetic poll.  Hardly meets the test of credibility.

  35. It MIGHT be sufficient if the question is framed correctly.  Didn’t you notice they excluded somebody from the Poll?  duh…..

    They excluded the person who woke up this morning holding the Mercury endorsement.

    Which…..makes it even less sufficient.  Quite frankly, it is a scam.  Most polls are.  You don’t have to study polls to know that.  But, if you have studied them….maybe you know why Jimmy Carter lost the 1980 Presidential election (when he clearly should have been victorious)…..Polls.  And we have been dealing with trickle down economics ever since.  Look what we have now…..a clown running the nation into both moral and economic bankruptcy.  Keep validating this racket and San Jose will win the race to the bottom.

  36. Instead of blogging, Denny, why don’t you walk precincts?  Carter lost because Republicans like me got tired of him arranging the White House Tennis Games and losing our boys in Iran.  Did they let you wear your paper hat at the debates.  Tell me, did you win the attendance award in fourth grade as well?

  37. Funny you mention Republican….I was a Republican….my entire adulthood (most soldiers are), until Georgie Boy Jr. got a hold of the reigns. 

    Losing our boys in Iran….funny you mention that as well…sadly there was a backroom deal (much like the ones we are hearing about here in San Jose) done between Reagan and the captors.
    Not sure how old you are, but if you were alive..you would note the hostages were freed the day after Reagonmics got inaugerated.  Once again another scam and now we have the NEO CONS You wouldn’t happen to know the difference would you?  Look up Leo Strauss to find out who is pulling the puppet’s strings now.

    Walk precincts…..you don’t think I am walking precincts…..before 8 am this morning I had five yard signs out and 250 door hangers hung.  I do more before 9 am than most people do all day.  Army Training, Sir. 

    And I am actually little Denny.  That’s because my father is also named Dennis too.

    Which Republican do you like in the District 3 Race?

  38. Single Gal, you did not reference the mailer from Council member Reed’s corner in your review of the Mayor’s race to date. Even though I will be voting for Council member Cortese on June 6th, I had felt that Reed would also be a welcome change (versus electing Council member Chavez) if Cortese was not elected. That was BEFORE reading the wording in his mailer. In it, he states that Council member Cortese “teamed-up” with Mayor Gonzales and Council member Chavez on a number of issues that were approved. Anyone who has followed Council member Cortese and his fight to change the way Gonzales has handled his duties as our Mayor knows that teaming-up is far from the TRUTH. My father is somewhat aware of the qualities possessed by Council member Cortese, but as he mentioned to me after receiving the Reed Reforms publication “if someone didn’t know any better they’d associate Council member Cortese with the many wrongs that have been orchestrated by our Mayor” and several Council members who have supported his every move.

    So, I guess you can’t say that Council member Reed has “taken the high road” when it comes to his approach to become the next Mayor of San Jose.

  39. #26 Randi Kinman.  Sorry if you misunderstood the intent of my posting.  I have absolutely nothing against a female office holder, no matter if she is balck, white, blue, or green or even brown.  I do have negative feelings about someone who is not forthcoming.  I do have feelings about someone who seems to deal in the backroom.  I won’t vote for Ms. Chavez.  Whether she calls herself Cynthia, Cindy, Potter or Chavez is not the issue.  We have had some very fine women mayors and councilpersons.  There are times when I do have a bias towards a female office holder.  This election is not one of them.  Oh and by the way, I can’t call myself ‘Daniel’ because that’s not my name.  Please to make your acquaintance Ms. Kinman

  40. Everyone that served in the Armed Forces deserves respect for that effort.  But, Mr. Kyne, you forgot that Carter saluted the Shah and cause the mess in the first place. 

    Gonzo should have cut you off after thirty seconds.  Aren’t you the guy that keeps calling into talk shows about Stephen King?

  41. 48 – The current Gonzales-Chavez gang are the “my way or the highway” in the worst sense of the phrase.
    Pandori has his own ideas and will work to implement them but he will not bludgeon the other councilmembers like the current lame-duck.
    You are missing a great opportunity to get San Jose back on the right track if you don’t vote for Pandori.

  42. I saw David Pandori in action back when he was on the Council and he strikes me as a different person now. 

    He was quite young back then and he could sometimes come across as a little heavy handed.  But I see a different and more thoughful person these days.

    One thing that hasn’t changed is that he’s always been scrupulously honest.  Additionally, he’s smart and he’s a big picture thinker. 

    After the last 8 years, these all strike me as essential qualitites for the next Mayor.  I’m voting for Pandori.

  43. If you are really that interested in seeing TV ads for the mayoral candidates, turn on ESPN at 9pm.  Seems like every commercial break is filled with ‘em.

  44. Once upon a time, people thought of Tom McEnery as a “hot head” who couldn’t get along with others.  All he did was turn our city into one we could respect.  Can anyone say the Arena, Convention Center, Tech Museum, Fairmont….

    So if that is the knock on Pandori, so be it!

  45. David did an ABC 7 interview (I saw it at the website).  I must say, that this guy seems solid.  A functional politician, without all the “strings” or the facade.  This idea of SJ growing “up” and not spread out—this is very important.  Think about all that is unlikable about LA, and that is what current plans in coyote etc. will bring us.  I hope Pandori makes it to the run off.

  46. Strange article by Herhold in Merc today.  Basically, he supports Mulcahy, but states that Pandori is a better candidate in many ways.  Says MM should inject Pandori’s book into his veins or something like that. 

    Yes, the fusion of MM and DP is ideal, I agree.  But really, come on.  charisma is not as important as he lets on, I feel.  Especially if charisma and good accounting is ALL ya got.

    The way I see this now, CChavez may make the runoff to November, but that is it.  The three runoff losers are supported by people who want change, and they will all support the “anti-cindy” in November.  Now, the only question that remains is who will be defeating Cindy in November ? 

    I personally hope it is Pandori.  But he has a big jump to make.  It is surely possible.

    CH

  47. #57
    A…If the D.A.‘s report comes out before 6-6-6
    and finds Cindy had prior knowledge of  
    the Norcal Scandal a la the Grand Prix,  she will not make it to November.
    B…D.A.‘s report comes out after 6-6-6 with   same findings as above, any of the four men win in a landslide in Nov.
    C…D.A. finds Cindy had no prior knowledge of Norcal, Pandori is the only candidate that can beat her.

  48. #57 you can inject ideas and knowledge into your veins. You can learn by studying the issues. But becoming a leader is an innate characterstisic that is born inside the person.  It is not easily learned. He already has it in his veins. Mulcahy is well spoken, charismatic and passionate. His personality will resonate through city hall and bring on the necessary changes needed to get back to a better government. I admire Pandori”s ideas for a better San Jose. I just dont see his ability to rally the troops. According to Scott Herhold he doesnt either.

  49. Jerry you site one writer from the Merc. who feels Mulcahy needs to be more like Pandori.  Did you forget the Mec. says that Pandori is the right person to be the Mayor of this city.  Pandori was leading this city as a councilman in his early 30’s and fighting crime as a D.A. in his early 40’s all while Michael was leading childens’ plays and buying property with his mother and brothers.  Where has Michael ever demonstrated at any high level the he has ever been able to lead.  He is hands down better than Chavez, I’ll give you that but that is not setting the bar very high.  Still Michael doesn’t come close to Pandori when it comes to leadership and vision.

  50. #60. I was not surprised. Never thought Mulcahy would get the nod from a liberal newspaper. It shows you how much faith they have with the current council. I however have more respect for Scott Herhold. He is the guy in the trenches following local political matters.
    It took some guts taking a stand against management. He probably took the time to get to know Michael and realized he has exactly what it takes to lead the charge. He is plenty experienced and has the intangibles necessary to pull people together.

  51. Scott Herhold’s endorsement is all a ruse.  He just wants to stir up the pot.  Jerry, don’t read to much into it.

    Herhold wrote recently: “My friends will tell you there’s little I enjoy more than being on the dissenting end of a popular argument. “

    That’s the only reason.

  52. # 61 Jerry
    I am a fellow Republican so please don’t go crying liberal just because the Merc. didn’t give him their endorsement.  I would have respected him a lot more had he declared himself a Republican from the start.  But no he canged his party declaration the day before he entered the race.  The Merc. has been nothing but kind to Michael.  Michael is a nice guy , comes from a good family but lacks experience.  I go along with the Merc. and hope he gets a good foundation by serving as a commissioner or councilperson first then takes a shot at mayor.  I also think Michael would get some extra points if he spoke out against the way the CoC has tried to go around the finance laws.  Mike Fox took the high road so can Michael.

  53. #63 Dont get me wrong. I am not upset. I was merely commenting on the reactions against Michael on this blog that is usually anti Chavez. Political party should have no bearing on a mayoral campaign. I never saw Mulcahy as a republican anyway. As far as experience I dont see it as a problem at all. Look where experience has got us. Mulcahy did speak out against the negative campaigning on his website. He has used none of those tactics. I think Mr. Fox ought to forget about politics and start thinking about family matters. I think that was an embarrassing sitaution for their entire family. He should have done nothing. I would never do anything like that especially over politics.

  54. I don’t have TV at home, I turn off the ringer on my phone during campaign season, and my shredder works just fine for the print stuff. 

    Pandori’s book is the only piece that has substance.  The mailers are slogans and platitudes, often containing distortions of the truth by some candidates.  The person who figures out how to curtail the nonsense that accompanies voting seasons—consistent with the Constitution—gets my nod for a Nobel Prize.

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