Where's the Transparency, Dr. Dan?
I came across a press release from Dan Secord's campaign that a supporter had sent me in late July that I've filed away in my tickler file to remind me to check up on in a few weeks.
The press release was a typical one from Secord's campaign accusing Wolf of deceptively funneling her fundraising through other campaigns and "party bosses" and called for a "reporting of every dollar and every donor on a weekly basis through a neutral website."
Secord promised in the press release that he would start the "transparent campaign program" on that Friday and hoped Wolf would too. Here is the exact wording:
I hadn't seen anything of the sort posted on local blogs or on his own web site so I did a little research and found a very lonely blog called SB Transparent Campaigns. It's first and only post on June 25, 2006 -- more than a month before the press release in question was mailed out -- says its' purpose is the following:
There is no way to tell if Secord or a Secord staffer created the site as the profile for the site has a Blogger name of "SB Transparency" and no other information. I guess plausible denial is a great thing when you are a campaign operative.
To be fair, who knows who created SB Transparent Campaigns -- but isn't it strange that we haven't heard anything about this since the press release came out? The date the Secord self-reporting should have started was August 4th -- with $57,500 cash on hand as of July 31st, you would think Secord would have raised a few contributions in the last six and a half weeks.
Perhaps SB Transparency could use his/her Blogger account to explain. Better yet, maybe Secord's campaign can explain this contradiction or direct us as to exactly where this "neutral" site is. I know BlogaBarbara isn't considered by many as "neutral" but I'd be happy to post his financial contributions to the dollar here if the Secord campaign were so inclined.
The press release was a typical one from Secord's campaign accusing Wolf of deceptively funneling her fundraising through other campaigns and "party bosses" and called for a "reporting of every dollar and every donor on a weekly basis through a neutral website."
Secord promised in the press release that he would start the "transparent campaign program" on that Friday and hoped Wolf would too. Here is the exact wording:
As of release, Secord had not received a response from Ms. Wolf, but said that he would start the transparent campaign program on Friday and hoped that she would contact him to participate.
I hadn't seen anything of the sort posted on local blogs or on his own web site so I did a little research and found a very lonely blog called SB Transparent Campaigns. It's first and only post on June 25, 2006 -- more than a month before the press release in question was mailed out -- says its' purpose is the following:
So that voters may choose candidates with full knowledge of their campaign practices, and in order to encourage public awareness of Campaign Contributions in Santa Barbara County; all donations to participating candidates will be posted on a weekly basis on this site.
There is no way to tell if Secord or a Secord staffer created the site as the profile for the site has a Blogger name of "SB Transparency" and no other information. I guess plausible denial is a great thing when you are a campaign operative.
To be fair, who knows who created SB Transparent Campaigns -- but isn't it strange that we haven't heard anything about this since the press release came out? The date the Secord self-reporting should have started was August 4th -- with $57,500 cash on hand as of July 31st, you would think Secord would have raised a few contributions in the last six and a half weeks.
Perhaps SB Transparency could use his/her Blogger account to explain. Better yet, maybe Secord's campaign can explain this contradiction or direct us as to exactly where this "neutral" site is. I know BlogaBarbara isn't considered by many as "neutral" but I'd be happy to post his financial contributions to the dollar here if the Secord campaign were so inclined.
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 9/20/2006 10:27:00 PM
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30 Comments:
yes it would be nice for both Secord and Wolf to do.... and I'm sure Sara will be happy to provide at least a link to the site.
Thanks once more Sara for the time and effort hosting this BlogaBarbara. Blogs have become the best way in Santa Barbara to receive and share information about our community.
This would be helpful---especially for those few people who still might be under the illusion that somehow Secord is not loved and supported by all facets of the development industry--- upand down the coast. Maybe someone could start by posting some of his latest filings [post-primary].......unless of course he does all his own posting since this was his brainstorm.....
Newsflash: it doesn't metter anymore. The biggest concern over campaign funding has to do with developer money. Both Janet and Dan have got that in their piggies. The two that refused to take development money were knocked out of the race in June.
By the way, there is a new campaign to write in "Joe Guzzardi" on the ballot.
Too bad Developer Dan doesn't keep his word. It's been six weeks and he hasn't posted his developer dollars. I wonder if he ever honestly wanted to report them?
seems when janet thumbed her nose and said she would continue to launder money and rejected transparentcy the issue was killed
what is the bet on how much dirty money Janet will take this time? $100,000?
1:41 Secord team post: LOL. have you reviewed Dan's filings lately? you seem horribly misinformed or, just bent on misinforming others.......who are the Board of Realtors laundering for in their support of Dan? or the dozens of donors, many from outside of SB, whose profession is listed as "investor".....hmmm what do they invest in? open space? thankfully, 2nd District voters have an abundance of intelligence, in addition to common sense, to see through the pro-high-end development rhetoric disguised as---well, hardly even disguised, really.
We're going to build one way or another, and get elected whoever it takes to make it happen.
Guzzardi lost me with his support the newspress, I actually liked him before but would never support the guy for any office after his defense of Wendy.
Truthfully I would actually be against any project he supports after his comments in VF. Rational maybe not but his support of them left such a bad taste I really would give a max donation to anyone he ran against. He needs to take a very long time out....
hey 6:56 how about Lois taking ten times from the national board of realtors and givng that money to Janet. Or Janet taking money from Towbes and trying to hide it and getting caught.
Wolf wants high density in noleta - just like Rose. that is why the Guzz supports Dr. Dan.
Janet is a Rose in Wolf clothing
Newsflash: Real estate investors are not necessarily the same as development interests. Real estate players want to make money off of their investments, and the market can do just fine with or without high-density smartass-growth. Big developers on the other hand, are happy to take large parcels and cram density on them, with a percentage of affordable, to gain even more in density bonuses while selling oodles of market rate at the same time!
Dan or Janet? The question is which one is more likely to support the slow-growth, low-density, quality of life stand?
10:41,
What, exactly, did Guzzardi say about the NP (and where/in what context did he say it?) And what is "VF"?
10:50pm
If Janet was trying to hide money why did she report it voluntarily. And why did Dan take money from Towbes, and Blankenship, and Hollister Ranch developers, and coastal developers with business in front of the coastal commission?
The real issue is why did Dan break his word? He said he would do something, and then didn't do it.
I agree with 10:53 on the real estate investors vs. developers.
Yet now that everyone knows that Lois and Janet are taking money from realtors - it is okay.
We have seen the same thing with developers - the definition of good developers and bad developers is who they give money to in a campaign.
When Bermant gives money to Lois (as he has) he is a good developer. When Bermant gives money to Firestone (he did not) he would be a bad developer.
I bet Towbes (who had a executive give a few dollars to attend a Secord event and therefore bad) is now the good community leader as his contributions Janet tried to hide are now expoused.
Give me a break. There are some things we can debate but not these:
1. Janet supports Rose high density housing on ag land.
2. Janet has taken more development and real estate money than Secord on her own and laundered from Lois and Salud.
3. Grassroots neighborhood anti-growth leaders support Secord as the social engineering high density liberals support Janet.
Facts all.
Mike Pinto says...
If Das was our candidate we wouldnt have to worry about him taking money from big business. Of course Wolf is a liar. How else could she have beaten Das. This could have been the race of the century. Now we have Janet Wolf who seems to be a political hack in training. I have also never heard from her where she stands on helping the homeless or redistribution of income.
TO DD 0809: looks like your stuff never got posted! Hey, you know what they say about sophmoric stunts---they come back to bite ya----isn't that right, Dan?
Hey Pinto---remind us---what was Das's stand on "redistribution of income"...? I must have missed that talking point....
Mike Pinto,
How goes the perceptioneering?
11:11am anon,
You still haven't responded to questions about why Dan hasn't kept his word? I know it is tough to defend a broken promise but atleast humor us by giving it a shot.
Secord has called for developing the christmas tree farm ag land and the tatum property.
Real neighborhood leaders support Janet because she will listen to them, unlike Secord who listens only to Berkus, Towbes and other developers.
Neighborhood leaders in Santa Barbara know that Dan has been approving projects that are harmful to neighborhoods ever since he was on the City Planning Commission.
Dan is arrogant and rude and doesn't listen to people. This is because he thinks he knows everything all ready. He has been "trained" and thus we need him to protect up from ourselves.
Dan's ideas for the unincorporated area include big car dealerships. Doesn't that have a nice feel to it. Lets bring Hitchcock Way a little bit North to Hollister.
From the May 9th News Press profile of Dr. Secord.
...he also floated a plan to generate sales tax dollars by bringing more car dealerships to the unincorporated area. Each dealership would enhance county revenues by about $250,000, he said. "The County has got a financial problem. It needs to enhance it's revenues"
newsflash to DAN: his "city" experience is a far cry from what he needs as a County supe. It disturbs me to hear him say he basically wouldn't have anything to learn "from day one". How arrogant. As a County employee, and Second district resident, I want a Supervisor who's willing to show true leadership---listen, learn, and translate WHATEVER kind of experience he or she has into the reality of County government. Not one who thinks he knows it all [and doesn't]. Sorry, city boy, I wish you knew---or could admit--just how much you DON"T know.....
5;22 - really?
so the county does not have a budget?
so the county does not deal with land use?
so the county does not have out of control unions?
the county does not have run away liberal socialist who want high density housing likd Susan Rose and Janet Wolf favoe?
how nice for the county.
Yeah, if I was on the school board, I could totally handle a supervisor position. HA!
Janet is only as strong as her endorsements. If you bring someone on who you know will push your agenda then all those people can sit back and relax knowing their control is assured. (capps, rose, salud)
Dan isnt all fluff. Yeah he might have a harder time getting elected, in a democratic city, being an older white guy certainly does not help, but the man has the smarts and more importantly some serious integrety. He can be rough around the edges, but I think he is worth it. This is a self made man you're dealing with.
p.s. "Effective from day one" is different from "(not)having anything to learn" Seriously, who would say they can start a new job and not learn new things? Not Dan. Get real.
12:46PM when you say things like "I am fully trained for this job" and "If you are asking me what I don't know than that is going to be tough." than I would say yes, he is arrogant and he does think he knows it all.
Maybe that is why whenever neighbors in santa barbara would appeal planning commission decisions to the council, Dan would shoot the people down. He doesn't want to hear from the public. They just get in the way of "fully trained" people with his "experience".
Luckily we have a better choice in this election. Someone who knows a lot but thinks the neighborhoods need to be listened to. That choice is Janet Wolf.
Even Joe Guzzardi says Dan is bad for neighborhoods. He said it right up until the day he lost. Now Joe thinks Dan is the choice for neighborhoods.
Joe we remember what you were telling us before you made a deal with the devil!
Dan at the city was the smartest and most curious member of the council. As a staff member we all learned that he ask tough questions and thinks things through. He is ready to start day one but he will continue to question and learn.
Wow Dan was curious allright!
I heard from staff that Dan always asked the most unnecessary questions about revenues, projections and so on. He would want detailed analysis and presentations on very minor parts of the budget that wasted more time and resources than they were worth.
Many were happy when he "retired" although I guess using that word was a bit premature.
9:19pm city staff anon,
Do you think it was right for Dan, who lives in a 6 million dollar home just outside Hope Ranch, to sue the city for workers comp when he slipped on the steps while talking on his cell phone and not using the railing? At his age(69) you really need to be careful that you don't hurt yourself! Why should the city fork out a bunch of money for his mistake? Is that what he means by fiscal conservatism? I wonder what Dan's thoughts are on workers comp for the little people who are injured on the job, go broke and get no help from their employers....laisez faire conservative republican economics doesn't look kindly on that kind of thing..
12:46
I guess Joe looked at Janet and Dan and saw Susan and Dan and it was an easy decision. Joe and many of us in Goleta choose Dan - he is not perfect - but Janet is not even in the same game. i do not trust her at all.
12:02 anon,
Not perfect is an understatement. In todays news press Dan says he voted to pave over 25 acres of ag land to "save water".
Better hope it rains or all of our ag land in Goleta is toast!
Joe Guzzardi must have forgotten all the anti-neighborhood votes Dan made on the planning commission and city council. Joe said so himself many times that Dan would be a disaster for neighborhoods
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