Dr. Dave Launches First Salvo in 3rd District Race
"Mr. Smyser has some 'splaining' to do!", says Dr. Dave Bearman in an April Fool's Day shot over the bough on the 3rd District Supervisorial race. Saying David Smyser has a "lack of curiosity about the affiliations of his mystery campaign donors", Dr. Dave points to a Santa Ynez Journal article which questions several donations from businesses with apparently no connection to Santa Barbara County. Here's what the good doctor says about it:
Apparently, many of the donors have associations with Bacara developer Alvin Dworman and Bacara President B.J. Hoppe.
In true Dr. Dave fashion, he brought up a few more issues about growth and "instant cities" in his rather long press release -- the most relevant secondary issue being:
It's hard to fault Dr. Dave for asking these questions for a race that is hardly on the radar for most voters. Mixing Goleta anti-growth politics with 3rd District electioneering may or may not work for Dr. Dave considering the ease at which the Goleta Council saw new faces in the last election. Still, it has been a formula that worked for years -- at least until Brooks Firestone was elected. It's also hard to fault Dr. Dave for trying to distinguish himself from the pack of candidates where he has been seen as a spoiler to Doreen Farr's candidacy. Perhaps the most important aspect of this issue is whether or not Smyser will have the money and stature in the race to at least gain a run off with another candidate. If these donations are indicative of what's to come, he certainly will have the funds to do so.
So far Smyser has raised $55,000 in campaign donations with over half coming from outside Santa Barbara County. The questions originally arose from a total of $20,000 in contributions from four San Francisco sources, three of whom remain unidentified and are not listed in the California Corporate Record. Currently Smyser only vaguely claims he did not know the identity of his three mystery donors and didn't care to originally find out who they might be. But Dr. Bearman says Smyser has an obligation to investigate or, at least, be curious about his own large campaign donors.
Apparently, many of the donors have associations with Bacara developer Alvin Dworman and Bacara President B.J. Hoppe.
In true Dr. Dave fashion, he brought up a few more issues about growth and "instant cities" in his rather long press release -- the most relevant secondary issue being:
"For some reason, long needed community general plans for the Lompoc, Santa Ynez and Orcutt areas remain delayed and unfunded by the County and that needs to be changed. The people of Santa Barbara County must be allowed to have a voice in their own future. As I was quoted in the Santa Ynez Valley Journal,' Mr. Smyser has some 'splaining' to do.'"
It's hard to fault Dr. Dave for asking these questions for a race that is hardly on the radar for most voters. Mixing Goleta anti-growth politics with 3rd District electioneering may or may not work for Dr. Dave considering the ease at which the Goleta Council saw new faces in the last election. Still, it has been a formula that worked for years -- at least until Brooks Firestone was elected. It's also hard to fault Dr. Dave for trying to distinguish himself from the pack of candidates where he has been seen as a spoiler to Doreen Farr's candidacy. Perhaps the most important aspect of this issue is whether or not Smyser will have the money and stature in the race to at least gain a run off with another candidate. If these donations are indicative of what's to come, he certainly will have the funds to do so.
Labels: 3rd District Supervisor, David Smyser, Dr. David Bearman
posted by Sara De la Guerra | 4/02/2008 05:22:00 AM
Our Community Guidelines ask that you use the Blogger/Open ID login or the
more private Name/URL option when making comments. Comments using "Anonymous" will not be published. For more info, see choosing an identity.
10 Comments:
Indeed, "It's hard to fault" Dr. Bearman for those questions; they are important ones. However, Bearman's presence in the race offering nothing distinctive but himself, no stranger to ego-promotion, will mean Mr. Smyser's election. I am sure that Brooks Firestone and company are elated to have the Bearman gnat buzzing about.
PS: ...Dr. David Bearman is not "Dr. Dave" any more than Mr. David Smyser is "Mr. Dave". Cuteness in titling is unattractive, and gives unwarranted support to a particular candidate.
xyz -- Dr. Dave has been Dr. Dave for more years than I can remember...I'm not going to call him something else because of a transitory thing called an election!
I don't support anyone for the position right now -- I'll make that clear. I am leaning towards Farr but haven't heard much about what she is doing in her campaign.
Fair enough, your blog, your choice what to call the candidates; I don't recall, did you refer to Dr. Secord "Dr. Dan" in the race for 2nd District Supervisor? If so, fair is fair and I apologize.
As for Farr, I don't know, haven't heard much; I don't live in the 2nd district. Seems pretty clear, though, that Bearman has no real chance of victory - nor does Pappas, but he, at least, seems not such an egotist. And I don't know about the Buellton mayor.
Without a good daily newspaper it is really hard to know what's going on in that _really_ important election for the future of the Gaviota Coast among other issues affecting the south county.
Farr = Wolf = Rose. All cut from the same cloth. The Dem clique that wants to fill our communities with high-density,over-development...because they know what's best for us.
Watch for good 'ol Lois to stick her nose into this one too.
Dr. Dave drives a car that is indistinguishable from Brooks Firestone's... well, Brooks has got those ex-Assemblyperson license plates, but otherwise they both drive big bruising golden gas hogs. Odd.
One of those guys should be driving a Prius.
Bearman has forgotten more about real 3rd District South Coast politics... which happens at several special district meetings... then Doreen Farr has ever learned. But Doreen Farr's supporters have an exquisite sense of entitlement, and would kneecap Bearman for his audacity if they could.
Hey, in a runoff, only 2 folks survive. There is just no way that Dr. Dave will knock Doreen Farr out unless he is one of the winners, in which case Farr is the spoiler. But in all probability we face a Farr v. Smyser contest in the general, and in that case Dr. Dave is helping Farr by splooging Smyser.
xyz -- Thanks for the comment and I agree with you on the daily paper part. The Sound has started home delivery now -- let's see how they grow.
Dr Doper is more like it. I give him more credit than anyone for ruining our neighborhoods with those "medical" marijuana crime magnets.
Although I think marijuana should be legalized - and taxed - like alcohol and tobacco, the "medical" marijuana stations are worse than a joke for the neighborhoods where they are located. In addition they breed complete disrespect of the law.
After all, for better or worse, marijuana remains an illegal substance in this country.
What oversight is there? Is there a record-keeping of which physicians do the prescribing and to what extent? It would be very interesting to know if only a few doctors are doing the prescribing and for what ailments. Their names, the physicians' names, the "Dr Dopers", should be publicized. Might bring them more business but it also might make the SB City Council be rigorous in licensing these outlets.
The City does not issue any license to a pot store.
All the City now does is regulate where they are located through the new Ordinance.
The Dope Docs is all a State issue.
The Dope Docs are a federal issue. The Dope Dispensaries remains a totally illegal activity and I hope the DEA puts them all in jail and confiscates all the property where they are located.
Post a Comment
<< Home