ABSTRACT: Highlights, specifically excerpts from Letters to the Editor, on Mayoral Candidate Sue McCloud (Incumbent)) are presented. Links to complete Letters to the Editor are provided.
• “As a concerned Carmel resident of more than 50 years, I feel compelled to write in support of our mayor, Sue McCloud. Not only has she been an excellent and devoted civil servant but her family before her was active in Carmel life for decades...Longtime Carmel residents understand our citizens' needs and are best equipped to cater to them. This "feeling" for the community is neither easily nor quickly acquired and requires decades of residency rather than months. I find it rather amusing, not to say slightly outrageous, that a resident of several months has the temerity to propose to lead our community.”
• “Carmel by the Sea has been blessed with a strong and competent mayor, who has a myriad of accomplishments for the benefit of all citizens. In particular, this includes strict fiscal management which has not gone unnoticed by rating agencies and Carmel citizens. From my corner, I consider her successful shepherding of the construction and fitting out of Sunset Center one of her greatest achievements...McCloud is running for our mayor to conclude the Flanders matter, the sale of which is the wish of the majority of Carmel citizens.”
• “The Mayor and the City Council cannot take credit for helping "clean up Carpenter Street entrance to Carmel," as presented in Sue McCloud's campaign ad in the March 19 issue of the Pine Cone. The beautification of the Carpenter Street entrance to Carmel-by-the-Sea was undertaken in full by the Carmel Woods Neighborhood Association...The effort was planned, funded, executed and continues to be maintained by Carmel Woods residents...To claim to have "worked with the Carmel Woods" residents is false.”
• “...I have watched Mayor Sue McCloud pursue personal vendettas and expose Carmel to extraordinary legal liability...for example, a Carmel City Hall employee handed me a fax that was addressed to all planning commissioners discussing one of my projects. The fax was sent by Sue McCloud and, after putting forth substantive arguments against my project, it concluded “if we all hang together on this we can kill this project.” Several elected Carmel officials told me McCloud’s fax was unethical conduct and a violation of the Brown Act...Carmel residents and Carmel business owners deserve an ethical mayor. Sue McCloud is not an ethical mayor."
• “In my opinion, McCloud, Rose and Hazdovac are the choices that show intelligent and thoughtful concern for the future of our Carmel-by the-Sea.”
• “...I have watched Mayor Sue McCloud pursue personal vendettas and expose Carmel to extraordinary legal liability...for example, a Carmel City Hall employee handed me a fax that was addressed to all planning commissioners discussing one of my projects. The fax was sent by Sue McCloud, and, after putting forth substantive arguments against my project, it concluded “if we all hang together on this, we can kill this project.” Several elected Carmel officials told me McCloud’s fax was unethical conduct and a violation of the Brown Act...Shortly after McCloud was elected mayor, Rich Guillen asked me to meet with him and McCloud at city hall. McCloud had a scowl on her face, leaned over the table, and said “things are going to be different from now on,” a comment which I took as a threat. Carmel residents and Carmel business owners deserve an ethical mayor. And Sue McCloud is not an ethical mayor.”
• “Our corner of California is financially successful, our city employees perform more each year with less, our volunteers pick up litter and support the many commissions and committees...Mayor McCloud has worked tirelessly with everyone to ensure Carmel is a great place to live and visit.”
• “...I was outraged by the hostile punitive actions I saw carried out by the city administrator against other long time dedicated employees. I believe these actions were approved by the mayor. I have a long personal knowledge of Carmel working conditions and I speak out on behalf of all the individuals quietly forced out of their jobs and on behalf of the remaining city employees who continue to work in a toxic, stressful workplace. This toxic environment exists in large part because other certain special employees were given fast-track promotions, substantial salary increases and policy-making roles beyond their job descriptions. The open scandal that has pervaded city hall and demoralized city staff...is an egregious betrayal of the public trust to allow creation and continuance of a hostile workplace environment, showing profound lack of respect for city workers…Carmel voters, if you want mismanagement and lack of integrity in Carmel city government, Don’t Vote For Adam Moniz and Jason Burnett on April 13.”
• “The economy is not going to turn around quickly, and having a seasoned mayor in charge for an additional term is in the best interest of all residents. The city has an impressive reserve position, which will be advantageous when economic conditions truly stabilize, and I am certain Sue McCloud and the council will use these funds judiciously and on priority projects.”
• "The incumbents—Mayor Sue McCloud and council members Paula Hazdovac and Gerard Rose—are the intelligent choice for the long-term future of Carmel. They know the history. They know our needs. They know Carmel. They know what we want to be for the present and for the future: a financially stable and viable community."
• “I have several quarrels with your editorial in support of the re-election of Carmel's Mayor Sue McCloud (March 7). The most glaring flaw is your failure to mention what many Carmel voters regard as the defining issue: the mayor's continuing denial of any wrongdoing on the part of City Administrator Rich Guillen...It is completely inexplicable how the mayor can continue her denial of the evidence. It is equally inexplicable how The Herald editorial can fail to bring up such a critical issue that casts such an appalling moral pall over our city government.”
• “We are one of 12 cities in the state that have a reserve. We have the best emergency services available. Our mayor volunteers to participate on many county committees and is always available to take your phone calls…Let's look to the future by casting your vote for a proven leader, Mayor McCloud.”
• “The truth is that Mayor McCloud has worked very hard at staying in office term after term. There have been personal vendettas against individual workers, and the mayor has worked hand in glove with the city administrator whose inappropriate and unprofessional relationships have created a city workplace imbued with an atmosphere of stress, hostility and fear. On behalf of city workers and integrity in Carmel government, I urge Carmel voters to vote for Adam Moniz for mayor.”
• “I wholeheartedly concur with the Herald’s endorsement of March 7. As the paper stated, “McCloud and her allies on the council have done a fine job keeping the city afloat during difficult financial times. They have a clear and sophisticated understanding of the issues and challenges in their city."
• “Don’t rock the boat Carmel voters ... not now. With rough times still ahead, the city needs well balanced, educated and knowledgeable leadership, and Sue McCloud, Gerard Rose and Paula Hazdovac have proved they can do the job.”
• “With continued financial uncertainty on the horizon, now more than ever, we need to keep in power people who have demonstrated fiscal experience and responsibility as we face challenges to our economy, public safety and water supply.”
• "The Herald's endorsement of Carmel Mayor Sue McCloud for another term lacked credibility because it failed to demonstrate its commitment to citizens first and failed to meet journalism's first obligation of communicating the whole truth by omitting crucial facts. First, McCloud's "pet project" of selling the Flanders Mansion property has cost taxpayers nearly $1 million due largely to "illegal" city actions. Second, is McCloud's failure to explain how it happened that the city reneged on its promise to John Hanson and his family regarding pay differential and benefits. Third, is McCloud's misleading statement in her 2010 State of the City address that the city promptly investigated on-leave Human Resources Manager Jane Miller's sexual harassment, employment discrimination and retaliation complaint when the city delayed investigation by three months. And fourth, is evidence regarding four former city employees who complained about harassment and being forced into early retirement, complaints similar to Jane Miller's, who were paid approximately $800,000 in settlement monies without any financial justification."
• “There are three very well qualified people running for reelection on April 13: Sue McCloud for mayor, and Paula Hazdovac and Gerard Rose for council. They have served us well and will continue to do so.”
• “..., if you want to preserve the old traditions of Carmel, if you want to maintain our village character, if you want to stop outsiders from coming in, supported by outside money and outside political influence, then it is simple...vote for the incumbents!”
• “...back here in Carmel, what we need is the steady, experienced and thrifty hands of Hazdovac and the rest of the current City Council.”
• “Neither of the challengers has served on any board or commission in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Mayor Sue McCloud and council members Paula Hazdovac and Gerard Rose have experience, knowledge, understanding and deserve to be reelected.”
• “The primary responsibilities entrusted to an elected official are to ensure financial solvency and health and safety for the public. Each of the individuals now serving as mayor and as city council members understands that, and they have direct and exceptionally successful experience in budgeting, programs and policy for our city. I have not seen any evidence that the newcomers in this election have any proven, practical experience in each of these critical areas for our city, nor experience serving on any city boards, commissions or committees. Ideas are always welcome, but I think that experience is critically important. I find it difficult to imagine voting for anyone that has not yet demonstrated what they can do for the city.”
• “Carmel is the defendant in an ongoing sexual harassment and employee favoritism lawsuit. How has this affected employee morale? As the alleged perpetrator, why has the city administrator not been placed on administrative leave? What are the total estimated legal costs to the city for this lawsuit?”
• “To keep Carmel-by-the-Sea on a positive course, we need our experienced, trusted and dedicated mayor and council members, Sue McCloud, Paula Hazdovac and Gerard Rose. Each incumbent is running independently and each needs your vote. Vote for the three people who have lived here for many years, who know, care for and understand Carmel-by-the-Sea. Your vote for Sue, Paula and Gerard is important to the future of our beautiful city.”
• “...Mayor Sue McCloud's memory must have conveniently lapsed when she told the Pine Cone last week that partisan politics and endorsements from outside Carmel's sphere of influence have no place in its politics. In her 2008 campaign filings, she reported the Lincoln Club of Northern California as a $500 contributor. The Lincoln Club is a Republican political club headquartered in San Francisco and as a PAC gives contributions to state, national and local candidates, both making it partisan and out of Carmel's sphere.”
• She (Sue McCloud) and her team simply get things done. Like a top financial rating for Carmel. Like a $10 million rainy day fund. Like leading the charge to sell Flanders. Like developing new sources of revenue. Like holding city events to help fill hotels.
• “The primary responsibilities entrusted to an elected official are to ensure financial solvency and health and safety for the public. Each of the individuals now serving as mayor and as city council members understand that and they have direct and exceptionally successful experience in budgeting, programs and policy for our city...I think that experience is critically important. I find it difficult to imagine voting for anyone that has not yet demonstrated what they can do for the city.”
• “At the November Carmel City Council meeting, I was one of several resident-veterans who were objecting to the city's treatment of city employee John Hanson, now serving his second tour of duty in the Middle East. After agreeing to continue his salary and health benefit difference, as the city did during his first tour, they sent his wife a letter saying they were dropping his benefits and pay with no explanation...At that meeting, I asked the mayor and council to tell the public why this serious failure in judgment occurred and who was responsible...Could it have had anything to do with the fact that Mr. Hanson had provided a deposition in the pending sexual harassment lawsuit involving the city administrator? Five months later, there still has been no answer to these troubling questions. This illustrates the lack of transparency in the current city administration.”
• “...the City of Carmel is in a solid financial position. This is because of prudent and focused financial management including the building of a rainy day fund (reserves) now at $10 million and reduction of expenditures for fiscal 2008/2009...Standard and Poors, which raised Carmel’s bond rating from AA to its current rating of AA+...from Carmel’s auditor who reported to the city council that Carmel had earned an unqualified opinion, the highest highest type of opinion for an audit...All of this happened because the mayor, city council and city administrator, functioning as a team, took care of business. Carmel needs this capability to cope with a continuing economic recession. Keep this team intact by re-electing Mayor Sue McCloud and council members Paula Hazdovac and Gerard Rose.”
• “...city government in Carmel is badly broken.”
• “During the time I worked in the administration department, I observed a pattern of avoiding and ignoring resident and staff concerns on the part of upper management.”
• “I observed the mayor pursue pet projects and ignore the compromising circumstances being reported about the city administrator.”
• “A majority of department managers were forced out, leaving a leaderless skeleton staff to provide non-safety services to residents. Remaining management staff often had difficulty scheduling time with the city administrator while long meetings and long lunch hours with employee A or employee B occurred frequently."
Note: Employee A, Christie Miller; employee B, Heidi Burch
• “...the quality of the city government was demonstrated by its callous treatment of Building Official John Hanson and the recent departure of the exceptionally capable administrative service director.”
REFERENCES:
Carmel resident backs McCloud for mayor, Maggie Downer, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 04/10/2010
‘Strong and competent,’ Niels Reimers, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, April 9, 2010, 38A
Association behind Carpenter Street cleanup, Lucinda "Cindy" Lloyd, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 04/03/2010
BROWN ACT VIOLATIONS? John Mandurrago | Carmel, MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY, April 01, 2010
‘Intelligent and thoughtful concern,’ Don McBride, Monterey, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 26, 2010, 24A
‘Extraordinary legal liability,’ John Mandurrago, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 26, 2010, 24A
‘Vote for a proven leader,’ Donna Jett, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone March 26, 2010, 24A
Stephanie Pearce’s letter to the editor, Stephanie Pearce, Carmel Valley, The Carmel Pine Cone March 26, 2010, 26A
Vote for McCloud for mayor of Carmel, William Scearce, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 03/26/2010
Incumbents know Carmel, Francine Kissler, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 03/24/2010
Editorial misses key issue, Richard Stiles, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 03/19/2010
Vote Sue McCloud for mayor of Carmel, Donna Jett, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 03/19/2010
Vote Adam Moniz for mayor of Carmel, Stephanie Pearce, Carmel Valley, The Monterey County Herald, 03/19/2010
Incumbents are ‘fine and excellent leaders,’ Dennis A. LeVett, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone March 19, 2010, 28 A
‘Don’t rock the boat,’ Tim Meroney, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone March 19, 2010, 29A
Herald right to back McCloud, Dennis A. LeVett, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 03/17/2010
Endorsment lacks facts, L.A. Paterson, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 03/13/2010
Newcomers should ‘get a little experience,’ Pat Sippel, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 12, 2010, 28 A
‘Vote for incumbents,’ Chris Tescher, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, 29A, 30A & 15A
Thrifty Hazdovac is right, Erik Davidson, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 12, 2010, 15A
What’s right, Corky Duke, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 12, 2010, 15A
‘Experience is critically important,’ Herschel Peak, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone March 12, 2010, 15A
Questions unasked, Robert Jenkins, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 12, 2010, 15A
Keep town ‘on positive course,’ David Sharp, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 12, 2010, 15A
In support of McCloud for Carmel mayor, Dale Hekhuis, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 03/08/2010
McCloud received contribution from Lincoln Club, Anne Bell, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 03/08/2010
‘Not demonstrated what they can do,’ Herschel Peak, Carmel, The Carmel Pine Cone, March 5, 2010, 24A
Denial of Hanson's benefits a mystery, Clayton Anderson, Carmel, The Monterey County Herald, 02/27/2010
Sound financial footing, Dale Hekhuis, Carmel,The Carmel Pine Cone February 5, 2010, 24 A
Carmel lacks integrity, Stephanie Pierce [sic], Carmel Valley, The Monterey County Herald, 01/07/2010 Note: Stephanie Pearce, correct spelling of surname.
REGISTERED VOTER PETITION SIGNERS:
Paula Hazdovac (City Council Member)
Gerard Rose (City Council Member)
Karen Sharp (City Council Member)
Ken Talmage (City Council Member)
Sarah and Clay Berling
Marion Leidig
Jim and Jane Price
Christine and Graeme Robertson
Constance and Robert Spencer
Merv Sutton
Judy Thodos
Paula and George Tipton
(Source: April 13 ballot set: three incumbents, two challengers, MARY BROWNFIELD, The Carmel Pine Cone, January 22, 2010)
7 comments:
I am confident the election of Adam will bring integrity to city hall. I cannot see Adam pursuing pet projects, presiding over a leaderless skeleton staff or treating employees the way John Hanson was treated. He might also make it impossible for Rich to stay and that would be a great start to restoring government with integrity.
Oops! Anne Bell did a little investigative reporting and found, lo and behold, Sue McCloud being hypocritical. Suprise, suprise. Of course, Sue tried to minimize the Lincoln Club's $500 donation in 2008 at the forum, but I thought even she knew she had been found out. Good work Anne.
"if you want to preserve the old traditions of Carmel, if you want to maintain our village character, if you want to stop outsiders from coming in, supported by outside money and outside political influence, then it is simple...vote for the incumbents!”
Wow! Such chauvinism and us vs. them mentality. This writer appears mired in his and the insiders own self-importance. We all are in this together let's try to embrace diversity which includes so-called outsiders. People like you might even learn something from them.
Thank you Stephanie Pearce for coming forward and writing a letter to inform Carmelites about the real deal behind the scenes in Carmel these years with the McCloud administration. The mayor and council are totally unresponsive to questions and requests for information. They have the attitude they do not have any obligation to the public and they can do anything they think they can get away with. Their supporters should be reigning them in, not encouraging them with their overt and covert endorsements.
I completely agree with the letter writer writing "...the mayor's continuing denial of any wrongdoing on the part of City Administrator Rich Guillen...It is completely inexplicable how the mayor can continue her denial of the evidence. It is equally inexplicable how The Herald editorial can fail to bring up such a critical issue that casts such an appalling moral pall over our city government.”
And the four other councilmembers do not challenge the mayor on this, but instead act as business as usual, and even sign her petition to run again. Why don't they live up to their oath of office and tell her enough is enough you have to go for the good of the village.
The remark which really got my attention was Stephanie Pearce's direct implication of the mayor working hand in glove with the city administrator to create an atmosphere of stress, hostility and fear. I also was struck by the truth that the mayor has worked very hard to stay in office term after term after term. The mayor likes to put on airs that other people have dissuading her from retiring when she really wanted to retire, but I think the truth is closer to Stephanie Pearce's estimation. All reasons to vote for Adam Moniz, a change the city needs to restore normalcy.
Someone wrote “Our corner of California is financially successful, our city employees perform more each year with less, our volunteers pick up litter and support the many commissions and committees." If the city is so financially successful, why does this letter writer think our city employees should perform more each year with less. Very fast the law of diminishing returns kicks in and we get poor morale among city employees who are left in city employment and poor results for the residents, visitors and city.
The mayor has decreased the number of commissions and committees Carmelites can serve on during her tenure and she has a litmus test for consideration which limits the calibre of people applying for commissions.
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