· Carmel Mayor Jason Burnett established the precedent of interjecting Representative Sam Farr into Carmel-by-the-Sea politics in 2010 when U. S. Representative Sam Farr, a Democrat, endorsed city council challenger Jason Burnett for city council; Farr’s endorsement “arose from a longtime friendship,” according to Burnett. Previously, Carmel city council elections had been “nonpartisan” and apolitical.
Source: Contributions, endorsements alter city politics, By MARY BROWNFIELD, The Carmel Pine Cone, February 19, 2010
· Mayor Jason Burnett wrote a letter to Vinz Koller, Chair, Monterey County Democratic Central Committee urging the Monterey County Democratic Central Committee to support “No on O.” The Monterey County Democratic Central Committee subsequently adopted a “NEUTRAL” stance.
Source: 2014 Endorsements
MONTEREY COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
JUNE 2014 OFFICIAL VOTER GUIDE
17 Burnett
Ecoenergy $2,600 (Burnett Ecoenergy now Clean Fund LLC)
Source: Center for
Responsive Politics
· American Water Works
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is a public utility company operating in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1886 as the American Water Works & Guarantee Company. In 1947 it was reorganized as American Water Works Company, Inc. The company was a subsidiary of the German-based RWE Group from 2001 to 2008, but the company was divested on April 23, 2008 in an IPO on the NYSE.
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is a public utility company operating in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1886 as the American Water Works & Guarantee Company. In 1947 it was reorganized as American Water Works Company, Inc. The company was a subsidiary of the German-based RWE Group from 2001 to 2008, but the company was divested on April 23, 2008 in an IPO on the NYSE.
Campaign Finance $594,427 Given
Sam Farr (D-CA) $1,500
Sam Farr (D-CA) $4,000
· " In Felton, south of San Francisco, RWE became embroiled in a battle with a group called FLOW, or Friends of Locally Owned Water. American Water secured ownership of Felton's water system in January 2002 when it bought the water holdings of a Connecticut company that had long controlled the asset. Eight months later, American Water, in the process of being acquired by RWE, asked the California Public Utilities Commission for approval to raise rates in Felton by 74% over three years. It noted that rates hadn't been raised since 1998 and cited the cost of infrastructure repairs."
"Seeing its operations under attack, RWE became embroiled in Santa Cruz County politics. Mark Stone, a county supervisor, says officials from American Water's local subsidiary told him they would torpedo his election bid in 2004 if he supported a public takeover. A spokesman for the local unit says no threat was issued but acknowledges the company sent mailings to people urging them to avoid candidates who would raise taxes to fund a takeover by the government."
"Seeing its operations under attack, RWE became embroiled in Santa Cruz County politics. Mark Stone, a county supervisor, says officials from American Water's local subsidiary told him they would torpedo his election bid in 2004 if he supported a public takeover. A spokesman for the local unit says no threat was issued but acknowledges the company sent mailings to people urging them to avoid candidates who would raise taxes to fund a takeover by the government."
Source:
Dry Hole
Under Fire, Germany's RWE Plans to Exit U.S. Market; Global Ambitions Thwarted
By Mike Esterl
Updated June 26, 2006
· California State Senator “Bill Monning, who helped author public financing legislation to lower the cost of Cal Am’s proposed desal plant by as much as $90 million, will not be taking a stance on Measure O,” according to spokesman Bruce Van Allen.
“He feels it’s up to the local voters to decide on Measure O,” Van Allen said.
Source: Farr says ‘No on O’ By KELLY NIX, The Carmel Pine Cone, May 23, 2014
· Representative Sam Farr, who “seldom weighs in on local water issues,” according to reporting in The Carmel Pine Cone, did not take a position on Measure W in 2005.
Source: Farr says ‘No on O’ By KELLY NIX, The Carmel Pine Cone, May 23, 2014
“In July 2005, the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD) board approved a ballot question – Measure W – for the November ballot. Measure W asked voters to approve a feasibility study for a public takeover of California American Water’s system. Coming on the heels of hostile takeovers of smaller California American Water systems in Montara and Felton, the threat to this 40,000-connection system was serious indeed.”
Source: bna communications
Accordingly, with regard to Representative Sam Farr’s “No on Measure O” endorsement in The Monterey County Herald (05/20/2014), because there is the appearance that Farr’s endorsement was influenced by his “longtime friendship” with Carmel Mayor Jason Burnett, reasonable people can conclude that Farr’s endorsement was not primarily the result of an objective examination and analysis of the merits of Measure O.
Ron Cohen: Measure O will end the Cal Am-ity once and for all
Ron Cohen Guest commentary, 05/24/2014
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