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Friday, March 12, 2010
District 3: Shawn Eldredge to run against Steve Cohn
by Kathleen Haley, published on October 23, 2009 at 6:53PM
Storyline: Sacramento City Government/Politics
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A Johnny Cash tune playing in the background, Midtown activist and former mayoral candidate Shawn Eldredge announced Friday that he is running for the 3rd District seat on the City Council held by Steve Cohn. Communities in the district include downtown, East Sacramento, Midtown and Arden Fair.
Eldredge, a building contractor, took a break from a construction project at the MARRS building in Midtown to talk about his plans. Last year, he lost the race for mayor to Kevin Johnson.
If elected to the City Council, Eldredge said his priorities would be “clean and safe” issues, noting that business growth is linked to people feeling comfortable in their environment. Business growth and development are key to generating tax revenue for city services such as police work and garbage pickup, he said.
The 44-year-old Midtown resident said he wants Sacramento residents to take pride in their city. “I think it’s time to be rock stars and not be scared."
Eldredge, who grew up in Carmichael and attended La Sierra High School, stressed the importance of stewardship and accountability. “Everybody needs to trust,” he said. “Let’s hope a non-politician like myself can instill that in city government.”
Eldredge also said he thinks businesses are “more than willing” to partner with neighbors to address issues caused by business growth.
He will be running against incumbent Cohn, who has held the 3rd District seat since 1994. “He’s done good work for us for a long time,” Eldredge said of Cohn, adding that he walked precincts for him in 2006.
Eldredge said he wants to see a “new energy” on the City Council. He called for new council members without giving any names.
“We have an awesome city and I think it’s time to behave like one," Eldredge said.
Photo by David Watts Barton.
Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.
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THE VOTERS WILL DECIDE ON THE SMI, NOT CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES...ITS THAT SIMPLE!
I could care less about what position Eldridge would take on the "SMI" or strong Mayor Initiative...He will NOT be the person deciding the issue, the voters will be. We need new blood on the city council PERIOD!
I HATE POLITICIANS WITH A PASSION, Eldridge is one of the very few I support. He did an incredible job in the Mayoral debates. Sadly though I am rather doubtful he can win....I have very little faith in the voters of this town. Look at their tract record.
I personally will follow three basic rules for the Council election.
Do not vote for:
1. Any incumbent
2. Anyone supported by public employee unions.
3. Anyone who takes money from the Tsakopoulos/David Taylor mob.
The candidates left over will still have to earn my vote, Eldridge does not violate any of these rules, but I will be listening closely once the debates come. I want to hear more on his positions like urban sprawl, paving over irreplaceable farm land, how the City can partner with private enterprise to provide opportunities for our youth, reforming and cleaning house within SHRA's leadership, and his position on giving wealthy developers hundreds of millions of our tax dollars.
And to candidate Eldredge - get a haircut and buy a decent shirt if you want to be taken serious for the council seat. Appearance does matter.
Beyond congratulations, my comments are relevant to:
the upcoming election for which Shawn is announcing candidacy;
a key component of that election which -- one way or another -- will have significant impacts on the Council he hopes to join;
the fact that I saw him briefly at the Charter Committee Town Hall and would like to know what he thinks about the matter.
Shawn cared enough to make a brief appearance and ask a question, wearing a very nice shirt, "Oracle" will be relieved to know.
JimKnapp, the first thing you need to do is quit telling other people what they need to do. You dump on just about everything and everyone and pretend to care about Sacramento. You dump on leadership but make it clear you don't believe in the process enough to actually participate in it. Many of those you dump on volunteer their time to try to make a difference; working with many of those they would probably rather have the luxury to harangue and harass as you do.
You attended a new forum for public participation in local and regional matters, with the same aggressive and overbearing manner that you have online. You forced more responsible members of your breakout group to demand that you stop talking over them, so that they could try to get a word in edgewise. It was clearly uncomfortable for them to have to do so and they let you dominate the discussion for longer than anyone could stand.
You want to jump in the sandbox and have a temper tantrum, kick down whatever anyone else is working on, grab all the tools and toys and tell everyone what they should do. You don't want to do the work. You don't offer solutions or constructive ideas. You alienate everyone who might potentially agree or participate with you. How's that workin' for ya?
Oracle, both you and JimKnapp are welcome to read -- or not -- whatever you wish on SacPress. No one is inflicting anything on your tender eyeballs, which are so offended by the sights of real life when you deign to visit downtown from your Ivory Tower. You are able to hide behind your screen name when you make your offensive, elitist comments on SacPress.
Your fawning comments to Steve Maviglio's article about "hate speech" and screen names: "The KJ haters do get out of line (well, a few of them) and it's a damn shame they've extinguished our exchanges of opinion. Out and out name-calling and personal attacks should not be posted, IMHO."
The same day: "The repetitious droning on and on about the same topic is VERY annoying and dilutes the message. Although bbbbmerwhatever is heavier on the personal attacks and name-calling and even more annoying. And to candidate Eldredge - get a haircut and buy a decent shirt if you want to be taken serious for the council seat. Appearance does matter."
So, like Maviglio, you think it's not "name-calling and personal attacks," as long as it's coming from you.
You are the one attempting to "extinguish our exchanges of opinion" and "dilute the message" with arrogance and hypocrisy, yes, hiding behind that screen name.
JimKnapp, what you need to do is decide if you want to be part of the problem or the solution; decide whether you want to work with the community or use it for target practice.
Target practice...now thats an idea....Might be more productive than "working with the community" a community which I am beginning to realize is by and large comprised of brain dead automatons who do and vote as the Party leaders tell them.
You dump on leadership but make it clear you don't believe in the process enough to actually participate in it.
Many of those you dump on volunteer their time to try to make a difference; working with many of those they would probably rather have the luxury to harangue and harass as you do.
You attended a new forum for public participation in local and regional matters, with the same aggressive and overbearing manner that you have online.
You forced more responsible members of your breakout group to demand that you stop talking over them, so that they could try to get a word in edgewise.
You want to jump in the sandbox and have a temper tantrum, kick down whatever anyone else is working on, grab all the tools and toys and tell everyone what they should do.
You don't want to do the work.
You don't offer solutions or constructive ideas.
Aside from another comment that carrying a concealed weapon is a solution to Midtown parking issues.
Though I don't live in East Sac, I would support Mr. Eldredge as long as he is opposed to SMI, would never support a neighborhood intrusive expansion like that of Mercy Hospital, and would break KJ's strategic stranglehold on the Council.
Steve Cohn is a member of a congregation that I've been a part of, off and on, since I was a child. I believe his actions in support of Johnson and his tribe of suckups, sycophants, and siblings, especially regarding the SMI and the rather dark backstory that is KJ's history, are less than honorable, and run counter to a progressive vein of moral and ethical principles that our congregation espouses.
I will support anyone who will serve this or any other council seat more effectively than Cohn.
P. S. You might want to keep that quiet to avoid proverbial "Kiss of Death." effect.
MURIEL STRAND FOR CITY COUNCIL! hehe j/k
Shawn, I wish you the best... but with all due respect, I think you'll have better chances if you get a haircut.
I didn't realize that District Three included Arden Area which I absolutely love. Is there a way that people who do not have the internet can contribute to your campaign. Do you have an address for checks. My sister would love to donate to you because she thinks that you will pay attention be aware of the peoples needs and overall help this district. Thank you for your fresh insite into the issues.