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Friday, February 10, 2012
Flood of interest group money supports Ashby
by Kathleen Haley, published on June 4, 2010 at 5:29 PM
Storyline: June 2010 Election
Community Tags
2010
angelique ashby
district 1
efren guttierrez
election
independent expenditure committee for jobs and prosperity sponsored by sacramento metropolitan chamber of commerce political action committee
june 8
money
politics
ray tretheway
sacramento
sacramento city council
stephanie mizuno
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A flood of money from interest groups is being used to support City Council candidate Angelique Ashby. A committee that is separate from Ashby’s campaign contributed about $36,000 for mailers that advocate for her candidacy, according to election statements.
That amount legally surpasses the contribution totals that citizens and most groups can make to candidate’s campaigns, according to Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno.
The sum comes from a group with a lengthy name: Independent Expenditure Committee for Jobs and Prosperity / Sponsored by Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee.
Ashby is running for the District 1 City Council seat against incumbent Councilman Ray Tretheway and realtor Efren Guttierrez.
The city’s campaign financing rules are complex. An individual can give no more than $1,500 to a City Council candidate during the span of a primary or general election.
Large political committees are barred by law from giving more than $5,000 to a City Council candidate during those time periods.
But Mizuno explained that groups called “independent expenditure committees” are not covered under the city’s restrictions. The group that provided about $36,000 for mailers supporting Ashby is one of those committees.
“An ‘independent expenditure’ is an expenditure made in connection with a communication (e.g. a billboard, advertisement, mailing) that expressly advocates the nomination, election, or defeat of a clearly identified candidate or the qualification, passage, or defeat of a clearly identified measure,” according to the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission website.
“An independent expenditure is a payment that is not made to — or at the behest of — the affected candidate or committee."
Election statements filed with the city also point out the groups that gave money to the Independent Expenditure Committee for Jobs and Prosperity.
These groups include the Committee for Home Ownership of the North State Building Industry Association and OSE Properties, Inc.
The Committee for Home Ownership of the North State Building Industry Association has also contributed to the Placer County California Republican Assembly Political Action Committee and Friends of Jimmie Yee, the Sacramento County supervisor running for re-election.
Read about mailers supporting Ashby in the election statement from the Independent Expenditure Committee for Jobs and Prosperity.
Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.
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Please, I am dying to hear.
Tretheway is owned by Republican developers.
So much for her 'union cred'...
Just as the Labor Council is with the public employee unions.
Unions = the Borg, they all think alike and speak the same language - you will be assimilated - oh thats right bbbbmr you are the leader of the Borg arn't you.
SPOA = UNION
Why no articles about where Tretheways money is coming from and who is endorsing him?
Ashby talks about representing the underprivileged in Natomas but where are they? Why aren't they standing with her? Why haven't they endorsed her? Does she even want their endorsements? Or does she, like Johnson, follow the money????? Anyone else can be seen but not heard. If Johnson or Maviglio for that matter, can have this much influence on Ashby prior to her getting in office what the heck, or how the heck will they influence her once in office???? Will the people be out of sight and out of mind???? Will we have to sit down and let the leaders, developers; folks who paid for her campaign or his SMI speak and have their way????
And frankly, a LOT of people have financial hard times from time to time. That she has experienced an eviction or other financial difficulties makes her 'normal' to me...
On the other hand, she has cozied up the the cops and fireguys and KJ, and supports his SMI, at least to the extent that she believes the city charter is 'antiquated', though I would question just how she believes it's antiquated beyond what she's been spoonfed by KJ's PR and law firm and developer backers...
To that extent, she'd be a DREADFUL incumbent on council -- her character seems one driven by unmerited ambition and local celebrity rather than substance, with every council appearance seeking to blame Ray Tretheway for nearly everything under the sun from Natomas flood issues to world hunger...
Her positioning is just silly, and she has earned my 'snorting and snarling' moniker many times over...
So, while she's had some difficulties, and while some people confuse earning a law degree with bar membership, I believe she would be a godawful council member...
What gives?
Please vote for him or Mr. Guttierez because they have served their communities honorably and effectively...
"More money from right wing myopes for the piglette to wallow in.... " - i am so glad the democrats only raise money selling lemonade and doing carwashes on every street corner. thank god we have one "clean" party who isn't supported by any special interest groups and unions. whew!!!!
"AND many people, even in the press, conflate the degree with membership in the bar... " - they are called not very good lawyers. its like a heart surgeon, do you really want a "C" student who earned a doctorate working on your arteries?
"Please vote for him or Mr. Guttierez because they have served their communities honorably and effectively..." - i am so glad we have that cleared up now. it is so nice to know that only the people this person supports are honorable and do an effective job. what were we thinking even having someone from an opposing party with an opposing point of view trying to be a public servant. now that we have all of that cleared up, who's ready for lunch?
lol
go give it a shot, if you think it's so easy.
Graduating from McGeorge is quite an accomplishment... almost all of my friends went to law school...some never practiced law. Passing the bar is obviously optional.
If people should vote for Tretheway or Guiterrez because they have served their communities honorably, Bmr, then a vote for Ashby would also meet your criteria for honorable. She has served her community honorably and tirelessly for almost a decade.. on her own time.. often doing Ray's job for him.
Then again, its seems Ashby's biggest critics don't live in her district and really don't have any direct experience with either her or Ray Tretheway. I happen to have lived in that district for 90% of Ray's tenure and saw Ashby in action on a regular basis. I have a very different outlook then people living downtown or on the south side..
Seems to me like emotions are fueling a lot of the negative sentiments towards Ashby , not experience or facts. I'm still waiting for someone to produce proof Ashby is in Johnson's pocket and represents one of the mere cards he is stacking in his favor on the council. All people seem to have to go is the KJ endorsement (which I would have turned down if I was Ashby). I tend to think the only reason people are criticizing Ashby is because they criticize everything Kevin Johnson is associated with.. which.. again.. I DO understand because the man has done very little to gain people's trust.
If you want to accuse someone of something, especially something that could violate laws, you'd better have some damn proof.
I would also be careful not to slander or defame someone online, you might find yourself with a fat lawsuit.
Make my day, honey....
I believe JoeSac is dishonest in his claims that he's 'unaffiliated', because I know for a fact that he was paid by KJ's campaign, perhaps through ad bucks for his ridiculous website, enabling plausible deniability... But for me, that's enough of a connection to establish that he is not credible... He's certainly not very articulate, frankly....
There's a considerable amount of bias in this forum and others, including the SNR, which I find particularly appalling because I have been commenting on their blogs for YEARS...
There's something insidious going on in this election and it's bigger than that which has been reported....I believe there is a strategy, a very well orchestrated, organized, and financed strategy... to take over Sacramento government by the largely Republican developer and corporate communities, and KJ is just the beginning.
This I find less than honorable, and even evil to some degree...
And I will fight it in every forum in which this subject matter is discussed....despite censorship of the truth...
The public opposes public funding, so they are put in a bought and sold position. Burg is right, Eldredge is different from others but anyone who runs for office (this his second time) is as politician -- even non candidates can have that label attached to them depending on their attitude and behavior.
Those that are unwilling to take money from special interests will never be elected in this town.
If you have a problem with Ashby's positions on issues, fine and dandy, but to attack her for trying to fund her campaign -the only realistic way there is, is pathetically hypocritical - You support Tretheway - he sold his soul out many many years ago to special interests who contributed to his campaign over the years.
When are you going to start whining about all of the developers, real estate agents and big contractors, unions and other groups that have funneled MILLIONS to Tretheway, through campaign contributions or through the Sacramento Tree Foundation?????
How much did he take from BP?
How much did he get from the unions? $100 - 200- 400 MILLION?
The fact that IN ADDITION to NORMAL CORPORATE FUNDRAISING he did a fantastic job using social networks to raise money does not mean that he was a grassroots candidate.
Obama also had THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of hours of FREE airtime AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of free articles in print by the liberal media machine.
Grassroots candidates for Council districts in Sacramento, dont get ink or free airtime.
I'm all for public funding of elections - what we have now is not democracy, it is corporate oligarchy that ensures corporate welfare and the screwing of the American tax payer.
If you would like to discuss by telephone, please email me and I will send my number so we can discuss this immediately. Rhonda can give you my email address if you need it. I'm very reasonable and patient, but I won't continue to be slandered and bullied by you. This has gone far enough.
Mark Johnston
Btw, JoeSac, the only thing that would have made your little tantrum funnier is if you stomped your foot and put your hands on your hips.... That's just how ridiculous you sound....LORD you must be a yutz...
I spend no more than about 20 minutes a day on these satirical articles about Ray. When the election is over and Ray is defeated you will probably not see his name on my site again for I will have nothing further to say on the matter. As a previous nine year resident of North Natomas, I am definitely supportive of Ashby unseating him . If I had criticism of Ashby to post, I would post it. But I don't. All I've seen from her is commitment to her community. She's a tireless, passionate, compassionate activist and will make a great council person for D1 IMO.
Also PoliticalThinker: you criticize Ashby for not fighting more low income housing in Natomas. It seems you don't approve of low income housing. Why not?
Bbbmer on the other hand, is attacking a non public figure in a public forum and making false accusations that are intended to defame me. You can't do that. Not only is it against the policies of this website, it is against the law. I am truly shocked by this person's wrathful comments. It is not only alarming, it is scary. You have no idea what anonymous people like that are capable of . I am now genuinely concerned about my safety after his vile attack on me above. I bet you Tretheway is not worried about his safety based on my zany stuff. I bet Ray thinks I'm harmless. I have nothing against Ray the person, I am only making light of his politics and obvious lack of awareness about what is going on in his district. I would never call him any vulgar or vile names or take my wrath out on him. Never. You are out of line to compare this situation to the satire on my site about Ray.
Honey, I get blowback from your folks all the time, and though I'm sure more than a few of them would stoop to threatening my physical safety, and home, and other, I would NEVER do so, and HAVE never done so -- not even here.... So calm yourself, honey -- no one's calling for that...
Nobody has threatened your safety.... just your words and their veracity and your willingness to sell yourself to KJ's and Ashby's tribe... Just where do you derive your fear of physical harm???
Maybe you really ARE an eggshell -- I've heard you were not 'all there', but leaping to this conclusion is truly revelatory...
No, the SP did NOT remove my comment -- *I* did....and I did so just for the sake of peace... I also amended my statements to include "I believe..." that you were compensated to lambaste Fargo, and now Tretheway... and i do believe that....
I believe you in fact were paid by KJ's camp, and that you may very well be paid NOW by Ashby's camp... And as a quasi public figure before the law, a belief about an issue is a defense to a claim of defamation, especially when you have lobbed outlandish hyperbole against other public figures.
Filing a lawsuit given your flimsy claims is easily defensible -- bring it -- don't just talk about it... But remember that such claims require 'clean hands' -- and the discovery process can reveal much about just how 'clean' your hands really are....
You should learn something about legal process before issuing your empty threats -- you're bound to run into someone who knows what they're doing... and just how impoverished your empty threats are...
Peace
mj
The reason you may feel under fire is because those of us that know what he has done are very angry at the thought that there is even a slight possibility that he coluld be re-elected.
I suspect you are working for his campaign, beceuse if you lived in his district for any length of time, you would no that there is no reason to support him. The ONLY people that support Treetheway are public employee unions, Greek Developers, concrete and stucco companies, his family or those working on his campaign.
You're right, Tretheway's supporters, or anyone who sees through the political tactics of KJ's crowd, including this Ashby critter, who have lobbed untold thousands of unjust accusations at Heather Fargo, and now, Tretheway, all pretty much lies or variants of lies, blaming them for everything under the sun from flood issues in Natomas they have absolutely no control over, to the economy and whatever else they wish to dish -- along with insults about their physical beings and disabilities, do so ad nauseum, and call it 'satire'....
But when it's done to them, they cry victim, and wimp out in a pathologically passive/aggressive and paranoid manner -- witness the above from one of Ashby's ardent blogisphere wannabes... They just sit there and LIE and then kvetch and whimper when they face even wittier pushback...
Basically KJ's crowd, including this Ashby critter, seem a bunch of professional victims with serious delusions and coached by manipulative jerks like Steve Maviglio, with aid from super scary consultants like Frank Luntz...at least at a distance...
And look what good KJ has done.... but don't hold your breath....
The fact that he decided to endorse her means nothing more than he does not want to see Treetheway re-elected. Johnson’s endorsement does not offer any weight to the proposition that IF elected, she would be his puppet. In fact, knowing how independent she is (we have clashed at times) I know that Johnson will not control her.
Personally, I were advising her I would think she should have asked him NOT to endorse her. He is a political liability and will bring few if any votes her way.
The other thing I like is that she does not need the job. She is running only because she has been very involved in our community for many years. There is not ONE other person in our district that has been more active as she has. Her candidacy is a logical progression in her community involvement.
Though I'd LOVE to meet some of these clever union guys, to have a laugh and strategize, I merely support what they do, though I am not among them....
That's just your paranoia acting out again, Forty... They have pills for that, ya know....
For goodness sake. I just finished reading all the comments, all the back and forth comments. Heck, I don't know what to say, it's like oil and water and the two don't mix. I understand the frustration. Heck, at times I get frustrated also and at times I get downright mad. I really can't believe this went back and forth as it did. What the heck was the purpose? If someone doesn't like me, or says something about me; it is what it is their opinion and I move on. I just don't get this. If someone attacks my character I say what I have to say and again I move on i don't dwell in it; or try and get them to see my point or even like me for that matter. I don't care. It's business not personal. We're adults and everyone doesn't have to like everyone. Heck, everyone doesn't have to say nice things about everyone. It is free speech and many are down right mad at all the games and deceit. Heck, if I was worried about what people would say about me I wouldn't talk about other people, whether they were politicians or not. They are human beings with feelings. And if we can dish it out we have to be able to take it. I talk about other people, I try and do it in truth and heck if I was afraid of being wounded I wouldn't come near a battle. We can't ride in like a knight in shining armor to save the day, people are mad. If we ride in on horseback we might just leave on foot, knocked off a high horse with hurt feelings. Again, people are mad and that anger can cause not-so polite conversation. Being "criticized, attacked or talked about comes with the territory when you stand firm in your beliefs. I just don't get it, we can't be outspoken with tissue paper feelings. But that's my 2 cents.
Yes, I read your comment and I agree, we should talk about the issues. But I can see how we can sometimes get annoyed and take personal shots. We're humans.
I don't sell my vote to the highest bidder either. and tI ake my vote seriously. I also agree regarding Gutierrez. and I agree with your assessment of Ashby and the "it's all about me....."
I would welcome such a filing if only to publicly demonstrate their idiocy and potential collusion with folks in this town who seek to undermine democratic process and embarrass far more honorable people, like Ray Tretheway...
Now THAT would make a VERY interesting summer project, and a reason to be in Sacto during the heat of the season....
I have no personal feelings against Ashby I don't dislike the woman I'm not attempting to make her look bad to make Tretheway look good. There are just too many red flags and where their is smoke people better believe there is fire.
BBBBBMR AND POLITICAL THINKER.
TAKE EVERYTHING THEY SAY WITH A TRUCKLOAD OF SALT.
Actually, I doubt bbbbmer is a Tretheway operative, but "politicalthinker" is highly suspicious. Like, "oh, hey, I'm a little wet behind the ears here, can you all help me?", not to mention the faux bad grammar, the shifting use of vernacular, and then, OMG! look what I just discovered about Ashby, everybody!!! Lame.
Stella, re: political thinker at first I wondered about his motives At first when I read comments I thought deja vous, I was reminded of when I first began reading this site and read Maviglio's comments to aid Johnson. But as I read more I can see how he could very well be a passionate person who supports and believes in Tretheway. Heck, I don't believe Fort Natomas is an Ashby operative and he comes on sometimes even slanting info in favor of who or what he believes in, tearing down the opponent or opposite point of view. It is highly possible political thinker, like many of us, are passionate and concerned for what we believe in. Perhaps he was excited thinking he found something new. I can see Fort Natomas, or some others feeling excited and sharing info they might find important if it was info against their preferred candidate’s opponent. Acrtually he hasn't done much else than I've seen some others do. But then again who knows.
This is an ugly strategy accompanied by ugly campaigns for ugly purposes brought by ugly people of ill will who can dish it out but can't take it... This in itself is just one indicator of how pathological their desires are...
My hope is that in heaping out my contribution to the blowback against this insidiousness, I can also do it comedically -- I love to laugh, especially at the hypocrisy and hate and bile heaved forth by right wing intenders like KJ (he may be a registered Dem, but he's as Republican as they come, in reality), Ashby, and their supporters, who seek a strategic domination of this city that is anything but healthy for most folks...
Hence we're told to conserve water, in order to sell it to Nestle in a cheap sweet deal engineered by Das Mayor... among other braintrusts...
Let's hope reasonably prudent people counter the cheap and blatant goals of greed shills like KJ and his surrogates, like Ashby, and do so with just a touch of humor -- for they really are kinda funny, in a pathologically ridiculous and hateful way, when it comes down to it....
but that's all a sham.
He is wiley old wolf in a sheep costume.
I liked Kaplan, but she is not in the race.
Thank you
BBBBBMR AND POLITICAL THINKER.
TAKE EVERYTHING THEY SAY WITH A TRUCKLOAD OF SALT.
I will not participate in your discussion threads again until you either require names or implement a zero tolerance policy regarding abusive comments, AND limit user accounts to one account per IP. We know there are a couple people here who are clearly using more than one identity to post, not to mention the fact that the anonymous Bbbmer continues to call people offensive names that make adult discussion here impossible.
That said, I realize you have a handful of readers who actually condone personal attack in community discussion. These are the same folks who would make the far-fetched comparison of my satirical posts about politicians to Bbbmer's slanderous false accusations about fellow voters. I know I'm not alone when I say people like this Bbbmer person cannot be trusted to join adults in an adult conversation about local politics... at least not as long as he remains anonymous and cannot be held personally accountable for his statements.
That brings me back to your policy here. Citizens should be able to post their open opinions freely about public figures without fear of retaliatory slander by fellow citizens. Any website that allows that sort of destructive attack, is an enabler and part of the problem and not the solution. I call on Sac Press as well as the Sac Bee and SNR to discontinue anonymous commenting and require real names from now on. Many sites across the internet have successfully implemented systems that require, e.g., a Facebook account, phone verification, etc and those same sites do not allow users to have multiple personas. These measures have raised the quality bar on conversations exponentially and their sites are safe havens for people to discuss issues without fear of being harassed or stalked.
Make no mistake, I think Sacramento Press has the potential to be THE virtual Sacramento town hall for folks to come and respectfully discuss the issues, but as long as you continue to allow these thread pirates to sabotage the discussions, it is not going to happen. You need to put a sign on the front of your site: WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE.. and act on it when necessary.
I have started a petition to have all Sacramento media outlets (including yours) discontinue anonymous commenting. I invite everyone to come sign it. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stopinternetabuse/
Sincerely,
Mark Johnston
Also, It doesn't mean people actually 'condone personal attacks" But to my knowledge no kids on this site. How are grown people going to tell other grown people how to talk, behave.....? I don't understand why you can't or don't ignore, dismiss.... anyone you feel (or actually does) attack you. It’s just not that serious.
Sometimes people unintentionally keep stuff going. Heck, you could have ended the remarks from coming at you but it seems you played right into it wanting to make friends or prove the person’s opinion of you is wrong. But heck it's an opinion and opinions are like as*holes everybody has one. So what?
Heck, even in this comment where you say you won't comment anymore you invite the person you're talking about to come back swinging. As I tell my son, "don't start cruisin for a bruisin" I don't get it. Everyone is not going to like us, care about us or talk nice about us it is what it is.
Everyone doesn't have to tell their identity. What is the purpose of knowing? What difference does it make? Does it give people leverage to find something on them to fight back? or expose them or find a way not to feel disadvantaged. What?
When I first read your site I had no idea who you were and it didn't bother me if you revealed your identify. You wrote about elected officials anonymously. Heck, it's like when a person quits smoking and suddenly dislikes or criticizes, or wants others to quit smoking. To each it's own. I didn't see anything wrong with you not revealing your name.
I don't get it what's the difference in someone saying bad things about you anonymously or giving their name? The content is the same. Why does it matter who the person is? Why do we even care to know? It just seems we'd want to know so we can find skeletons or bodies in another’s closet. And then what? Attack on that level? To me whether a person attacks in a civil matter or attacks in a rude matter it is still an attack.
I look for the good to outweigh the bad. There are several reasons I don't speak up if you're attacked 1) we're all adults 2) we can walk away from it, dismiss it, ignore it 3) and the main reason is because I look at the man in the mirror. I TOO attack people. I can't throw a stone at bbbbmer when I live in a glass house and stones can be thrown at me, I can't cast the first stone when I am also guilty. Whether we attack in a nice fashion or rude with obscene remarks; the truth is an attack is still an attack. An often many of us attack another’s point of view or personally.
Heck everyone’s definition of rude may not be the same. Who are we to determine how people should speak. My mother told me as a child; you can’t blame anyone for walking all over you; blame yourself for not getting up and getting out the way.
Whether you see it or not, I could argue you too have attacked bbbmer. Perhaps on a different level and you've extended an olive branch but sometimes we can't expect people to play nice because we're ready or willing to play nice. Sometimes we have to let things work itself out and not expect it to happen when or because we want it to and if it doesn't fit we shouldn't force it; it is what it is for goodness sake.
That's my 2 cents.actually 4 cents
Four whole replies since 9am this morning.... yowsa... and two of those by Ashby insiders who 'got caught' lying or cheating or bending/breaking campaign rules... groundbreaking...
Oracle, you behave as if this site was your Mecca -- it is not mine. A 'beatdown', whatever that is, isn't going to stop me expressing my views, here or anywhere... and I've dealt with far greater challenges than a little local website... You must live in a very small small world...
This little 'petition' drive reminds me of the line from AUNTIE MAME spoken by local southern girlabouttown (hooker) Sallie Cato MacDougal, when she says, "I'm just gonna HOLDMY BREATH until DAWN TOMORROW"....
And I would reply similarly to Rosalind Russell's infamous response: "Do that, honey...."....
My agenda is primarily a humane rights agenda, helping the homeless refugees in Sacramento and other oppressed groups. The big need is for people to stay registered to vote, overcome apathy and get out and VOTE! I am an independent voter. I am not chained to either major political party because both are like a two-headed monster controlled by corporate capitalism. This ain't just rhetoric, it is real.
The point here is for people to be aware of what is happening, conversant about the news and to take an active part in making this a better society, a real democracy, for all of us. I am not into the Left Vs. Right political bi-polar sickness. I encourage people to think for themselves as independent thinkers! ~Che Peta ~ ~ http://twitter.com/Peta_de_Aztlan
Gee what is Aztlan Peter?
Just what we need, a council member who supports the fantasy of Aztlan and santuary cities.
For those who don't want to scroll, here are some choice highlights:
1. When Fort Natomas tried to use the word "genius" in a condescending way but then spelled it "genious." Ingenious!
2. When politicalthinker said he was going to close his account but then kept babbling away for what seemed like ages. Like my mama used to say, "Don't announce, just bounce!"
3. When JoeSacramento threatened bbbmer with a slander lawsuit but was obviously just saying that because he was red faced and weeping.
4. When politicalthinker said that Trethaway being a human being was an opinion. Nah ,pretty sure that's a hard fact---perhaps the only fact in this entire thread.
http://www.fortrossvineyard.com/fortross/index.jsp
Really hard to get to, but worth it.....
http://www.safca.org/
There is an ongoing, concerted effort happening right now that is improving the levees. You can actually go there and see for yourself the construction that if happening. It took an effort from all levels...local, federal, to make this happen.