District 1 KVIA Debate

I caught the debate between the many candidates for District 1 on KVIA this morning.  It was not all that exciting with the only persons getting miffed at any point were Besco and Ness. 

I can run down each person's performance here.

Tim Besco - The giant Man-child flubbed the first question and never recovered.  He's just a terrible speaker and has little or no command of the issues.  His understanding of anything is only skin deep.  After hearing his view points it's impossible for him to claim he's "conservative."  He spouted some very liberal view points.

Manny Hinojosa - Was stuck on some weird concept about a website and I never really picked up anything else from him.  I hope people don't mistake his ability to speak clearly for actual mental stability.

Representative Ann Morgan Lilly - Typical Ann.  She's the same person she's always been.  She did use her one question to another candidate on Besco and tripped him up severely.  She asked Besco because he's the clear #2 in this race.   Her question to Besco sparked an odd answer from Ness who attacked approximately 75 percent of her district by demeaning folks who earn lots of money... more on this next.

Lyda Ness - Pretty, well spoken and wears assertiveness on her face - all good things for a candidate.  Grasp of the issues?  Fair.  When asked what ordinance she'd repeal she referred to a piece of what is essentially a master plan... I guess she didn't want to answer the question or didn't know the difference between an ordinance and a master plan.  Her answer served to spark the others down the line to give idiotic, misinformed answers that closely copied hers (there's a save the valley theme here that I'll take up at the end).

Ness talked about the city being closed Friday and how that connects to the city being anti-business.  It showed that she really doesn't get what the issue with the city being anti-business is about.  It's not their hours... It's many other easily identifiable actions taken by council and by staff.  If not being able to pull a permit on Friday was the city's worst transgression, we'd be in a lot different place here in El Paso.  To her credit - nobody on the panel was any clearer on the issue than she was. 

On Transmountain she gave probably the worst answer other than "no, I'm against it."  I take that back - a straight "no" would have been ten times better than the answer she gave.  She said she was for the widening, but only up to Ressler... What?  That does nothing but create MORE PROBLEMS! Her answer allowed her to be both "for" and "against" the Transmountain project.  I guess she runs across people dumb enough to believe that idea will work.  She already lost the endorsement of the greenies, why didn't she just switch her position completely to "for" and garner the support of the majority of the people in her district.  Remember, it's highly likely that by a 9 to 1 margin people are for the project.  She had the worst answer on that question because she took neither side and her solution wasn't well thought out.  She's trying to play both sides and it's not working.

Ness was right where you thought she'd be on the domestic partner benefits question, but completely reversed herself in an argument with Tim Besco.  The gay benefits question was a "yes" or "no"  only question - Ness said "yes."  At the end of the debate the candidates were invited to ask each other a question.  Besco asked Ness how she could be "objective" when it comes to the gay benefits issue since she's named on the lawsuit and started an entire organization on based on gay rights for gay El Pasoans. This question visibly pissed Ness off and I don't think anyone could understand why.  What she ended up admitting is that she didn't think that city should pay for anyone but the employee's health insurance... which means she filed a lawsuit to fix a problem she wants to do away with completely.  It was strange and made me wonder if she understood what she was saying and how benefit programs work.  Really, this lady is involved in a major lawsuit with the city and I'm not sure she knows why. 

She closed the performance out by asking Lilly an odd question about fulfilling her open records request.  I think it was an attempt to bring up the BS story about Lilly using city resources for her campaign.  The attempt failed miserably and left viewers confused.  Most people don't know what an opern records request is, and that means they didn't catch Ness' lack of knowledge on the subject as well.  No representative has any say over open records requests.  Lilly can't say "no, you can't have my emails."  She wasn't even asked.  The IT department works on this specific request and from what I understand already provided a cost to comply with the request.  The cost is north of $2,000.  The jab at Lilly was lost on the audience.

Abe Peinado - The big contradiction.  Is for business, but against the single biggest business project within reach for El Paso.  Poor Peinado was run by the downtown property owners and then abandoned when they saw Ness as more viable.   Peinado was confident in what he was saying, but he's all over the place when he's not talking about the construction blanket bond.  Peinado will be a great elected official one day, just not this year. 

Rick Schecter - Probably the candidate who best fits my city politics.  He was smart, on point and obviously very informed.  It's a shame he doesn't get more support. 

Dr. Ware-Asbury - Nice lady.  Not sure what she's for or against.

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My final thoughts...

Save the Valley controls about 20 to 40 votes.  You'd think they were the only ones in the district who vote at all by listening to all the candidates bow to their Redd Road demands.  Save the Valley really made an impact on these candidates and they really shouldn't have. 

There's a thing in Washington we called "Screaming Monkeys and a Roaring Lions."  The phrase was coined by a consultant I worked with on grassroots outreach.  His premise was simple:

Screaming Monkeys - make lots of noise, but have little to back it up.

Roaring Lions - deep, slow roars with the ability to back it up.

The premise was simple - some groups make a lot of noise, but aren't all that really powerful in delivering the consequences.  Others make less noise, but pack a bigger punch. 

Save the Valley are screaming monkeys.  In all the years they've been around they've been unable to elect anyone to carry their water.  It seems as if they scare the weak candidates into following their rules, but really have nothing to offer when it comes to getting those candidate elected.  Again this cycle, they'll lose even though they put the fear of God into all of the candidates except one. 

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The business issue at the city is sorely misunderstood by just about every single person who isn't in the business world.  The slate of candidates this cycle show that lip service is about as deep as the issue goes.  None of them really have a grasp of what it means to be "anti-business," but they're sure it's bad and they are confident they'll change the tide at city hall. 

Excuse me if I don't believe that a guy who can't add or subtract, but claims to be a carpenter, won't build me a quality house. You can say something all day long, but it won't make the statement true.  You have to understand the issue before you take a side. 

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I had a lot more to write, but it's movie time...

Comments

[Lisa Turner]

How can you say the City is anti business when every time a developer doesn't want to follow the codes they get it changed by Council. Our Codes are being changed on a weekly basis at the request of developers with the resulting cost in the million dollar a year range. Your tax dollars being wasted because certain people in this town don't feel the rules apply to them and apparently they don't.

Are there problems? Yes and that is one of them. There are others like slow payment just to mention one.

[Lisa Turner]

You claim Rick Schecter is the "best fits " your views then qualify the statement with a "shame he can't get more support" statement.

So David k. can you explain why you are not supporting him. Did you offer your time or make a contribution to his campaign. What have you done to support him?

It's your choice or have you given up that choice for the few crumbs thrown your way by those who control this city or are you going to do the bidding of others and dutifully support the Lilly/Niland campaign.

You get the Government you

[cut and pasted]

He cant vote for Schecter Lisa. Mommie wont let him.
Woody wouldnt approve.

[Tim Collins]

Thi sis petty but I find it dis respectful when a candidate shows up for a public forum, much less a television interview, and dresses inappropriately. I mean really would it have killed Mr. Schecter to have put on some slacks and a collared shirt? Seriously, shorts and a tie dye shirt, let alone white socks and sandles.

[Lisa Turner]

Well it was billed as a debate which it was not. Nothing more then here are 3 question to answer. No debate on the issues. Why? Simply because it can't be done in a 30 second time slot.

Let me ask you a simple question Tim. Do you want a candidate who is a fashion statement or a real candidate with the knowledge to fill the position? Your statement indicates you prefer one who dresses nicely verses one with the knowledge to do the job. What's that old saying. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Yea that's the one.

Cow manure no matter how pretty it's wrapped is still cow manure.

[Tim Collins]

Lisa I want both. Sorry I find it disrespectful to dress inappropriately.

[Carl Starr]

Its just a sign that most are fed up with politicans in suits etc, he is trying to say/show I am just me, I wont take the money etc in a every citizen rotating governing boards he would be you I, every citizen. In current system of greasing, corporate, individaul power runs [vs every citizen roating boards], he appears as a rebel, but he is really just you and me.

[Lisa Turner]

You don't find the so called debate not a debate disrespectful. Damn man get past the clothes issue and focus on the issues which can't be addressed because the media does not understand the word DEBATE.

In a real debate you would find those running for district 1 severely lacking except for Rick Schecter but there will be no debate because it would revel how weak the vast majority are on the issues facing the City and this applies across all of the districts up for election not just district 1.

[Tim Collins]

Lisa T calm down its no big deal. I find most of the candidates in all the races to be poor choices. If this is the best we have willing to come forward it says quite a bit about the state of politics in El Paso. PS I don't vote in district 1 so you can feel free to ignore my comment.

[Thomas]

Guys
I got to feel lucky this election time.There is nothing on this ballot for my area to vote on.How I do feel sorry for you guys. :)
Thomas

[Lisa Turner]

Tim

But it is a big deal. The future of the City and the taxes you are going to have to pay if you remain in this city is at stake here. The city's debt level has more than doubled in the past 5 years and is on pace to do the same in the next 4 years. Just since March 2010 to April 2011 the city has issued over $190,000,000.00 in CO's. There is a 300-400 million dollar bond issue they are waiting to bring forward including a refinancing of 100 million dollars in the Police and Fire pension bonds which was a bailout of their pension fund.

Are you ready to have your city taxes equalling your school taxes because if nothing happens they will.

[Tim Collins]

Lisa - there is no relationship between my observation and my reasons for voting. I vote in every election after studying all the candidates. Again, no matter how smart or whatever the candidate is, if they don't take the process serious enough to present themselves in a professional manner, then it is difficult to hear their message. If you don't win you can't make a change - so get your act together and SHOW me as well as tell me how serious you are about the work to be done.

[Diana]

I agree with Tim. Rick Schecter would be an embarrassment if elected to council. The way he dresses says he has no respect for the people he wants to serve or the people of El Paso. Come on, Lisa, if you walked into city hall and the city manager and all the employees were dressed in shorts and tied-dyed t-shirts, AND flip-flops, you would have a heart attack. Not saying he has to dress in suits, but at least look presentable. Someone needs to notify the guy that the 60's are over!

[Mojo]

His fashion statement screams, "I'm completely out of touch with reality, and take none of this seriously." JUST the kinda guy we need on council. ~rollingeyesface~

WHO is in charge of running these campaigns???? The answer is No One. It's another example where a real "politico" would be useful -- someone to say, "Hey Rick! You are campaigning on TV -- NOT weeding your front yard." Does this guy have a wife? No, wife I know would let their husband leave the house for this type of event dressed like that.How about a friend? No friend would say, "Yeah Rick -- that looks GrrreeAt for a political, televised event!"

Lisa -- like it or not -- "Image" is at issue in the political arena. Would you attend something like this dressed completely inappropriately? If your answer is, "It doesn't or shouldn't matter" then I'll spring for the chicken suit rental next time you are asked to attend a televised event. ;)

[Judge Chamerlain Haller]

The next time I see you Ric you will look lawyerly. Your clothing will be made out of some kind of cloth. You got me? Oh and all candidates must wear NASCAR type patches showing where their funding comes from.

[i voted for schecter]

"Representative Ann Morgan Lilly - Typical Ann." if it was typical anne then how many times did she fall asleep ? or did she drink a couple of "monsters" before she went in to the meeting.

[question]

"As for David K. This guy has really done some weird shit in this election. He recently asserted that I was "attacking" Ann Morgan Lilly, who he has been much more critical of her than I have until his recent flip flop on her. Previously according to David K she was a bad city rep who fell asleep in council meetings. Now he thinks she's great."

Lionstar lying or not ?

[David K]

question,

I have disagreed with several of Lilly's votes in the past and written about it here. There is no doubt that she is not always on the same page as I am when it comes to some issues. She has been consistent on some issues like the sign ordinance and certain grading ordinances pertaining to new construction.

As for saying that she falls asleep - that was something I said during a phone conversation with Jaime and it was more of a play on the common theme of her being old and tired. I never said she sleeps. I also said that I would like a rep more to my liking on every issue - what's wrong with that?

[Lisa Turner]

Tim

There is not a single candidate in any of these races who has shown the commitment to this City than I. Rick is the closest. I've been attending city council meetings before Cook was even a member of City Council. The budget sessions, LRC meetings, strategy sessions and every meeting open to the public I've been there and involved. I've even gotten a few things done like having a cooling Ordinance enacted which happens to be the only one of it's kind in the Nation. And I did it without wearing a suit.

I just wonder if you have heard the term "empty suit" because thats what you will get by not voting for Rick in Dist. 1.

[Tim Collins]

Lisa
Once again - Idon't live in District one. Gues you and I have a different up bringing regarding dressing appropriate. I know what an empty suit is and your falling back on that just shows you have no clue as to the point I was making.

[i voted for shecter]

"I also said that I would like a rep more to my liking on every issue - what's wrong with that?"

"Rick Schecter - Probably the candidate who best fits my city politics. He was smart, on point and obviously very informed. It's a shame he doesn't get more support."

then why dont you vote for shecter ?

[Diana]

Ric Schecter is an arrogant pompous a%%. Thinks he knows it all and listens to no one else. Again, a suit is not needed but at least put on a pair of pants and polo shirt!

I am sick and tired of these posts about Lilly falling asleep. City Council meetings are archived on the city website. Show me ONE meeting where she fell asleep. Just one! I have seen a deputy manager sleeping behind Joyce Wilson but never Lilly.