Volume 44 - No. 42
October 30, 2014
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished!
by lyle e davis
There is a common misconception that all the brouhaha surrounding the city of Escondido is about former Chief of Police Jim Maher. It is much bigger than Jim Maher. But he plays a role in what happened.
I was delighted when Jim Maher was named Chief of Police. I had known him for about 20 years. We had both worked to divert youth away from gangs and both our programs were successful. We both kept Latino kids from joning “los panderas,” (gangs). We would bump into Jim and his wife, Eva, as they were chaperoning kids and we were doing the same with our group. He rose through the ranks and was ultimately named Chief. The Paper - 760.747.7119
website:www.thecommunitypaper.com
email: thepaper@cox.net
Maher was a veteran cop who had come up through the ranks; a “cop’s cop,” a cop who enjoyed the support of his troops. Jim Maher had just one little problem. His boss didn’t like him. His leader.
His supervisor.
Several of his subordinate officers apparently didn’t either.
When City Manager Clay Phillips decided, arbitrarily, it turns out, to give department heads some hefty raises, to the melodic tune of around $200,000 . . . even though staffers at below department head level had deferred step raises to help the city with budget problems, and when Police Chief Jim Maher turned down his raise, saying he would
accept his raise only when his troops got theirs restored, well Mr. Big Time City Manager Clay Phillips was downright alarmed and embarrassed.
Maher was being a good General. He was looking after the welfare of his troops, sticking up for his men; the men he needed to be in the trenches with him in times of crisis. Well, that just wouldn’t do, decided Phillips. The campaign to remove Maher began. The Italians and Sicilians have a word for it. Vendetta.
In March of 2012, after Maher had turned down his raise, Escondido City Manager Clay Phillips confronted Chief of Police Jim Maher and said, “Your services are no longer needed. You are terminated.” or words to that effect.
Within a few days Mayor Sam Abed learned of the firing and was enraged. He confronted Phillips, asking him how dare he fire our Chief of Police without consulting him. Mayor Sam Abed liked Maher and stood up for him.
Maher retained his position but Phillips had been badly chastised and, again, embarrassed. A grudge had begun. The vendetta just built up steam.
Phillips had been stung because within the same month, after his granting of raises to his departmental heads became known, a hue and cry arose from the general public as well as many city staffers, calling for Phillip’s head. And now this verbal lashing by the Mayor.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished! Continued on Page 2
The Paper • Page 2 • October 30, 2014
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. from Page 1
What’s a poor City Manager who can’t manipulate his staff to do?
He merely wanted to reward those department heads who pledged their loyalty to him . . . ensuring he could count on them to back him up.
employees . . . and yet Phillips had the audacity to quietly hand out raises of between 9 and 24 percent to top management staff?
Phillips defended the raises given to 11 managers totaling more than $173,000. They ranged from a low of $4,800 for the director of utilities to a high of $32,666 for an assistant city attorney.
Phillips was taken to the wood shed and given a firm talking to by the Mayor and the Council in closed session. But the raises were not rescinded.
Escondido City Manager Clay Phillips
Lower level staffers, and the taxpayers, were not happy.
They said the city had closed a branch library, had cut off funding for essential services for the elderly, had insisted on concessions from
Give Us This Day Our Daily Chuckle This week, a compendium of wit, wisdom and neat stuff you can tell at parties. Enjoy! The Perfect Husband
Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cellular phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands-free speaker function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen. MAN: "Hello"
The Mayor, feeling he had to back up his City Manager, no matter how dumb the move and how distasteful the excuse would sound to taxpayers, publicly stated that he now supported the pay raises. (Privately, other council members told The Paper they were furious about it. But nothing was done.) Meanwhile, Chief Maher continued his duties as Chief. He was well aware of the animosity directed toward him by Phillips . . but he continued doing his job.
new models. I saw one I really liked." MAN: "How much?" WOMAN: "$90,000." MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."
WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing ... I was just talking to Janie and found out that the house I wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $980,000 for it." MAN: "Well, then go ahead and make an offer of $900,000. They'll probably take it. If not, we can go the extra eightythousand if it's what you really want." WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you so much!" MAN: "Bye! I love you, too."
The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths wide open.
MAN: "Yes."
He turns and asks, "Anyone know whose phone this is?" ••••• The Importance of Walking
MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much." WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Lexus dealership and saw the
This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $4,000 per month. My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was
WOMAN: "Hi Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?" WOMAN: "I'm at the shops now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $2,000; is it OK if I buy it?"
Walking can add minutes to your life.
One of his aides, a very attractive young lady by the name of Leticia Garduno, served as his Community Outreach Officer. Maher had his critics within the Latino community and he needed someone who was fluent in Spanish, who could help Maher communicate with and to the Latino community. They attended many events together.
Paper and supplied us with the copies.
As a result, tongues began to wag.
Two senior officers within the department, thenLieutenant Craig Carter and Captain Bob Benton, had begun exchanging private and personal text messages about Chief Maher, alleging an affair was going on between Chief Maher and Letty Garduno. These text messages were on city time, on city equipment. The Paper obtained a copy of these long-suppressed text messages. We had requested copies from the city. That request was denied.
Several sources felt the information was critically important to ensuring fairness and contacted The
60. Now he's 97 years old and we have no idea where the hell he is. ••••• I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me. ••••• The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again. ••••• I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing... ••••• Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise,' I wash my mouth out with chocolate. ••••• I do have flabby thighs, But fortunately my stomach covers them. ••••• The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say, 'Well, he looks good doesn't he?' ••••• If you are going to try crosscountry skiing, start with a small country. ••••• I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years ,.. just getting over the hill. ••••• We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ••••• Every time I start thinking too
Lieutenant Craig Carter (at the time of these text messages; the photo above is after he was promoted to Captain. He has since been promoted to Chief
We cite pertinent excerpts from those text messages below. To read the entire text exchanges, you may go to our website at: http://issuu.com/awodigitaledition/docs/thepaper_61313?e=2076238/333 7509 From Jim. (Maher) Let’s hold off. We have Hippa
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. on Page 4
much about how I look, I just find a pub with a Happy Hour and by the time I leave, I look just fine. ••••• George Phillips, an elderly man, from Meridian, Mississippi, was going up to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window. George opened the back door to go turn off the light, but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.
He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" He said "No, but some people are breaking into my garden shed and stealing from me."
Then the police dispatcher said "All patrols are busy. You should lock your doors and an officer will be along when one is available" George said, "Okay." He hung up the phone and counted to 30. Then he phoned the police again.
"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I just shot and killed them both.
‘Chuckles’ Cont. on Page 8
The Paper • Page 3 • October 30, 2014
Why Do We Need Prop. H?
Do we want a decade of this? Paid for by Escondido Coalition for Open Space and Community Revitalization,Yes on H, Sponsored by Lakes at Escondido LLC, with major funding by Lakes at Escondido LLC, 1800 West Country Club Lane, Escondido, CA 92026
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The Paper • Page 4 • October 30, 2014
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. from Page 2
issues from the other emails, and potential resentment from dozens of other employees whose own medical issues were not given treatment, let alone their spouse and family members. Good news for Jessie but I will now have to figure out a consistent protocol for everyone. Editor’s Note: Reference is to Jessie Carter, wife of Craig Carter, who had been in hospital.
Local News
of chihuahua - a Mexican dog or “Mexican bitch.” They are referring to Chief Maher being on the phone to Letty Garduno. Craig 8:55 I don’t like him anymore.
Bob 8:56 Yeah. Something weird going on. He’s going further back into that bunker he’s building. Craig 8:58 Yea. A lot more cya than usual.
Editor’s Note: CYA = military jargon for “Cover Your Ass.” Bob 9:14 I need to call you asap. Craig 9:15 Do it.
Captain Robert Benton (identified as Bob in text messages below)
Bob 8:46 Sorry. I can’t even tell everyone she’s home.
Bob 8:48 I did tell him that we set a precedent with Robins ipad and nothing was done for Jessie. Craig 8:48 Funny. What a complete mess he is. Bob 8:50 Yep.
Craig 8:51 Let me think,,; how many times did we bend over for Teresa Ramirez? oh that was different.
Editor’s Note: Reference is to Teresa Ramirez, a much loved and admired city employee who developed cancer, then saw it go into remission, then return, and to which she eventually succumbed.
Bob 8:53 Yeah. Named room after her which violated city policy but he did it anyway. Cuz its the right thing to do. He’s probably on the phone to chihua trying to figure it out. Editor’s Note: Misspelling
According to our reliably informed sources, Captain Bob Benton had accidentally pushed a wrong button and sent a copy of the text message traffic to Chief Maher. When Maher read the text messages and figured out they were about him, he called Benton and/or Craig into his office and read them the riot act. These text messages emerged in April, 2012.
In theory, that should have been the end of it. Two subordinate, but high ranking officers were caught in inappropriate behavior, were chewed out, and sent back to duty. But Maher felt he had a duty to report the actions of his officers to his direct supervisor in the chain of command, City Manager Clay Phillips.
The text messages were not turned over to Phillips, however, until sometime in August or September of 2012. Up to about April of 2012 Maher had the support of the Escondido City Council majority. Several sources have confirmed to us, however, that Maher was ordered by Phillips to have no further contact with council members. The only source of information that reached the council members ears, then, was that which came from Clay Phillips. (Emphasis mine Editor)
In time, Phillips was able, according to sources, to con-
vert the council to a position of non-support for Maher. His only council support came from his one-time nemesis, Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz. To the shock of most everyone within the department, within city hall, and within the public sector, instead of disciplining the two senior officers involved, Clay Phillips suspended Chief Jim Maher, with pay, while an investigation was conducted. The two senior officers were not suspended or, to our knowledge, even reprimanded. One of the officers, Lieutenant Craig Carter, was even later promoted to a position of Captain, and then, still later, to the new Chief’s position. There are a number of very reliable sources who allege that Phillips and Carter had become close friends and that Phillips had been grooming Carter for the position of Chief for at least two years.
There are those, The Paper included, who feel the matter could have easily been resolved in house. The two officers had been chastised and counseled by their chief and sent back to work. End of story. But Maher did what he felt was his duty and transmitted the text messages and other information to Phillips.
Which appears to have given Phillips exactly what he needed to seek revenge against Maher . . . to give him cause to ultimately rid himself of a Chief that had embarrassed him by standing up for his troops. First a suspension, an investigation, at a cost of $72,000, the results of which will likely never be known to the taxpayers who paid for that investigation, and, ultimately, a demand that Maher retire - which Maher eventually did.
Maher is not hurting financially. His salary was $150,000 per year. He has a pension that will pay him about $135,000 annually (90% of his annual salary.) His reputation, however, has been tarnished. A law enforcement officer who devoted his life to his career and won plaudits from his peers and his con-
stituents throughout . . . only to end up tossed out on a trash heap via a forced “retirement.”
Was Maher railroaded out of the department? Did his senior officers betray him? “I didn’t think it would lead to retirement,” said Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz. “The entire fiasco never made sense to me. Why would you put the chief on leave while you investigate possible wrongdoing by others?”
The city of Escondido is not known for sharing its secrets. We can investigate and come up with bits and pieces, we know all of the players, and we have sources. We can put all those bits and pieces together and come up with a probable scenario . . . but, in the end . . . it’s up to you, the reader, to decide the merits of the case. The vendetta, however, did not stop with Jim Maher. Remember at the beginning of this story how we said the issue much bigger than just Jim Maher. Consider this;
Lieutenant Greg Ellis, a 21 year veteran of the Escondido Police Department, left for vacation in March, 2013. He was never allowed back in the the police headquarters building nor did he ever get a real chance to say goodbye to his pals.
Former Escondido Police Lieutenant Greg Ellis
While on vacation in Hawaii with his family, Lieutenant Ellis was placed on leave, with pay. He was advised via his attorney then subsequently via letter that he was terminated as of June 7th, 2013. The reason as stated in a letter to him was "failure to comply with and meet the standards of a
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. on Page 5
The Paper • Page 5 • October 30, 2014
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. from Page 4 police lieutenant."
Other than a minor reprimand early in his career back in 1993 or 1994, Ellis did not have one single discplinary action on his record, according to reliably informed sources. Even that minor reprimand was forgiven by the department. Witness the fact that Ellis was steadily promoted, most recently on October 11th, 2011, when he was promoted to Lieutenant.
While he was called in for questioning by the city’s paid investigator prior to his trip to Hawaii, he had no inkling that he was going to be discplined in any way . . . let alone terminated. Knowledgeable sources, both within and outside the Escondido Police Department, believe the termination was nothing more than retaliation by Clay Phillips, the Escondido City Manager. It is reported by many of these same sources that there was great friction between Phillips and former Chief of Police, Jim Maher.
It is also known that Lieutenant Ellis was a supporter of Maher. Because of this support, Phillips appears to have made the decision to terminate Ellis.
Phillips had met with a group of officers, Lieutenants and above, following Chief Maher being placed "on leave." Those officers, according to multiple sources who were present, heard Clay Phillips say, "supporting the Chief (Maher) would be dealt with swiftly and severely." (Emphasis mine: Editor) Phillips then, it is alleged, ordered an investigation and learned that Ellis made a comment early on, shortly after Maher was placed on leave, to the effect of . . "Don't make any judgments yet. We don't know what's going on. The Chief has been very good to us. He listens. Until we hear otherwise, we need to support him." One of the officers who heard this counsel was a good friend of thenLieutenant Craig Carter, and sent an email to Clay Phillips saying Ellis was being political in his comments.
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Some observers thought Ellis may have been implicated by distributing either a petition in support of Maher, or a survey regard-
leads by fear.” He says Phillips threatened officers with “swift and severe punishment” if they supported Maher while he was on leave, which confirms Ellis’ account.
Wynn’s email urges council members to question how Phillips has led the city since the Maher investigation began.
Former Escondido Police Lieutenant Chris Wynn
ing Maher's situation and that he attended a rally for Chief Maher. Ellis was at the rally, not as a participant but as the Lieutenant in charge of the Mobile Field Force, an assignment that can be readily verified by a simple check of police logs and assignments for that date. In fact, he was stationed behind the scene and did not enter the rally area until the rally had concluded. If he was videotaped at the rally, it was in his capacity as Commander of the MFF and was directing his officers in cleanup details. Ellis claims he absolutely did not distribute any petition(s) or surveys.
More than somewhat bewildered, Ellis has confided to friends that he simply does not understand what happened. He told these friends, "I was with the city for 21 years . . . the city had been good to me until this episode. I have warm memories of my duties with the city and am proud of my 21 year career in law enforcement and of the many friends I made along the way." If the matter does go to trial, chances are a number of individuals will be subpoened to testify and there will likely be explosive testimony that is sure to embarrass the city, its management, and its elected officials.
Lieutenant Chris Wynn also has left the department, voluntarily, for a job with the Val Verde Unified School District in Riverside County. Subsequently, Wynn sent an email to the members of the Escondido City Council whch said, in part: “Phillips
“If he had an issue with Chief Maher, he should have simply removed him from office without all the drama surrounding this investigation,” the email says. “He has made the city look horrible and substantiated the idea that there are back door deals occurring at the highest levels of city government.” (Emphasis mine: Editor)
In Wynn’s email, he says he reluctantly left the department because it became apparent after the Maher investigation began that any supporters of the former chief weren’t welcome. “It became clear to me that I could no longer be a contributor to the organization as I was believed to be ‘in the Maher camp’ and not a team player,” Wynn says. Knowledgeable sources tell us Wynn heard about the high paying, top security job in the Temecula area and opted to resign from the department before the city tried to do to him what they had done to Ellis. Morale at the Escondido Police Department is reported to be terrible. Officers, both line and command, are not sure when the next shoe is going to drop . . and on whom.
All of which brings into focus the large question. Just who is running the Escondido Police Department? Who is running the city? It appears City Manager Clay Phillips is the answer to both questions. The Heroes: Those Who Came Forward With Inside Information
As pointed out in our recent “The Smoking Gun? issue, management mem-
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. on Page 6
The Paper • Page 6 • October 30, 2014
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. from Page 5
bers can often manage to cover up various activities that, were they known publicly, would have thousands of people marching on city hall with a bucket of tar and a boatload of feathers.
Every now and then, however, someone comes forward to spill the sack of beans. Someone who gets fed up with lies and deception. It can be someone from within city hall, from within ‘the inner circle,’ from outside city hall, from within another city department. One just never knows from whence ‘reliably informed sources,’ come from. But they are there. The ‘whistleblowers’ have to be careful, however. Sometimes it can mean their jobs, their careers, Thanks to them, for there are multiple ‘reliable sources’, and their courage, we are able to bring all the series of events and questions - and to offer evidence of wrongdoing. The political bombshell wound up being a simple letter.
A letter that was not written by Jim Maher but was written by the city of Escondido, at the direction of City Manager Clay Phillips, with the full knowledge and approval of the City Attorney’s office. The Paper obtained a copy of the letter from an anonymous “reliable informed source.” It did NOT come from Jim Maher.
The letter is dated 8/20/2013 and was prepared for Jim Maher’s signature. To his credit, Jim Maher refused to sign it, knowing full well that to do so would involve him as a co-conspirator in what may well prove to be a felony criminal conspiracy.
In a story published by the UT of San Diego on August 23, 2013, written by J. Harry Jones, Maher is quoted as saying the city of Escondido declined to pay him the second $75,000 payment as part of a $150,000 severance agreement by claiming “Maher or his wife, Eva, of breaching a confidentiality provision in a contract Maher signed in November 2012 when he retired from the department under mysterious circumstances.”
Maher says in the lawsuit that he received the first of two installments of a $150,000 payment in January 2013, but didn’t receive the second installment the following July. When Maher abruptly stepped down in 2012, he reached a severance agreement with the city that included the $150,000 cash payment and a retroactive 14 percent pay raise that bumped his annual pension to $162,504.
Escondido Mayor Sam Abed
The agreement also restricted Maher and his wife from speaking publicly about his departure or about any city business, and prohibited them from attending City Council meetings and other civic events.
The lawsuit claims that on June 11, 2013, the city sent a letter to Maher’s lawyer stating that it intended to withhold the second payment because either Maher or his wife “breached the confidentiality and/or other provisions of the contract.”
A letter was prepared for Maher’s signature and Maher was told to sign it and he would receive the $75,000. Maher has refused to sign.
City Manager Clay Phillips said that no such demand had been made.
“That’s absolutely not true,” Phillips said at the time. “The payment was withheld for breach of contract. No one sent him a letter like that. Can you imagine us even doing that?” http://www.utsandiego.com/ news/2014/aug/23/tp-formerpolice-chief-sues-escondido/
You may read the entire account of Mr. Jones story at the above link. It would appear, from Mr. Phillips’ quote . . . that he is a liar. We then contacted Mayor Sam Abed and asked if he
had knowledge of such a letter, whether he knew if it existed or not.
“Absolutely not!” said the Mayor. “It would be a violation of the law to do that. I don’t know a lot about such a letter but both Clay and Jeff assured me this never happened.”
I have not seen such a letter. City Hall does not play politics! We hold our city staff to the highest ethical, moral and legal standards.”
The Mayor was then asked, “if such a letter did exist and if we had it in our possession as evidence, and if we were to publish that letter, would that be cause for concern as to the level of honesty you are experiencing from Clay and Jeff?” “Yes,” said the Mayor. “That would be cause for dismissal. If we have evidence of wrongdoing I will take the appropriate action. We hold our city employees, all city employees, to the highest legal and ethical standards. That would be a reason for dismissal for cause.” This statement is particularly interesting because under
the terms of both contracts for City Manager Clay Phillips and City Attorney Jeff Epp, they must be paid their full salary (with about three years remaining) if they were to be fired. Except for cause.
If they were to be dismissed for cause then, presumably, their contracts become null and void.
The more recent background: Maher filed a claim against the city for $75,000 on December 31. That claim was rejected by the city in February, the routine process of litigation. The next step was to file a lawsuit, which Maher has done. Referring to important sections of the “Severance Agreement” (10/31/2012) between the City of Escondido and now former Chief of Police, Jim Maher, the following issues and questions are raised while reviewing these documents -
1- When did the City Council
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. on Page 7
The Paper • Page 7 • October 30, 2014
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. from Page 6 officially authorize the payment of $150,000 to Chief Maher to gain his signature on the “severance agreement?” 2- Why did those who drafted the agreement and authorized the payment of $150,000 feel they had the authority to do so?
3- Why did those who are responsible for the agreement seek to stop Chief Maher and his wife from commenting in any way on any city issues or city employees, including elected officials? (Section 10. Civility/No Contact) 4- Why did those responsible specifically seek to stop Chief Maher and his wife from making any “negative, derogatory, or disparaging statements?” Who was trying to hide what, at City Hall? 5- Why did those responsible ban the Chief from speaking to the press? (Sec 10.2) A “Supplement” to the severance agreement was executed on 11/14/2012.
During 2013, after Chief Maher had “retired,” and subsequent to the severance agreement being executed, the City withheld the second payment of $75,000 to Chief Maher. The City alleged that he breached the terms of the agreement. During discussions between the Escondido City Attorney’s office and Jim Maher’s legal counsel, the City submitted a written statement that the City wanted Maher to sign, in order for him to get his last $75,000 payment. 1) Who initiated/authorized the withholding of the second payment to Chief Maher?
2) What specific breach(es) of the agreement were alleged? 3) Who drafted and reviewed the text of the statement submitted to Maher?
removing (firing) Chief Maher from office, used public money to accomplish this task, which included preventing Chief Maher from commenting negatively on any information he had about the management and operation of the City by the City Manager Clay Philips and/or the Mayor Sam Abed, and/or other elected officials and other City employees.
2) Subsequent to the executed severance agreement, the same officials who concocted Maher’s initial removal, attempted through pressure (withholding the $75,000 payment) to accomplish a new, specific, further goal of stopping Jim Maher from running for elective office in Escondido. (Multiple polls conducted in Escondido
4) Who included the language about Maher not running for, or having any “intention whatsoever” in running, for Mayor or City Council in Escondido?
Also, ”I have no intention whatsoever to seek elective office or assist any candidate in running for elective office in the City of Escondido, during the next election.” Also, “I am enjoying my retirement with my family and have no interest whatsoever in being involved with City of Escondido politics.” 5) The City authored statement also includes a laudatory description of City Manager Clay Philips and the statement that Maher “freely choose to retire.”
OBSERVATION- Why was (or is) the City of Escondido so concerned about whether Jim Maher was going to run for Mayor or City Council? Why did the City draft a document, which was to be an official, final announcement that he was not running for elective office in Escondido? (Please note Maher refused to sign the document. He immediately contacted the District Attorney to document this was not his idea. He did not file a formal complaint at that time.) The State of California Elections Code Section 18205-
ALLEGATIONS-
1) Those responsible for “Escondido Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz
showed that Maher could be elected Mayor, if he chose to run, and certainly could have been elected, if he ran for a council seat.) 3) Those who drafted and reviewed the 8/20/2013 document included multiple false statements which they apparently were trying to compel Jim Maher to offer as his own … to NOT BECOME A CANDIDATE. 4) Specific false statements in the second paragraph are”Press accounts and rumors have also circulated to the effect that I want to run for a seat on the Escondido City Council or run for Mayor in the next election. Nothing could be further from the truth.” It was well known at that time, by Mayor Abed and City Manager Philips, that Maher was in fact VERY interested in running for Mayor or Council. Mayor Abed apparently even officially included Jim Maher’s name in some of his campaign’s polling.
“A person shall not directly or through any other person advance, pay, solicit, or receive or cause to be advanced, paid, solicited, or received, any money or other valuable consideration to or for the use of any person in order to induce a person not to become or to withdraw as a candidate for public office. Violation of this section shall be punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code for 16 months or two or three years.” CONCLUSION- There are most likely multiple people in positions of authority and power within the City of Escondido, who deliberately took actions to fire then Chief of Police Jim Maher. The person most likely to have started that process was in fact the ONLY one who could start that process … City Manager Clay Philips.
Per the 8/20/2013 draft statement, it is clear there was a strong motivation to get Jim Maher to publicly state that HE WAS NOT going to run for Mayor or
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. on Page 8
The Paper • Page 8 • October 30, 2014
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. from Page 7
City Council. The most likely source for this effort is again City Manager Philips and/or the full-time Mayor of Escondido, Sam Abed. Both had/have financial reasons to not want Maher to run. If the Mayor lost his seat, he would lose his full-time salary and retirement. If “Mayor Maher” were to take over, Manager Philips days would be numbered. And we don’t know yet what Jim Maher knows about Clay Philips, or what secrets are hiding within City Hall? And if full-time Mayor Abed did not know his Staff was doing this … how could he not? And if he did know?
What relationship was there between the alleged breach of the original agreement and the City authored statement of 8/20/2013? How would the statement resolve the breach? Or was the entire “severance” process designed, from the beginning, to fire Jim Maher and keep him from running for elective office in Escondido? What is clear is that those who are responsible (or aware of) the 8/20/2013 statement, as well as any others who concocted the withholding of the $75,000, have in fact violated the California Elections Code Section 18205, in that their actions attempted to yield, the self-prohibition of Jim Maher from running for elective office in Escondido. How is it in any way legal for City employees (which include elected officials) to
been seen. (City of Bell, CA may be a similar abuse of power, authority and resources.)
If in fact Maher was/is the victim of a criminal conspiracy, the City would then be liable for significantly more than the amount in question, not including punitive damages. And any individuals involved in such a conspiracy would most likely be personally liable for their criminal acts. And those convicted, would forfeit their contracts, benefits, and pensions. Last week we spoke with both Mayor Sam Abed and Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz about the revelations published in The Paper. We wanted to see which mayoral candidate would do what, if anything. Earlier, Mayor Abed had said, forcefully, that “it was cause for dismissal,” if we could show and publish the letter “that didn’t exist,” and which would show Phillips and Epp had not been truthful with him. After seeing the evidence we asked Mayor Abed if he intended on seeking dismissals.
The Mayor proceeded to try for the Olympic record in backpedalling from his previous comments by saying: “Well, we are concerned but the matter is in litigation and we can’t really take any action until the court decides. We don’t have any real evidence. The letter may well have been an exchange of proposed correspondence between Jim Maher’s attorney and the city attorney’s office in an attempt to resolve the issue. So you’re saying no action will be taken unless and until the court hears the pending litigation? Which comes after the election?
Escondido City Attorney Jeff Epp
use public tax dollars to manipulate city elections? Clearly it is illegal for ANYONE to induce, extort, etc , any individual to either become or WITHDRAW as a candidate. To use City dollars for this purpose rises to a level of political and public corruption that has rarely
“Yes, the election has nothing to do with what action will or should be taken. We want to follow due process and have the court hear the matter and make a judgment. If the court determines Clay and Jeff were not truthful then I will be the first to take action.”
We asked Deputy Mayor Diaz what she had heard from Mayor Abed and/or other council members about the revelations: “Nothing, not a peep” she said. “Everyone’s being very tight lipped. I asked for a
closed council session so we could discuss it. That request was ignored.” We asked her what she would do if elected Mayor. Would she seek dismissal of Clay Phillips and/or Jeff Epp?
“Well, I had tried to have Clay terminated twice before - but the votes weren’t there. I’m not sure the votes would be there once I’m elected Mayor if the council makeup doesn’t change; but I would, for certain, insist on closer supervision of our top administrative officers.
I have sent a letter to District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, requesting she reconsider the letter I sent her in 2013, together with a review of the new information you have published. I have not heard back from her as yet.
One of the first things I would do as Mayor is to ensure City Hall is a more open place; that includes leading tours for our taxpayers. I would also seek to have city emails archived, rather than disposed of after 90 days as they are now. It would also be a much more transparent city government.” The District Attorney and/or Grand Jury of San Diego County should immediately investigate this case thoroughly and take appropriate action. The City of Escondido settled a similar abuse of its illegal involvement in a City election (Harmon vs. City of Escondido), but apparently has not learned from those misdeeds and the subsequent settlement. The FPPC should look into the repeated violations of the Elections Code by City Officials.
Let us hope that the “disinfectant of sunlight” and a thorough criminal investigation, will once and for all, keep the City of Escondido from interfering with elections and candidates and from attempting to do so in the future. This is a story that could, and probably should, change the landscape of Escondido politics and governance substantially. And largely because of those unsung heroes . . . the “reli-
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. on Page 10
‘Chuckles’ Cont. from Page 2
The dogs are eating them right now." and he hung up.
Within five minutes, six police cars, a SWAT team, a helicopter, two fire trucks, a paramedic and an ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence and caught the burglars red-handed. One of the policemen said to George, "I thought you said that you'd shot them!" George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"
(Don't mess with old people.) ••••• Here's a man that knows his math and has good sense.
I was riding to work yesterday when I observed a female driver, cut right in front of a pickup truck, causing the driver of the pickup to drive onto the shoulder to avoid hitting her. This evidently angered the driver enough that he hung his arm out his window and gave the woman the finger. 'Man, that guy is stupid,' I thought to myself. I ALWAYS smile nicely and wave in a sheepish manner whenever a female does anything to me in traffic, and here's why:
I drive 48 miles, each way, every day to work. That's 96 miles each and every day. Of these, 16 miles each way is bumper-to-bumper. Most of the bumper-to-bumper is on an 8 lane highway. There are 7 cars every 40 feet for 32 miles. That works out to be 982 cars every mile, or 31,424 cars for the 32 miles. Even though the rest of the 64 miles is not bumper-to-bumper, I figure I pass at least another 4000 cars. That brings the number to something like 36,000 cars that I pass every day. Statistically, females drive half of these. That's 18,000 women drivers! In any given group of females, 1 in 28 has PMS. That's 642. According to Cosmopolitan, 70% describe their love life as dissatisfying or unrewarding. That's 449. According to the National Institute of Health, 22% of all females have seriously considered suicide or homicide. That's 98.And 34% describe men as their biggest problem. That's 33. According to the National Rifle Association, 5% of all females carry weapons and this number is increasing, especially in California, where I live. That means that EVERY SINGLE DAY, I drive past at least one female who has PMS, a lousy love life, thinks men are her biggest problem, has seriously considered suicide or homicide, and is armed. Give her the finger? I don't think so!
The Paper • Page 9 • October 30, 2014
It’s Time For a Change by lyle e davis
At one time I was a major critic of Olga Diaz. Then I got to know her.
Strange, what happens when you sit down and talk to someone. You find out what they really think. What they really believe. Often, you find out most of what you first thought of them was inaccurate and your perception and the perception of the public in general . . . was mostly wrong. We still have our differences. I'm dead set against illegal immigrants. She's not. I love legal immigrants; was married to one for 40 years. That's about the only issue on which we seriously disagree.
I've followed Olga over the years and noticed that she is an articulate individual; she does her homework; she stays in touch with her constituents, who are, incidentally, not all Latino. She votes her conscience and, when necessary and compelled to reverse her position when she feels the facts justify it, she'll reverse her vote. That sometimes takes political courage. Many people have given Olga a bad rap. They say she’s against police enforcing traffic laws and sobriety check points.
After meeting Olga I found out, that she is not against ensuring that drivers of vehicles have license, are insured, and are sober. She simply felt that saturation patrols were a far simpler and less expensive means of attaining that goal. Having the checkpoints requires four times the numbers of officers to set up and maintain at about four times the cost. She has been extremely patient with a council that will not allow her to place an item on the agenda for discussion; she has been civil and courteous but firm in standing her ground for what she believes in.
In the latest controversy, the publication of a letter the city manager claimed didn't exist and which the city attorney's office would neither confirm or deny, she was as upset as many of us at the inaccurate information given by Escondido's City Manager, Clay Phillips.
She has taken steps to get to the bottom of it, calling for an independent auditor or investigator to come in from outside the city and get to the bottom of it. If, in fact, Clay Phillips did
mislead the Mayor and/or the rest of the City Council, she will call for his dismissal as well as that of City Attorney Jeff Epp. Our Mayor and our Council have a right to expect honest answers and actions from our top administrators and counsel. If they are dismissed, for cause, their handsome contracts would become null and void and the city would not be on the hook for about $300,000 each, per year, on the remaining three years of their contract. If they agreed to resign then perhaps they would accept a severance agreement in lieu of the remaining compensation called for in their contract. It is clear they have experience in severance contracts.
Asked if she were to be elected Mayor if she would seek the dismissal of Phillips and/or Epp, she said, “I’ve tried on two other occasions, unsuccessfully. I didn’t have the votes at the council level. As Mayor, I’m not sure I would have the votes to remove them unless the composition of the council changes. I would, however, demand closer supervision of both our city manager and our city attorney. That, at a minimum.” By contrast, the present Mayor, Sam Abed, vacillated on actions to be taken concerning our top administrators. He wants to wait for a lawsuit to be heard which, not incidentally, is AFTER the election. This, to us, smacks of a lack of leadership and the taking of decisive action when called for.
If/when an employee lies to you . . . they should be dismissed, for cause, immediately. We have other problems with Mayor Abed.
He is given to embellishing many of his statements with something other than facts.
Several months ago, for example, he told us of a survey he had taken which showed he was going to beat Olga Diaz by 20 points. We asked to see that poll. He said it had been conducted by a third party and they were unwilling to release it. "Sam," we said, "if you paid for the poll . . . you have a right to a copy of it and to use it as you wish." "Yes," he said, "but I don't want to tip my hand to my opponent."
Just two weeks ago he said that 80% of the people his most recent poll had conducted indicated they were happy with the direction the city was going. We asked to see that poll.
Escondido Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz, and Candidate for Mayor of Escondido
Same answer. He would not share the poll or tell us who conducted it or within what demographic.
By contrast, a year ago we asked for a copy of Olga Diaz's poll which showed if it had been taken then she would have beaten Mayor Abed by 9 points. We had the complete poll, questions asked, and demographics in our email inbox that same day. She was responsive. Sam was not. There’s a lot to like about Sam Abed. He promised to hold Town Hall Meetings when elected Mayor. He kept that promise . . . and, for the most part, he conducted the meetings quite well. He runs a tight, well controlled, council meeting.
He has helped to turn the financial status of the city of Escondido around . . . from a deficit position to a comfortable surplus.
He is a man constantly on the move, always accessible by phone or in person (at least to the media). I’ve never had a single problem in reaching Sam for questions or a quote. Even when he’s been upset with me over something I had written, he’s been professional and amiable. He is a sharp dresser, always well groomed and makes a favorable impression wherever he goes.
But Sam is also a control freak.
He did lead the movement to balance the budget and turned a $15.6 million deficit of four years to $5.9 million surplus in the last three years without using reserves or raising taxes. But to accomplish that he, among other things, closed the East Valley Parkway Library, cut back on recreational facility hours, including swimming pools during the summer months and has had a major impact on popular programs such as Tiny Tots.
He has touted a high-tech business center and led the city’s acquisition of private commerical properties that were to have housed the ill-fated minor league baseball stadium; we now own the properties but high-tech industries don’t seem to be interested. No takers so far.
The city is likely facing several major lawsuits because of the egregious handling of the Jim Maher matter. His top two administrators, Clay Phillips, the City Manager, and Jeff Epp, the City Attorney, apparently conspired or manipulated Mayor Abed into making a series of decisions that more closely resembled the Keystone Cops than a responsible city government. There are serious questions as to whether a felony violation of the Election Code and/or other criminal codes may have been violated. Hopefully, appropriate law enforcement authorities, including the District Attorney and Grand Jury will investigate this matter. Unfortunately, these investigations, if commenced, will occur AFTER the election. More for the terribly unfair handling of the Chief Jim Maher matter, and the lack of transparency, I cannot in good conscience endorse Mayor Sam Abed.
Weighing the two candidates, the choice becomes an easy one. We thank Mayor Sam Abed for his years of service, and the many good things he’s done for the city, but The Paper is proudly endorsing Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz for election to next position of Mayor of Escondido. •••••
Editor’s Note: This Special Issue is dealing with some pretty heavy stuff. But it gives information you need to ponder before casting your vote.
There is a lighter-hearted alternative. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, we submit an alternative candidate and his statement and arguments on page 11.
The Paper • Page 10 • October 30, 2014
‘Good Deed Punished!’ Cont. from Page 8
ably informed sources,” the “watchdogs,” the “concerned citizens,” the “honest city staff” who care about their city and its government and want everything to be open, honest, and clean; they all came forward and provided information so that we can keep you informed as to what is really going on at city hall.
sider him for endorsement. In today’s edition, we will endorse Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz for the position of Mayor of the city of Escondido. We urge Escondido voters to elect Olga Diaz as Mayor on Tuesday, November 4th.
I would love to thank them publicly and personally but for reasons cited earlier, I cannot reveal their names.
But they know who they are and they know how much we honor and appreciate their courage and strength in coming forward with critical information that our Escondido taxpayers need to know.
A long-time friend and former Councilmember gave me advice when I was first elected. He told me to “Be the same person when you leave office that you are going into it.”I think of his words every time I face a challenging issue. What I am, and always will be, is thoughtful, hardworking and honest. These are qualities admired in most professions – why not politics?
Well done!
Because of the critical issues raised in this edition of The Paper, we have deferred our endorsement for the Escondido Mayor’s elective office until today.
Voters can, perhaps, overlook embellishment of poll figures . . .exaggerations of some issues . . . what they cannot, should not, and will not overlook, is a failure to be open, honest, and transparent and potential commission of a crime. It appears to us that there has been a violation of the Election Code and, quite possibly, a criminal conspiracy involving extortion, and illigal use of taxpayer money. Had it not been for Sam’s handling of the Maher matter, and subsequent coverup by his senior administrative officers and/or himself, he might well have been reelected Mayor. As it is, I think that was his Achilles heel.
Given the present Mayor’s lack of decisive action and apparent knowledge of all that has transpired, we cannot, in good conscience, con-
I never meant to disappoint anyone by deciding to support Proposition H. I genuinely see it as a compromise proposal and I had hoped more residents would collaborate to refine the project by suggesting additional trails, buffers near existing homes and certainly fewer homes. So much time has been wasted fighting when we could have been working things out for the best. Escondido has been damaged by a collection of egos, lawyers and consultants. Friendships have been tested. Civility has been exhausted. The greatest challenge of holding office is achieving balance between competing interests. Finding the best solution for a complicated issue requires an understanding of facts, law, constituent concerns and the use of conscience and compassion. I hope we can all be good neighbors to each other again I never give up on people.
Careers are at stake, possible retribution would await them.
This is a time for firm leadership and holding supposedly responsible individuals in positions of leadership accountable for their actions.
From Olga
Your vote matters to me. I will be a Mayor you can be proud of. Olga Diaz Deputy Mayor of Escondido Letters to the Editor A Good Question
Dear Lyle,
I am a city employee but have to remain anonymous due to retaliation if my identity is ever discovered.
I read your article "Scandal at City Hall" and found it interesting that Mayor Sam Abed is back pedaling and refusing to move forward on his word of termination if the so called "Smoking Gun" letter was true? Instead his answer is to wait until the court decides? My question is why can't he launch an investigation himself to determine what happened and who ordered this letter be drafted and presented to the ex police chief? Wouldn't that be a move to show sincerity and transparency? Sam Abed's actions, or lack of, is a very strong indication that he had a lot to do with the creation of that letter. The people involved broke the law, should be terminated and disbarred. We can't have news articles titled "Scandal at City Hall." Scandals should be in other cities, not Escondido. We need a complete change in our government and city leadership. Anonymous
A Vote for Olga
Mr. Davis:
Thank you so much for bringing the City Government's misstep in the handling of Chief Maher's forced retirement to our attention. A recent letter submitted by a Ms. Bozzay really caught my attention, as she implied that your motive was to influence the outcome of this coming election. Why would we want another four years of deception and dishonesty in our city government? My hat is off to you and our former Mayor, Jerry Harmon, for enlightening our voters.
On July 1st, I attended a meeting in Mayor Abed’s office to express my concern about the way Chief Maher was given a “forced retirement.” Mayor Abed told us about a survey conducted by the police officers’ association resulting in Chief Maher receiving a vote of “No I questioned Confidence.” Mayor Abed’s honesty knowing this information to be false.
There are a number of issues that Mayor Candidate Olga Diaz disagree about, however I have never known her to be dishonest. Furthermore, there is no evidence that she had anything to do with the Chief of Police's departure. The terms honesty and dishonesty associate with the term "Trust." Let's
put someone in office that we can trust. Orv Hale Escondido
Proposition H
Thank you for printing my letter the other week on Proposition H.
I just received the attached flyer today, which starts out claiming that "Numerous independent studies show Prop H actually reduces water use by more than 50%"
I was wondering if The Paper could prevail upon the supporters of Prop H to explain to us how we all went wrong in trying to save water by using lowflush toilets and cutting back on watering, when all we apparently really needed was more houses! I hope more and more people will start to realize the double standard being extended to Prop H in the name of quick jobs and money (even though multiple opportunities that provided longer term benefit to our community were consistently not only denied, but fought and driven out!
I have liked Sam Abed's activity in the community, and Olga Diaz's active support of those who need a fair chance in today's society. But I don't believe I will vote for either if they cannot convince me that their goals are just, and not just a bad dose of greed and opportunism. Lou Bruno North San Diego County, CA. Hi, Neighbor!
This is an open letter to Imperial Mobile Home Park residents from Jack and Barbara Hopkins at space #236 for the past 10 years, and formerly your HOA Neighborood Watch Chair. Deputy Mayor Olga Diaz is committed to being the Mayor that Escondido can be proud of. She carefully evaluates the issues, respects all constituents, and responds with refreshing frankness and transparency. With our vote you can thank Olga Diaz for, among other things, demonstrating just and fair evaluation of rent increase requests from mobile home park owners like ours.
Check her record against that of the current mayor and council majority. The current City Council, which sits on the Rent Review Board for Mobile/Manufactured Home Parks, has, except for Olga Diz, “rubber stamped” short form rent increases in hearing after hearing, one park after another, without holding park owners responsible for promptly correcting code violations and
‘Letters to the Editor’ Cont. on Page 11
The Paper • Page 11 • October 30, 2014
‘Letters to the Editor’ Cont. from Page 10
keeping promises made to their tenants. Follow the money trail. Deputy Mayor Diaz has received no campaign contributions from park owners; Mayor Abed received more than $4498, including $500 from Imperial Mobile Home Park. If we fail to elect new leadership this November, while a highly qualified fiscally conservative candidate who represents our best interests is on the ballot, we risk the current Council majority eventually weakening, or removing rent control in Escondido. Before you say it won’t happen, please consider the abusive behavior of Sam Abed and the City Council majority. Under the guise of “fiscal responsibility,” our mayor and his business oriented colleagues closed the East Valley Branch Library at our Civic Center across the street, sold the contents at fire sale prices, and leased the public’s property to a charter school, who thereby avoided a costly expansion.
That same council majority wants us to approve Prop G. Giving the Council more unregulated authority to spend your tax dollars. Vote no on G!
The Paper, in their recent issues, have documented that our City Manager and Mayor show no transparency whatsoever in their handling of the ‘gag order’ issue, and withheld the second installment of the severagnce agreement with the popular former Chief of the Escondido Police Department. It doesn’t pass the ‘smell test,’ and is an alleged violation of the law. As a result of Abed’s questionable activities, a former mayor is threatening another lawsuit against the city and Mayor Abed for misuse of taxpayer dollars. Please look at the character of the candidates, avoid the stigmatic labels and ‘sound bites’ such as liberal and conservative, Republican or Democrat, and let’s elect the best and most qualified candidate - Olga Diaz. Sincerely and respectfully,
Jack Hopkins, Registered Republican Voter Escondido, CA. Doesn’t Like The Paper
So I just read through the most recent paper you dropped off in my lobby and am totally disgusted. First you headline a story by Lyle Davis, targeting the obvious mayoral candidate that the paper DOES NOT support, Mr. Sam Abed, then you fill the paper with endorsements for the Candidate that the Paper obviously supports, Ms.Olga Diaz. You guys should be ashamed. Once again journalism has been reduced to making assumptions and written attacks instead of just
reporting news and events. Your choice to be a partisan rag like many other local papers has just lost any respect by me. Please take us off your delivery list! I will use the remaining issues in the lobby to line kitty litter boxes. Karen E Seibold, DVM DACVECC Animal Urgent Care/Escondido An Old Friend Hello Lyle,
You may not remember me but you and I were active many years ago in civic affairs. I'm still around and glad to know you are too and still active as in past years. I just wanted to thank you for your courage in your "expose" regarding what is happening in the sacred halls of Escondido. I am not at all surprised about the alleged cover-up but I hope legal action is taken and if anyone is guilty of wrongdoing that the rightful punishment is meted out. My concern is that said action may not occur before the election takes place. Because of this concern I am voting for Olga Diaz for Mayor and hope that those who feel that we need a change in Escondido will vote for her as well with the idea of a new page commencing in Escondido if Olga wins. . Take care and keep doing the right thing. Andy Pino Escondido, CA
Olga’s the One . . .
To the folks who think Olga's position on Proposition H compels them to vote for Sam, take a moment to ponder what happens next. H wins, who better to protect the environment as much as possible? Sam who has happily received at least $65,000 in out of town developer contributions, or Olga with exactly $0.00 out of town developer dollars. In fact, she has refused such money. If H loses, who better to deal with the future of the golf course land and negotiate the next step? Sam, the proud owner of the developer consultant firm Pacific West Consultants, or Olga who has often been the only council member to stand up for the environment and family friendly recreation and parks? In either case, and regardless of the outcome of the developer's lawsuit, the residents of the CC area will be better served by Olga as mayor during the next several years of uncertainty and negotiations about the now fallow golf course land. Vote for Sam and you will get what the developers paid for. Vote for Olga, and you get community service first and foremost, without backroom deals.
/s/Roy Garrett, Escondido since 1969
A Late Political Announcement
Well, enough is enough. All the politics involved in running for Mayor of Escondido. I've decided there is only one clear choice for Mayor and that is ME. So, I'm announcing myself as a write-in candidate for Escondido's Mayor. Here is my official statement:
My fellow citizens, it is an honor and a pleasure to be here today. My opponents have openly admitted they feel an affinity toward your city, but I happen to like this area. It might be a salubrious place for them, but to me it is one of the nation's most delightful garden spots. When I embarked upon this political campaign I hoped that it could be conducted on a high level and that my opponents would be willing to stick to the issues. Unfortunately, they have decided to be tractable instead -- to indulge in unequivocal language, to eschew the use of outright lies in their speeches, and even to make repeated veracious statements about me. At first, I tried to ignore these scrupulous, unvarnished fidelities. Now I do so no longer. If my opponents want a fight, they're going to get one!
It might be instructive to start with their backgrounds. My friends, have you ever accidentally dislodged a rock on the ground and seen what was underneath? Well, exploring my opponent's background is dissimilar. All the slime and filth and corruption you could possibly imagine, even in your wildest dreams, are glaringly nonexistent in their life. And even during their childhood !
Let us take a very quick look at those childhoods: It is a known fact that, on a number of occasions, they emulated older persons at a certain playground. It is also known that their parents not only permitted them to masticate excessively in their presence, but even urged them to do so. Most explicable of all, these candidates who pose as a paragon of virtue exacerbated their own siblings while they were both teenagers! I ask you, my fellow Americans: are these the kind of persons we want in public office to set an example for our youth? Of course, it's not surprising that they should have such a typically pristine background -- no, not when you consider the other members of their family:
Their female relatives put on a constant pose of purity and innocence, and claim they are inscrutable, yet every one of them has taken part in hortatory activities. The men in the family are likewise completely amenable to moral suasion.
My opponent's second cousin is
a Mormon Their uncles were flagrant heterosexuals Their sisters, who have always been obsessed by sects, once worked as a proselyte outside a church Their fathers were secretly chagrined at least a dozen times by matters of a pecuniary nature Their youngest brothers wrote an essay extolling the virtues of being a homosapien Their great-aunts expired from a degenerative disease Their nephews subscribe to a phonographic magazine Their spouses were thespians before their marriage and even performed the act in front of paying customers And their own mothers had to resign from a women's organization in her later years because she was an admitted sextagenarian Now what shall we say of the candidates themselves?
I can tell you in solemn truth that they are the very antithesis of political radicalism, economic irresponsibility, and personal depravity. Their own records proves that they have frequently discountenanced treasonable, unAmerican philosophies and have perpetrated many overt acts as well.
They perambulated their infant children on the street They practiced nepotism with their uncle and first cousin They attempted to interest a 13-year-old girl in philately They participated in a seance at a private residence where, among other odd goings-on, there was incense They have declared themselves in favor of more homogeneity on college campuses They have advocated social intercourse in mixed company -and have taken part in such gatherings themselves. They have been deliberately averse to crime in our streets They have urged our Protestant and Jewish citizens to develop more catholic tastes Last summer they committed a piscatorial act on a boat that was flying the American flag Finally, at a time when we must be on our guard against all foreign "isms," they have coolly announced their belief in altruism -- and their fervent hope that some day this entire nation will be altruistic! I beg you, my friends, to oppose these candidates whose life and work and ideas are so openly and avowedly compatible with our American way of life. A vote for either of them would be a vote for the perpetuation of everything we hold dear. The facts are clear; the record speaks for itself. Do your duty.
Vote for lyle e davis as the one, the only, true and only openly honest candidate for Mayor, city of Escondido.
The Paper • Page 12 • October 30, 2014
olgadiaz.com
Paid for by Olga Diaz for Mayor 2014 FPPC I.D. # 1357493
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Accepted NO money from out of town developers Voted to save the branch library Voted to support recreation programs for kids and families
Endorsed b Endorsed by yF Former ormer P Police olice C hief Jim M aher Chief Maher
““Olga Olga D Diaz iaz is unquestionablyy unquestionabl andidate for the best best ccandidate Mayor May or of Esc Escondido.” ondido.” --Jim Jim M Maher aher FFormer ormer Escondido Escondido P Police olice Chief
I stand for honesty honesty in government ernment.. We We might not alway ayss agree, but I will alway ayss tell you you the truth. Olga Diaz