Dear Supervisor Horsely:
When you ran for supervisor in 2010, you promised your constituents that if they voted for you, you would not take a supervisor's salary, since you already were collecting a sizable pension from San Mateo County.
Now you have reversed that position on two grounds:
- Your original pledge did not say "forever." However, it did clearly imply that no salary would be taken while you were a supervisor. The only way you can remain consistent with this pledge would be to keep your promise not to take a salary for your current term, and when and if you run for re-election, tell the voters you no longer plan to work without salary for your next term.
- Your financial circumstances have changed, since your mother-in-law requires assisted living/medical expenses. I'm sure many of your constituents are sympathetic to this problem, but as you well know, a huge number of them have financial problems well beyond your own.
Although you can take back your promise, your voters cannot take back their votes. Therein lies the problem. I would invite you to reconsider and withdraw your decision on reneging on this promise within the next 30 days. Barring this reconsideration and reversal, I will start a recall petition so voters can take action based on your broken promise to them.
Sincerely yours,
Michael G. Stogner, San Mateo County resident
I voted for Horsley because I find him to be level headed, thoughtful, earnest in his efforts and I believe he has and will continue to do what he feels is best for the County. Those are all good reasons, but probably the most important reason I voted for him is that I know that if I have an issue that is important to me, I can call him and not only will he take the call, but he will listen. Now we may agree or disagree on any particular issue, but the fact that he will listen and consider whatever input I may have on something is important to me. That should be important to all in the County. He saved this County over $250,000.00 over the last two years that we can specifically identify. How much did you, or the others that are so quick to call Horsley a liar and question his personal matters, save the County? Anything? Make of the matter what you will, but Mr Horsley has not lost my vote over this. He took a $250K hit over two years for us. How much have you contributed?
That's funny, George. I look at it that he cost us well over that with that big fat public pension he is already receiving. No one that I know receives anything close to that. You have a right to vote for him. You have a right to be an apologist for him. Hell, he has the right to lie to us. But I hold the bar for my vote much higher than you do yours. I want my elected officials to say what they mean and mean what they say. Apparently, as long as you can call him up and he will listen to you, you think he is worthy. I've got some 900 numbers I could send you that would do the same thing and, in addition, give you a happy ending. And for you to arrogantly frame this to me and others as: "How much have you contributed?" You have no idea how much we have "contributed". Many of us have worked long, hard hours, and at great personal sacrifice, for our municipalities and for various charities and for absolutely nothing other than a sense of accomplishment and giving back. Now there are two people I would never vote for under any circumstance: 1. Don Horsely 2. George Muteff And George, aren't you the jerk who shoots dogs? . .
You seem to relish droning and ranting about points that are abstract to the issue(s) here, and you do it with attitude to boot. That, The Pacifican, is a personal problem. You allege that you "contribute" - "long, hard hours, and at great personal sacrifice, for our municipalities and for various charities and for absolutely nothing other than a sense of accomplishment and giving back." That is admirable, but irrelevant here. There is no way to quantify that in dollars. We can, however, quantify Horsley's contribution in forgoing two years of duly earned compensation; http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22335169/horsley-accept-salary-work-san-mateo-county-board?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com "But I hold the bar for my vote much higher than you do yours." An assumption and simply your opinion; but then what is one to expect from emotionally charged ranting? Have a nice day, Pacifican.
Vargas was also a principled supporter of the labor rank-and-file, calling for a reduction in San Mateo County's ridiculously high manager-to-worker ratio that was burdening the county budget. She was a great opponent and had the support of a broad base in the county despite Horsley's ties to San Mateo County's crony-ridden political machine. So it's no wonder Horsley made the promise that he wouldn't double-dip, because he had to do something to neutralize Vargas's great platform. It's no surprise to me that Horsley went back on his promise, but it would have been nice had he proven me wrong.
Condoning lying by elected officials. Shooting harmless puppies. Mr. Muteff has a lot to answer to - IMHO.
http://tinyurl.com/cqzkxdq
Then, when challenged, you again resort to personal attacks, on yet another topic that you clearly have no knowledge of - but, I gotta hand it to you - you are, if nothing else, consistent. Is it really that difficult to focus and stay on topic? or have you just got too much inside, too many uninformed and baseless conclusions to contain yourself? Either way, I don't have the time or interest. I've said my piece ... and evidently hit a nerve or two. It is much more productive to deal with someone who is rational, focused on the topic at hand, and actually has some clue as to what they are talking about. Again, and hopefully for the last time, have a good day.
Sorry Pacificat; it was an honest mistake. No disrespect intended to you.
San Mateo County Counsel is spending time on the amount of signatures needed. WHY? I clalled Mark Church's Office way before I sent e-mail to Supervisor Horsley and Mr. Horsley has plenty of time to correct the wrong doing. Posted by Dave Boyce, Almanac staff writer, 20 hours ago Dave Boyce is a member (registered user) of Almanac Online On the question of which voters would be involved if Mr. Horsley is subject to a recall election -- by voters countywide or in District 3 only -- Deputy County Counsel Glenn Levy told the Almanac that the County Counsel's office has not yet arrived at a definitive answer. "It's a pretty complicated legal question because the county shifted over to district-based voting," Mr. Levy said. "Our office is looking into what it's going to be." "There's a lot of research that we're trying to do," he added. An answer to this question may be forthcoming as soon as Monday, Jan. 14, Mr. Levy said.
Now, to one I inadvertently missed from above: Laura Whittaker, from above, says (in part): "Mr. George Muteff from Half Moon bay should come clean about his allegiance to Mr. Horsley while running for the council in that town." What? Could you be more vague, please? What are you talking about? Any idea? Then, Ms Whittaker goes on to call Horsley a liar...and in caps, too. Guess that means it must be so. Just so it is clear: I couldn't care less about those that like, dislike, or are ambivalent on the matter of this topic. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. What is troubling, at least to me, is that instead of expressing an opinion, justifying it any way one wants - or not justifying it at all - is fine. In fact, I would think that's part of what makes a blog a blog. Getting information out and discussing it in a rational manner is a very healthy thing, IMHO.
Maybe that's why so many use a fictitious moniker. They want to appear to hold others accountable, yet want to hide behind an alias so they are not held to the same standard. Weak...very waek; but judging from some of the comments I've seen here (and other places) it is entirely understandable.
Thank You Mr. Horsley.
Having said that, if an official voluntarily runs on a campaign that says he/she won't take the salary, then they should keep the promise.
I hope you will start another thread on this very important subject, I have been interested in for 12 years now. Supervisor Rich Gordon tried to bring an ETHICS standard for the Board of Supervisors to obey....They made sure he never tried that again. Supervisor Dave Pine is at least trying even though I think it is a watered down version of what is needed.....New Thread please.