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Brentwood Press - BrentwoodPress_05.02.08 - Index

MAY 2, 2008 THEPRESS.NET | 21A
Letters from page 20A
Although we are part of a global
economy, I feel it is in our best interest to
keep the funds local, and buy American
goods. If we blow it all on electronics
and products made overseas, then this
will turn out to be a stimulus package for
the countries we import from. I’d much
prefer the money be spent on domestic
goods, where profi ts from those sales go
into the pockets of the American taxpayers
and American businesses.
I hope we all thank fellow taxpayers
for the rebate check, because they are
the ones providing the funding for this
stimulus package.
Spencer Holmes
Brentwood
Yes on Glover; No on C
Editor:
Our organization is taking a position
on two very important June ballot
items. One is the County District 5
Supervisor’s race, the other is AUSD
SFID #1’s Bond Measure C ($61 million
property tax proposal). Consider
some related facts.
We’ve endorsed County Supervisor
Federal Glover. Please vote for him.
He’s proven himself to be a caring,
respectful, experienced and problemsolving
county supervisor these past
years. In these diffi cult times, we must
elect the only candidate with experience
as a county supervisor, which the other
candidates lack. The others would be
new to the county and our related business
matters.
Candidate Gary Agopian (currently
only an Antioch School Board
member) has failed the district and its
related citizenry. He needs to remain
and correct the mistakes he’s made. He
hasn’t succeeded in one elected position,
and yet wants to be promoted. Huh?
He’s proposed that only some
of the district’s property owners be
taxed (not himself or the Mello-Roos
District’s property owners). That’s right,
many of us longtime property owners
will pay if Measure C passes, while he
and the others will continue to have
their area schools’ maintenances paid
for from some of our monies.
Reward him? For what? Stay, Gary.
First deal with your failure to properly
maintain and upgrade our older schools
all these years!
Candidate Mary Rocha (no longer
an elected offi cial) has also failed the
public generally over the years. She has
a history of taxing and assessing the
residents, voted to close our parks if
we didn’t tax or assess ourselves, and
went along with almost every hairbrained
proposal that the pro-growthers
brought before her.
Antioch’s mess and nightmare
also defi nes her abilities lacking. She’ll
probably do the same if elected as a
county supervisor. Nice lady, friendly,
sweet talker, but too much contributing
damage she’s left behind, and no real
accomplishments for the people!
The AUSD SFID #1’s Bond Measure
C should be voted against. Senior
citizens, renters, and struggling property
owners will also pay if it passes. Vote
No, or just add another varied tax to
your continuing debts for another 25
years. In these most diffi cult times, with
constant skyrocketing price increases
(such as for gasoline, medicines and
food), home foreclosures, etc., the only
logical choice is a No vote. The past and
current AUSD Board majorities are the
ones who allowed and created the problems
they now want us to pay for!
The excluded Mello-Roos District
taxpayers only pay for the construction
of their school facilities, not the rest.
Those to be taxed under Measure C
also will not pay the same, as it is an ad
valorem tax (property’s assessed value).
Once again, the children and students
are being used as excuses to cover for
their neglect, fi scal mismanagement,
shell games with monies they’ve gotten,
etc. Now they want us to pay more.
Vote No on C (more taxes)!
Remember, vote Federal Glover for
county supervisor, and No on Antioch’s
Measure C. Thanks.
Ralph A. Hernandez
Chairperson, Citizens For Democracy
Antioch
Nunn better as decider
Editor:
I have been an Antioch resident
for 19 years and I must say that things
don’t seem right. I can’t quite put my
fi nger on it, but there is just a feeling in
our neighborhoods that they are getting
more dangerous and looking unkempt.
Let’s face it, Section 8 has been a
problem and I know that our current
Supervisor is to blame. We need better
oversight of Section 8 housing to make
sure that honest people who really need
it get it, and that people that abuse the
system are removed.
We need someone who will fi ght for
us, not a career politician who blames
our current Section 8 problems on
“growth.” We need a leader with fresh
ideas. We need Erik Nunn, a Marine,
a former Antioch reserve police offi
cer; someone who knows how to spot
trouble and quickly make a decision.
Join me in voting for Erik Nunn.
Tammy Kaida
Antioch
More than two choices
Editor:
I recently attended a meeting at
which Eric Nunn presented his case
for election to the county supervisor’s
position now held by Federal Glover.
During his presentation he mentioned
he recently switched from the Republican
to the Democratic party.
He made this switch not because
of any moral, ethical or philosophical
differences he had with the Republican
party; rather because the majority of
members in the church where he is the
pastor were giving him a “hard time”
about his Republican affi liation. When
he was confronted about this, he immediately
began backpeddling and denied
he had been infl uenced by his church
congregation in any way.
I fi nd this fl ip-fl opping very troubling.
What will he do when he has to
make the tough decisions on an issue
that might put him at odds with the
other supervisors or politically powerful
people in the county?
To replace Federal Glover – who
has been both unconcerned about
and unresponsive to the problems in
East County – with Eric Nunn, who
appears to be just another “go along to
get along” politician, is not the solution.
There are three other candidates in
this race. Let’s hear more from them.
I am sure we can do better than either
Glover or Nunn.
John Tiernan
Antioch
Agopian will make our
voice be heard
Editor:
District 5 residents, are you tired
of the “sound of silence” coming from
our supervisor, Mr. Glover? I know I
am.
I am tired of our area not having
a voice. I am tired of our area being
a dumping ground. I am tired of the
knee-jerk solutions when pressure is
applied. That is why I am supporting
a candidate who is at the front lines
fi ghting for the quality of life in our
area, Gary Agopian.
Gary is running for District 5
Supervisor for us. He is not running
for corporations, real estate developers,
or other large groups. He is running
for the District 5 families, individuals,
homeowners, renters and for those who
love and care about this area.
Gary is a man of integrity. As
an Antioch school board member, he
has been instrumental in moving our
schools in a positive direction. I have
been present at school board meetings
where the board had worked through
diffi cult decisions. Gary brought a
calming and commonsense presence
to the table, helping the board work
through the issues.
District 5 residents, it is time to
make our voice be heard. This is our
opportunity to become leaders, and
stop allowing others to walk all over
us. It is time for a new District 5 representative
on the Board of Supervisors,
and his name is Gary Agopian.
Peggy Wunderly
Antioch
Piephos make a good team
Editor:
I wanted to take a moment and
refl ect on the Piepho family. As I drive
through Contra Costa County, I see
see Letters page 24A