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Horton's at the door
At least Mayor showed John who is boss of THIS council! That didn't stop him from being the partisan jerk we know him to be, but Mayor Salas called him out on it. Good for her. Pamela Bensoussan finally saw the handwriting on the wall. Too bad it took her so long to get over her intransigence and post-election snit. Too bad it had to be such a long-drawn out and contentious process, but those who were determined to play out their little drama in the shadows were forced to play in the open. Mary's arm will be sore from banging the gavel so hard!— January 14, 2015 2:08 p.m.
Horton's at the door
VigilantinCV... You have summed it up nicely. It is more than a disgrace.— January 13, 2015 10 a.m.
Horton's at the door
VigilantinCV....someone should tell Ms. Bensoussan that the election is over and Mary Salas won! She should reconsider her snit in light of the importance of the appointment about to be made. You cannot tell me that William Hall or James Clark would not be acceptable to the rank and file Republicans, even though, this is not supposed to be a partisan appointment, nor are the council positions themselves partisan. However, it is what it is. It may just be that Bensoussan is not bright enough to realize that she could play a very pivotal role in the forward progress of the business of the City of Chula Vista and that by helping, instead of hindering the process with a compromise that does not include Horton, she might be enhancing her own political future. Too bad she insists on stonewalling!— January 12, 2015 3:59 p.m.
Horton's at the door
I think that the impasse over the present appointment is less about future direction of the City, than it is about resisting the attempt to gain power and influence by those who would remain behind the curtain. If it were only about the future direction of the city, McCann and Bensoussan would be eager to appoint those whose talents and expertise would bring fresh vision and knowledge to the discussion. As it is, their stubborn insistence is quite telling. I also think Mayor Salas is doing her level best to position the City for responsible development on the Bayfront and in the University project, but she is being opposed by McCann and Bensoussan who seem to want to anoint Shirley Horton (and by reference her developer pals) for more of the 'same ole, same ole'. Don't forget that the future of the SUHSD real estate entanglements will also be dependent upon approval from the Council, and we have reason to suspect that Horton's pals, especially David Malcolm, are involved in those schemes. Mayor Salas cannot focus on the positives in the future with those wolves nipping at her heels from the dais, and I hope she will stay determined to bring new talent and energy to the Council instead, if only in this two-year interim appointment. As was mentioned during the interviews, the City's Economic Development Department has been decimated by budget cuts during the economic downturn. It will be essential for that department to be reinvigorated and to find new professional leadership to help coalesce actions in purposeful and well thought-out development strategies.— January 12, 2015 2:52 p.m.
Horton's at the door
Well aardvark, there were a number of factors. First, not enough informed people bothered to vote. Second, McCann's opponent was flawed as well and had a history that came back to haunt him...McCann used those flaws as fodder for hit piece-type campaign mailers that painted the opponent's flaws in bright colors while casting McCann as a 'victim' of the rabble rousers. And third, in my opinion, is a possible problem with level playing field at the County Registrar of Voters. Michael Vu has his own troubling past; we do not yet know why during the count of absentee/provisional ballots, McCann received an after-hours call from the Registrar of Voters Office (McCann's own description of why he abruptly left dinner at an Eastlake restaurant with Interim Supt. SUHSD) just prior to his phone-throwing tantrum with Kevin O'Neill ---and I am still wondering if his opponent also received the courtesy of a phone call or if someone at the ROV office was playing favorites. As you must know, it was a close election...with only two votes separating the candidates, at final count...neither of whom represented, in my opinion, our 'best and brightest'. It is sad but true.— January 11, 2015 12:50 p.m.
Horton's at the door
Anyone with enough paint can try to alter visual reality. However, the essence of this matter is more than hair color ...it is about integrity and doing the people's business rather than one own's while seated on the dais. Pamela Bensoussan and John McCann need to understand that -- Mayor Salas already does. Good for her!— January 11, 2015 11:32 a.m.
Horton's at the door
BINGO— January 10, 2015 5:44 p.m.
Horton's at the door
And she did say it is important to have the 'right people' in place to make it all happen! What she didn't say about who those 'right people' are is more important than the other drivel she did include in her less-than-stellar and ill-prepared interview.— January 10, 2015 5:28 p.m.
Horton's at the door
Just read the article in the CV Star-News, which quotes McCann as stating that the only two candidates that did NOT receive his nomination as finalists were Hall and Clark. Isn't that interesting? I wonder why, as they both seem eminently qualified. Hall is a member of the CV Chamber Board of Directors which did not endorse McCann in his 2014 run for the City Council....wonder what he has against Clark?— January 10, 2015 3:51 p.m.
Horton's at the door
Yes, it was quite distressing to watch. I expected more of Ms. Horton, who appeared to be fresh from the gym, unprepared for the 'interview' , speaking off the cuff, digressing so often that Mayor Salas felt she needed to reign her in but did so professionally, giving her a few extra minutes. Horton meandered through the interview, telling old war stories...not an impressive performance, and offering nothing new to the conversation. Don't know what is going on with Pamela bensosoussan, but she is clearly at best naïve, not a good listener, and is out-of-touch with the expectations put forward for the new, interim councilperson. And for McCann, well, we do know not to expect sober behavior from a drunk! Let's not anyone be surprised when he performs according to his well-worn script. Mayor Salas did make it clear that the choice would have to be 'someone we all can work with' and it is likely that is not Shirley Horton. Two other excellent candidates (Clark and Hall) seemed to have been nominated for the interview process by three of the council, and as Susan points out in the article, three votes are needed for the appointment.— January 10, 2015 12:38 p.m.