Machine Politics in Arvada

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, September 26, 2011

Contact:
Dave Chandler
dave@mayordave.us
303-424-9897

Chandler: Machine Politics in Arvada

Conflict of interest and the appearance of bias have tainted a candidate forum in Arvada says mayoral contender Dave Chandler.

"The city government's TV station has asked the Arvada Chamber of Commerce to organize a candidate forum on October 6, but this Chamber is clearly compromised and biased and should not be involved in this kind of event," Chandler said. "The movers and shakers of a powerful faction of the Arvada Chamber leadership have contributed thousands of dollars to my main opponent. There is big money involved and Chamber staff cannot be expected to act in ignorance of this reality."

Chandler said that the sponsorship by Arvada city government's KATV channel 8 is acceptable if the host for such a forum is impartial, fair, open, and unbiased. "Did the city government do any checking to find out if this private group had a bias before they invited them to organize this forum?"

"There is an odor of machine-type politics arising from this government-private organization partnership. Is this the "business as usual" kind of politics that good citizens of our community should tolerate?"

Chandler pointed out that Chamber board member Ted Terranova and family/business have contributed $1,750 to mayoral candidate Marc Williams; Chamber board member Franke Barone and relatives have contributed $2,250 to Marc Williams (Barone is also Williams's campaign manager); a member of Williams's law firm is a board member of the Chamber and that law firm has contributed the maximum $750 to Williams; and chair-elect of the Chamber board, Brett Haigler has given Williams $150.

"I am running for mayor of Arvada in large measure because I want to give voters the choice whether or not to kick out of office the special interests, big money, and insiders taking care of themselves and their cronies that we are sick and tired of in this country."

http://www.MayorDave.us
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Arvada Election Results 2011

2011 ELECTION RESULTS

2011 Election Endorsements

After carefully researching each candidate and where they stand on the issues relevant to their race such as:

The size and scope of city government

The budget surplus

The second amendment

Fiscal responsibility and balanced budgets

Sustainability

Public transportation

The accountability of elected and paid officials

Transparency

we’ve decided to release the following endorsements.

Mayor: Either Dan Bidstrup or Dave Chandler. Anybody is better than Marc Williams. I see his signs in my sleep.

City Council:

                At Large: Ed Tomlinson

                Ward 2: Cody McNutt

                Ward 4: Humpty Dumpty (you’ll have to write this one in…)

School Board:

                District 3: Preston Branaugh

                District 4: Jim Powers

Proposition 103: Not just no. Hell no.

Charter Amendments:

2A: Yes. For heaven’s sake clean up that charter text.

2B: No. Do we really want pipelines of information running between us and other cities in Jefferson county?

2C: No. Just the words “Emergency Ordinance” throw me into a tailspin. I want as many people as possible to agree that there is a need for an “Emergency Ordinance” before it is adopted.

2D: No. To manage the city you should actually live in the city and that’s potentially a year’s worth of travel expenses paid for by the Arvada taxpayer while the new city manager travels between Arvada and his home town of Sidney, Australia. Exaggeration, but still.

2E: Yes. It took a team of lawyers to understand exactly the purpose of this one, but we’ve all concluded that there must be some city employee who’s driven the council crazy and they want the ability to tell the city manager so. Maybe it’s sustainability coordinator. Yeah, that’s it.

Things are shaping up nicely for 2011. It looks like Williams won't be alone in his race by a long shot. Perhaps we will finally get to see some new faces on council after this election. Out with the old and in with the new.

Here is a list of who's up this year and respectively what they will most likely run for to the best of our knowledge at this point:
* RECOMMENDED BY ARVADA REPORT
 - DON'T VOTE FOR THIS ONE

Bob Dyer- UNOPPOSED - He isn't to bad; at least he may actually do something about Arvada's unconstitutional  paid membership to ICLEI

Cody McNutt VS Mark McGoff

Dan Bidstrup VS David Chandler VS Mark Williams

It is great to see a three way race - DON"T VOTE WILLIAMS the other two are fine

Ed Tomlinson VS Bob Fifer

NON-PARTISAN (WE DON'T THINK SO)

CANDIDATE		PARTY AFFILIATION
	Bob Dyer		Republican
	Bob Fifer		Democrat
	Ed Tomlinson		Unaffiliated
	Cody McNutt		Republican
	Mark McGoff		Unaffiliated
	Marc Williams		Republican
	David Chandler		Unaffiliated
	Dan Bidstrup		Republican