CORRESPONDENCE

I watched the Leagues of Women Voters’ presentation of the candidates

for the Huntington Beach City Council instead of the presidential

debates. Why? Because these local citizens affect my life in the most

direct ways. I want the best candidate to get the job.

Well, after seeing the presentation, I decided that the best

candidates for the job might be three ladies. Debbie Cook, Connie

Boardman and Diane Lenning came across as the most informed of the local

issues. These candidates are well educated and dedicated.

I have been aware of the hard work and dedication of Cook and

Boardman over the past several years. They had my vote before the

presentation, and their professional demeanor confirmed my view.

Lenning was equal to the other candidates in her presentation, but I

had to do some research on the league’s Web site in order to verify her

political and philosophical views.

For the reasons I have stated, I chose these candidates because they

most closely represent my views on the management of city government.

Why, might you ask, didn’t you select Pam Julien? She is a member of

the City Council. The truth is that she has not done the job for which

she was elected. She is in line for the next turn at mayor. Now wouldn’t

that be another embarrassment? The present mayor has brought enough shame

to that appointed office.

Sorry Julien won’t get a free ride from me. There were several good

men at the presentation. I hate to admit it, but the most articulate and

informed seemed to be Bill Borden. I cannot bring myself to vote for a

crony of Dave Garofalo. I would advise the voters to be informed by

reading the information available though the League of Women Voters and

other sources.

RICHARD MCGRATH

Huntington Beach

Concerned Citizens should ‘disband immediately’

So, the Concerned Citizens of Fountain Valley still has found no

evidence of wholesale corruption on the part of our city officials. It is

obvious that they will never find anything, because no one has done

anything wrong. The Concerned Citizens should have spared the city a lot

of embarrassment by doing their research before going public with their

charges.

The group’s agenda has always been obvious. The group was formed by

the most vocal of the pro-recreational vehicle people. They are fighting

to save the free storage of their RVs on our streets. They chose to do

this by leveling unsubstantiated attacks against city officials, hoping

to draw attention away from the RV issue. It is no coincidence that the

person they have aligned themselves with is Chuck Conlosh. He is the only

council member who has come out in favor of free RV storage on our

streets with no restrictions.

It is too bad that the Concerned Citizens decided to take the low road

in order to achieve their goals. They have disparaged individuals who

have served our community well for many years. They could have used their

organization to really help our community in positive ways.

Now that they have proved that our city officials are worthy of our

trust (something that the rest of us knew all along), the people of

Fountain Valley should ask the Concerned Citizens to disband immediately.

In addition, the people of Fountain Valley need to send a message to

them by not electing Chuck Conlosh to another term. PERRY GOLDSTEIN

Fountain Valley

Police union should focus on safety

We all knew it was only a matter of time when the Huntington Beach

officers would bark at the hand that feeds them. A laughable attempt for

sympathy was a letter to the editor from an alleged police officer’s wife

(“Surf City police deserve recognition,” Oct. 5). She made the claim,

“safest city, lowest paid?”

When other issues are factored in, rather than the size of the city,

Huntington Beach has never been, is not now nor will it probably ever be

the safest city in the United States with any chosen isolation of crimes

-- nowhere near, as a matter of fact.

As for the pay, if there are so many great salary options for police

elsewhere in Orange County, why aren’t they going for them? Quite

frankly, I don’t want any cops with a grudge in my city.

I have suggested many times that our community would be much better

served if we contracted with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. They

are supposedly rated at the top of the salary list. Many Orange County

cities currently enjoy the contracted services of that department.

The city has offered these picketing officers a 10.47% salary increase

with a guaranteed 3% for the next three years for inflation. Inflation?

When is the last time you received a guaranteed inflation increase,

especially when there is no inflation to speak of?

The Huntington Beach police labor union has historically been militant

with their demonstrations and blue-flu sickouts. When this happens, all

city employees get similar raises.

The most cost-effective solution is to follow the lead of many other

Orange County cities and contract with the Sheriff’s Department. Since

the sheriffs claim to be the highest paid, let our police apply for those

supposedly top salaries and stop the bellyaching, and focus on what they

claim to do for us -- protect our city and stop with the childish job

actions.

JAMES H. BRIDGES

Huntington Beach