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| Written by PI Readers | |
| Friday, 17 October 2008 | |
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Support Molina for mayor EDITOR, I have known Luis Molina and his wife, Graciela, for about 3½ years. In their six years here, they have involved and invested themselves in this community. Molina has had strong involvement in his faith community and is a former president of the Sacred Heart Parish Council, and he volunteers in many church activities. He is a member of American Legion Post No. 168 in Patterson and has had strong involvement in Relay For Life, an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Luis is a member of the Patterson Planning Commission, serves as chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Education. He has also been a member and chairman of the Yosemite Community College District bond oversight committee. Despite the rumors and innuendos, Molina is not in the pocket of West Park and does not support West Park as currently proposed. He cares deeply about our community, and as mayor, he would make decisions that are in the best interest of its residents. As mayor, Molina would reach out to all citizen groups and challenge them to get involved to improve the quality of life in our community. He would form partnerships with local schools, business leaders and members of our service organizations to improve the quality of education and develop mentorship programs for our youth. Molina also brings experience in overseeing educational programs for children and young people in our county’s school system, along with fiscal and contractual oversight of multimillion dollar contracts. He also shares a concern about the future growth of our city and wants to assure that future growth in the city is smart. He would ensure that we address the issue of water quantity and quality, transportation, wastewater capacity and community facilities, as well as revitalizing downtown. He wants to ensure that new growth will pay for itself. He also believes that we should take a leadership role in building “green” and championing neighborhoods that promote walking and biking. I believe that Molina possesses the necessary leadership skills, vision and experience necessary to serve as mayor of our city. I urge a vote for Luis Molina for mayor on Nov. 4. E. Sam Cuellar, Patterson City Council Campo had her shot EDITOR, I have to say that I am very disappointed with Mayor Becky Campo. She should have met with Luis Molina to discuss the issues. By not meeting with Molina, she is dodging the issues that the people of Patterson care about. She should address these issues in an open platform. Campo also should not make insinuations to the Patterson Irrigator and distort the facts. It is a terrible thing to have personal property vandalized. However, if you drive through any neighborhood in Patterson, you will see that it is not just Campo. I think that Campo, as the current mayor, should have addressed the vandalism in Patterson a long time ago. In your own newspaper, you have reported hundreds of vandalism incidents during the year. To make it seem like this is a problem now is unethical and insulting to the residents of Patterson. As a concerned resident of Patterson, I have made it known that I want the best for Patterson. I believe in promoting the city and drawing jobs to Patterson. We need more than just minimum wage jobs. We need jobs that can sustain the average household in Patterson. I’m tired of seeing my neighbors lose their homes and move away. We need a mayor who will get the job done. We need a mayor who will address these issues, especially when they are unpopular and difficult. I have made it no secret that my vote is for Molina. In my opinion, he has demonstrated that he has in mind the best interest of the residents of Patterson, not just a handful of landowners looking to make a quick buck. Campo has had two years as mayor, as well as a number of years on the City Council, to make a positive impact. But the only thing that she can claim as her success is a Taco Bell. Congratulations, now we have more fast-food options. Angel Garcia, General Manager, Best Western Villa Del Lago Inn Clarifying the record EDITOR, In the Oct. 11 Irrigator, there was an article regarding the General Plan Advisory Committee completing the drafting of its vision of Patterson’s future. There were four members of the committee who voted against the plan, and I was one of them. I think it is important to correct and clarify what was written on my behalf. First, I did not state that there should be 50,000 people in Patterson in 40 years. What I did say was the same thing Pat Dooley said, that the growth is too “front-loaded” and pushes the growth in the first 20 years and almost stops it in the second 20 years. I said it needed to be more balanced, and 70,000 people in 20 years is unsustainable. I can see 70,000 in 40 years; about where Turlock is today. Secondly, I did say we were supposed to have vision, smart growth and to protect agriculture tradition — but I did not say it in the same sentence as “once you screw up those hills, you can never get them back.” When asked about the west side of Interstate 5, I stated — as I have all along — that I am not 100 percent on board with developing there. I am OK with developing the “nodes” at the freeway on- and off-ramps, but when it comes to the hills, you have to be very careful because “once you screw up those hills, you can never get them back.” I also stated that I have to commend Jeff Arambel for all the work and studies he has put into the concept of building on the west side of I-5. My goal was to provide a plan that did not need to be significantly modified by the time it reached the Planning Commission and the City Council — one that had vision, incorporated smart growth and, at the same time, protect the agriculture tradition. Naomi Jacobson, Patterson A healthy recommendation EDITOR, We would like to encourage all eligible voters to vote for Anne Ielmini Stokman for the Del Puerto Health Care District board. She is extremely qualified and very interested in serving in that capacity. We have known Stokman for more than 36 years, from when she was the lifeguard and swim team coach for our children at the original Patterson pool. She was always enthusiastic and well-organized, even in those early years. We have watched her grow into a well-trained registered nurse and community volunteer, even up to being a patient and medical educator, especially in the area of diabetes. She is a veritable fund of medical knowledge, concern and desire to help people make their health better. She would be an excellent addition to and a new community voice for our tax-supported health care district board. Please consider voting for her. Peter LaTorre, MD, retired; Vicki LaTorre, RN, Patterson Where’s the youthful GOP? EDITOR, I enjoyed reading your Oct. 15 article, entitled “Youth forum gets students involved in politics.” Our country can anticipate a much brighter future if the youth of today become politically active and care about who the leaders of our country are. Perhaps you could satisfy my curiosity on one point: All five high school students who were quoted were Barack Obama supporters. Was there not a single John McCain supporter to be found? Shanna Wagstaff, Patterson
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