A second look at our mayoral endorsement
The decision to endorse Luis Molina for mayor of Patterson two weeks ago was one of the most difficult this editorial board has made in some time. We decided, after much thought and discussion, that he was the better of two very strong candidates.
The decision we had to make this week was even tougher.
Late last week, the Irrigator received photocopies of three newspaper articles from 1994, each detailing an incident in which Molina — then 30 years old and the president of the student government at Chabot College — took out $1,200 for a barbecue that wound up costing about $700 and essentially kept the change.
Molina said then and insists now that he only used the money because it was absolutely necessary for his family and that he intended to pay it back right away. But he was unable to return it in a timely manner.
Molina eventually returned the money and resigned from his position, and the incident likely damaged his chances of running for office in his hometown of Union City.
The act itself raises many more questions than the motivation for it or the amount of money involved. This is not about money. This is about trust.
Patterson residents need to be able to trust their mayor. They need to believe that the mayor has their best interest at heart and that he or she will not abuse the authority the voters have bestowed.
Molina said he learned from the incident, and we believe he’s learned from the way last week’s news broke. This incident would have been a lot less damaging to his candidacy had he brought it up himself and used it to illustrate that while he has made mistakes, he has grown from them rather than repeating them.
Which brings us to the crux of this whole mess.
Molina’s theft — and it’s hard to call it anything else — was reprehensible. He violated the trust granted to him by those who put him in power. The question, then, is this: Was this incident an isolated mistake, or does it reveal a flaw in the man’s character?
We have no proof either way, but our hearts and minds tell us it is more likely the former.
Someone went to great lengths to bring this information to light. The articles provided are not available online, and before last week there was no mention of this incident to be found anywhere on the Internet.
Two of the articles came from Chabot’s school newspaper, the archives of which are almost certainly available only at the school or a nearby library.
The person who provided these articles clearly has some extensive knowledge of Molina’s background or knows someone who does. One would think, if there were other such incidents in Molina’s life — something that might indicate that this incident says more about Molina’s character than his years of public service do — it would have come out by now.
We do not believe this incident, as troubling as it may be, disqualifies Molina from consideration for mayor. In fact, we would hope that the ramifications of Molina’s mistake would make him even more careful in his actions and more aware of their consequences.
Quite frankly, we don’t think he’s dumb enough to do something like this again.
The following paragraph is taken from our editorial of Oct. 18, in which we endorsed Molina for mayor:
“We believe what Patterson needs in times like these is a leader who can mold relationships with other government entities while maintaining strength and resolve on behalf of local residents. Patterson needs a leader who will make it a priority to actively engage both new and old residents and work to get them involved in solving this city’s issues.”
After several hours of discussion during the past week, we have decided that the above reasoning still stands — and, furthermore, that it supercedes whatever concerns Molina’s conduct at Chabot has raised.
There is no perfect candidate, no perfect person. We have all made mistakes. How we deal with those mistakes is what defines our character. Molina said he has learned from his mistake, grown from it, and is a better person because of it. We take him at his word.
We said two weeks ago that Molina was the best choice for mayor. Today, we stand behind that endorsement.
PATTERSON'S PAST
25 years ago — Nov. 3, 1983
A proposed project to construct 40 apartment units along Ward Avenue near Barros Avenue has been submitted to City Hall by a Walnut Creek development firm.
The first contested election since 1955 for a seat on the West Stanislaus Irrigation District board will be decided on the Nov. 8 ballot. David Thompson is challenging incumbent John Stewart Cox, who has served since the mid-1960s.
Why is a short downtown alley not being called Ossie Street after the late longtime fire chief, Ossie Ball? So that it will qualify for road funds for much needed improvements, the City Council learned this week.
50 years ago — Oct. 30, 1958
The room rates at Del Puerto Hospital will soon go up by $2. Two-bed rooms will be $16, and private runs $19. The nursery cost will increase to $7.
The Del Puerto Theatre will again offer a free show on Halloween night, compliments of the 20-30 Club.
Patterson’s Ernie Rose, who won the world boat racing title in his class for the fifth consecutive year, suffered a mishap Sunday during a race in the Oakland channel. His boat, the Lil’ Bee, hit an object in the rough water, ripping a hole about 3 feet long. Although the boat sank, Rose was uninjured. He was leading the race at the time of the incident.
New members of Job’s Daughters are Carol Kemp, Ellen Torrison, Wendi Goutiere, Alison Slone and Jill Shoemake.
Joining Boy Scout Troop 79 in Westley are Jerry Hayton, John Cox, Stanley Vizzolini, Raymond Perez, Donnie Grischott and Reuben Pina. Henry Wilfert, Bill Cox, Bob Vizzolini and Fred Davis all earned the Tenderfoot badge.
75 years ago — Nov. 3, 1933
The Del Puerto Cemetery Association will elect officers at its annual meeting next Monday. Also to be discussed is a proposal to form a cemetery tax district to collect a small levy for cemetery care and upkeep.
The annual 10-day fishing trip to the Klamath River was rated as successful by locals J.S. Fiske, F.S. Harrison, Frank Roberts, J.P. Sillerman, Walfrid Knutson and Charley Mack. Sillerman almost didn’t go when he received a fake telegram calling him to Los Angeles on business just before departure. He figured out the gag just in time.
Three scores set up by long punt returns enabled the local football team to defeat Escalon 20-6. Again it was Glenn Hamilton and Boots DelBaggio thrilling the home crowd.
The local Safeway Store is this week selling a head of cabbage for 1 cent.
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