Deirdre Martin's supporters knew she couldn't win through votes, so they had to fix the election for their candidate through sleazy bureaucratic tactics. By pursuing the endorsement of the San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee, Martin turned the non-partisan City Council Election into a partisan election. The Hatch Act says federal employees can't run for office in a partisan election, and since Mary Ann works for the VA, she had to drop out of the race.
Martin and her supporters feel justified in preventing Pacificans from reelecting one of the best council members we've had in decades, which should tell you something about Martin's lack of respect for the citizens of Pacifica.
Perhaps not all is lost, though. From what I've been hearing, even if she can't campaign for the seat, if Mary Ann finishes either first or second in the vote count it keeps Martin off Council and allows Mary Ann to be appointed. Or there may be a special election to fill the open Council seat.
A vote for Mary Ann will send county political operatives and Deirdre Martin's minions the message that they can't get away with rigging our elections. (Sorry if I'm sounding Trumpian.)
www.pacifica4maryann.com
Is it any wonder people are so disgusted and turned off by the electoral process? A dozen or so years ago I switched from Democrat to Decline-to-State/No Party Preference, i.e., Independent, because I thought the Democratic Party was going into the same gutter as the Republican Party. It was a very liberating experience and I'd encourage everyone to do the same. You still get to vote for whomever you want, but you don't feel dirty by being associated with the sleazy Democratic Party or crazy Republican Party.
Don't forget. Vote for Mary Ann.
Posted by Steve Sinai
Martin and her supporters feel justified in preventing Pacificans from reelecting one of the best council members we've had in decades, which should tell you something about Martin's lack of respect for the citizens of Pacifica.
Perhaps not all is lost, though. From what I've been hearing, even if she can't campaign for the seat, if Mary Ann finishes either first or second in the vote count it keeps Martin off Council and allows Mary Ann to be appointed. Or there may be a special election to fill the open Council seat.
A vote for Mary Ann will send county political operatives and Deirdre Martin's minions the message that they can't get away with rigging our elections. (Sorry if I'm sounding Trumpian.)
www.pacifica4maryann.com
Is it any wonder people are so disgusted and turned off by the electoral process? A dozen or so years ago I switched from Democrat to Decline-to-State/No Party Preference, i.e., Independent, because I thought the Democratic Party was going into the same gutter as the Republican Party. It was a very liberating experience and I'd encourage everyone to do the same. You still get to vote for whomever you want, but you don't feel dirty by being associated with the sleazy Democratic Party or crazy Republican Party.
Don't forget. Vote for Mary Ann.
Posted by Steve Sinai
46 comments:
Deirdre Martin showboats her dem endorsement as they butt into our council race. Not a single member of the county democratic committee lives in pacifca. Let's show them all the door: vote Nihart and Vaterlaus for Council...
What part of she is no longer a candidate don't you understand? I assume that she has sent a letter to the registrar of voters officially withdrawing and so the top 2 vote getters IN THE RACE will be elected. Explain how she gets "appointed" if there is no vaccancy? Why would there be a special election, because she thinks she is entitled? It seems that every time things go against you real estate whores you bitch and moan that the fix is in. Democrats didn't "butt in" we live here. Such it up and check your privilege.
Steve thanks for starting Pacificans4maryann. I'm sure Mary Ann appreciates you butting into her personal and professional life and perhaps even jeopardizeing her employment. I have confidence that you had the foresight to file all the necessary forms with the State FPPC required when starting a new PAC. You know Mary Ann will really love having to answer for someone who has the ethical qualities of a mosquito.
PS - is screen shot taken.
Nice post steve. nailed it. we can do our part to protect our process here in pacifica by voting for nihart. democratic central committee be meddled in my opinion. it's a pretty clear message when every elected democratic official from speier to hill to mullin, along with horsley and canepa all endorse nihart and vaterlaus that something is out of sync with the committee who overstepped their charge.
Here Here.
Nihart and Vauterlaus good for Pacifica.
Deirdre and Bridget puppets of the ruinous NOBY's.
Don't let the whackjobs back into power.
Nihart didn't comply with federal law, the Hatch Act. That is why she may not run. Other candidates had no input into whethwr she obryed the law or not.
Since the Democratic party is powerful in California and the Bay Area, it's usuql and expected that anyone running for office would seek its support. It falls on Nihart to obey honor the Hatch Act, one of the laws that apply to federal employees. Should her federal employment cease, the Hatch Act would not apply.
Why on God's green earth would you encourage people to vote for someone who is no longer a candidate?! There is no legal way she can get elected and any votes cast for her won't count for anything. Period.
If a majority of Pacificans voted for Pope Francis, guess what, he wouldn't end up elected to city counci.
THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS FROM AMONG THE ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES WILL BE ELECTED. How hard is this to understand? You're not going to get a "do over" vote or special city council appointment just because a lot of people voted for an ineligible candidate.
I suspect there are going to be a lot of tears around here on the evening of November 8 when reality sets in.
David Canepa endorsed Deirdre, not Mary Ann.
Um, yeah, I'm not sure about the amount of thought going into this. Any votes cast for Nihart are just going to get tossed.
I get that a bunch of votes have already been cast for her and understand why this is upsetting to people. Having it go down like this a week before the election is pretty messed up, but the county registrar is only going to tally up the votes that count and any cast for Nihart wont.
Nihart is a legal candidate on the ballot. She is eligible to run. Shouting will not change that fact. Her votes will be counted. If she is among the top 2, she will be certified as a winner. If she declines the seat, council appoints someone to the open position. Since Nihart won once, but had to decline because of an obscure BS federal regulation and the tone deaf behavior of partisan democrats, she gets appointed to the seat she just won.
It's a pretty crappy situation, but is one that was ultimately up to Nihart to confront. I have no idea why she didn't tackle this head on before she even filed to run or why her campaign manager didn't follow up like he should have.
It's a comedy of errors, set in motion by Nihart's own inaction early on. Blaming anyone else for her failure to nip this in the bud and deal with it in a timely fashion is unfair and misplaced.
Perhaps Nihart's attention was too focused on a future "on the other side of the hill" and she forgot to keep her eye on the ball.
The website is a nice gesture, but is ultimately meaningless. Mary Ann isn't eligible to run. And if you can't run, you can't win. There are still 3 eligible candidates in the race and 2 of them will win.
"From what I've been hearing, even if she can't campaign for the seat, if Mary Ann finishes either first or second in the vote count it keeps Martin off Council and allows Mary Ann to be appointed. Or there may be a special election to fill the open Council seat."
_________
LMAO! Where do people come up with these fever dreams? "I know we have a California election code that governs all this, but a dude at Safeway told me..."
Seriously, cite the code section or an AG's opinion or gtfo and take your fan fiction with you.
I don't actually know what will happen if Martin finishes third in the election. In any event, if Martin ends up on council she'll be viewed as an illegitimate council member. Talk about dividing a city.
If I had a pitchfork and musket, I'd be getting them out!
All votes are counted and nihart is in the race; she can't campaign. Read today's tribune. Kathy O'Connell is the election officer and spelled it out. Deirdre dreamers and appologists are done.
Nihart is a legal candidate on the ballot. She is eligible to run.
Someone's eaten too many Pedro Point mushrooms. Read Nihart's own press release. Twice, if you need to!
Nihart's announcement that she has withdrawn has no effect on the election results. The top 2 vote getters will be elected. If Mary Ann is one of them, the City Clerk said that her letter to the city operates as a letter of resignation or intent to relinquish her office. If Nihart is re-elected, the city would follow its normal vacancy-filling process, either by appointment or special election.
Looks like this one is headed to the court....
This business about appointing someone, Mary Ann, not so sure that is going to work out. If it is the current council, Mary Ann cannot vote for herself. Keener would support Duffy, and maybe Digre too. So you would have a 2-2 vote...and noone would get appointed. And our Pacifica politics would be gridlocked indefinitely....
Pick up our local paper the Pacifica Tribune for the front page article "Nihart resigns from City Council race".
City Clerk Kathy O'Connell said this: "If Mary Ann Nihart is elected, Councilmember Nihart's letter to the City Clerk effectively operates as a letter of resignation or intent to relinquish her office as of the end of her current term of office.
If Nihart is re-elected, the city would follow its normal vacancy-filling process, she said. "The City Council could fill the vacancy either by appointment or by calling a special election," said O'Connell."
more opinions without facts. If council cannot agree to do what is right--appoint the winner--- Nihart, a special election is called within 114 days.
This sneaky legal maneuver by Deirdre Martin could very well end up biting her on the butt as voters react against the meddling of an outside group and vote for Nihart/Vaterlaus out of spite.
If Nihart ends up as the top vote-getter, it's going to take some impressive backflips by anyone on council to justify appointing anyone else. Current councilmembers should take note that this election is going to have a real and lasting effect in voters' minds in 2018. You have been warned.
I respect Kathy O'Connell and all she does for our fair city, but I think she's totally wrong on this one and that a court will back up my view.
Nihart's statement that she is no longer a candidate and is no longer running for office is not a "resignation letter." What is the position she's resigning from? She's not resigning as a councilmember, I guess she's resigning as a candidate. So what position would council "reappoint" her to? A candidate? It makes no sense and doesn't follow a long and established precedent in California law.
If you remove yourself from consideration, you don't end up elected, despite a majority voting for you anyway. Show me a single example where this has occurred in California.
"more opinions without facts. If council cannot agree to do what is right--appoint the winner--- Nihart, a special election is called within 114 days."
And due to the Hatch Act, Nihart would be prevented from running in this special election, so...?
If Nihart's letter is going to be treated as a resignation per Kathy O'Connell, then why would council ever reappoint her back to the position -- she just resigned from it.
I just read the Tribune article and in my opinion, 9:47 is right. The votes for Nihart will count, but if elected, her letter acts as an immediate letter of resignation and council will act to fill the vacancy. They can't appoint Nihart, because it's her resignation that created the very vacancy that they're filling.
Bottom line: there's no way Nihart will be on city council in 2017.
"They can't appoint Nihart, because it's her resignation that created the very vacancy that they're filling." Seems logical to me. Besides, it's an obvious end run around the Hatch Act violation. I don't think appointment would withstand a legal challenge based on Hatch Act.
The Kathy O'Connell (City Clerk} advised the City is putting together a Q&A FAQ sheet today, and whenever that is available we will post it here.
This goes to show you:
Never count your council votes or eggs, before they HATCH!
Thanks, Kathy.
What a mess!
Right now Pacifica.city is devising his next sensational article: "Who Will the Council Appoint for Mary Ann's vacant Seat?"....or..."Who will be the candidates for the special election for Mary Ann's vacant Seat??" or both. DISCLAIMER: This is not pacifica.city writing.
Deirdre is just the millenial Lancelle. Full of herself and full of shit. This is what the faux-enviros do best. Twist up logic, stretch and bend rules beyond all recognition, lie, delay, smear, mis-inform, whine, appeal, sue, intimidate......... They have no shame. They are only in this for themselves. Fuck everyone else in Pacifica as long as they get theirs. When the whole thing finally melts down they will scurry back into their rat hole hovels.
Good bye Pacifica. It coulda worked out but the scum here is just too thick.
Goodbye 12:34. Don't let the door hit your sorry ass on the way out.
The county dem committee should be dissolved. They didn't influence an election, they changed it completely. Self important shit-heads. I'm done. Going to register independent. I'm tired of this bullshit. Everyone disillusioned should do likewise.
Send those turds a lesson.
PREDICTION: Faux-enviro freaks take back control of the town, best city government staff we ever had resigns, city turns off it's light for good.
PREDICTION: Faux-enviro freaks take back control of the town
Loeb and his goons have had control for over 35 years.
Isn’t it interesting that many of the same people who support Deirdre Martin supported Rich Campbell in 2012? Those same people have selective amnesia when it comes to the Hatch Act. Telling us that Martin didn’t know it is insulting our intelligence. Bottom line….. The ends justify the means.
Faux-enviro freaks take back majority vote on council. Study sessions galore. Developers and investors don't waste your money.
Lay off Economic Development Department. Trim planning and engineering to skeleton crew. Start looking for a replacement failed cut-rate city manager.
Start renting cops and fire. Halt all repair and maintenance projects. Plan for bankruptcy.
Keener, Digre and Deirdre send out invites to multiple bake sales. Hire Nancy Hall to write a new "our Environment is our Economy" dirth.
Bye bye Pacifica. You almost made it.
I'm convinced that our local enviro cabal, Bohner, Hall, Loeb, et al, were involved in this in some key way. If it ever comes to light what they did they should just pack their bags and leave.
Why would they leave? If this is their doing they have been elevated to hometown heroes. You need to understand that in Pacifica the more damage you do to our economy, developers and progressive candidates the more you are celebrated. If you are perceived to be a force that keeps outside people away you are showered with accolades. Pacifica is bizarro world. It's only reason for existance is for the benefit of those who already have theirs. Screw everyone else.
As a 40 year resident of Pacifica, I can honestly say that this town has hit a new low. The outside involvement of the Democratic Party in OUR election is absolutely shameful and unacceptable. A vote for Dierdre Martin is a vote for the continual corruption that has besieged our town. It's time that the silent majority of the common sense people of Pacifica step up and take our city back. These people have an agenda and Do Not have this city's best interest in mind. The only way we can make this happen is to vote for Mary Ann and Sue. When they win, we will see where the chips fall. God help us.
Dierdre's decision-making skills should be seriously evaluated. This is her first decision involving her role as a potential City Council member. She indicates she wants greater transparency yet she denies having any knowledge of how this would affect Nihart's ability to run -this is not believable based on the social media attention this has received over the past month on the same sites her campaign managers frequent. She chose the decision that was in her best interest rather than what was in the best interest of all citizens of Pacifica (to have an open and honest election). She could have handled this much more wisely and fairly than she chose to and should be judged on that basis.
Deirdre Martin is a fraud. Plain and simple. She has been put up by the same gang that has spawned so many ruinous creatures like: Loeb, Verby, Lancelle, Hall, Butler, Bray, Howard, deJarnutt, Vreeland, Curtis.........and the list goes on. These are the creepy, self-righteous, hypocrites who have destroyed our town and continues to make us the laughing stock of the entire Bay Area. We deserve so much better than this. Get off your butts and vote these selfish "I got mine's" out of here once and for all.
What a shocker! Council's cagiest bureaucrat gets tripped up the bureaucracy. I guess. Life's a funny old dog. Now who you gonna have to wring their hands, tear-up, claim they're helpless to change things (in the open that is), and excel at spinning and grinning?? Be of good cheer. Someone always shows up.
Oh wait, did someone say this election is rigged? Ripped from the headlines. Perfect.
10:07 That's a long list of names. Got many names on the other side? No? Wonder why that is? Take a look in the mirror ...
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