Our Responsibility to Vote

My friends and neighbors, I was struggling to find words that describe the distasteful and humiliating situation this general election has brought out, that has reflected so badly on our city.  Acts/or Failures of our city government, Intended or Unintended, are none-the-less undesirable and unwanted.

It has been made clearly evident that the DIXIE AMBULANCE ISSUE, THE ANIMAL SHELTER ISSUE, THE PROPERTY RIGHTS ISSUE, THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, AND SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE (which is now capped off with a pending civil suit that may cost the city and taxpayers thousands of dollars) is now confronting voters and begging for a solution.

As if this is not enough to bring you to your knees, the ugly allegation that city ordinance violations may have been perpetrated by an elected city official has now caused members of the community to demand an investigation of possible criminal behavior. WHAT are we citizens to do to rectify the mess we find ourselves in?

I mentioned that I was seeking the words to better express myself in reporting Chamber Activities when I happened to pick up my new cell phone seeking weather report on strong winds.

I don’t know what button I touched or what I did to bring to the screen a photograph of Thomas S. Monson, but there He was...facing me, and in large bold letters the words appeared stating “OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESCUE”

NOW, let me say that I STRONGLY believe in the Separation of State and Religion, but as I read the words I thought to myself this describes what is needed to be done in this General Election.

In my mind I changed the words of saving an individual spiritually into saving the City from further debacle of inappropriate governing.

I called out to my wife and told her what had happened.  She replied you were seeking an answer and you got it.  Follow your promptings.  Having been married 53 years I decided to follow my wife’s counsel.

So here goes the message I wished to send to VOTERS addressing the dilemma you may find yourself in when casting your ballot.

Please consider OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESCUE THE CITY… From City government that may have strayed from righteous behavior for one reason or another. From those that may have separated themselves from activity that provides fair, and honest, clean exercise of power when governing.

The City is almost certain to remain lost unless there awakens in us “VOTERS” a desire to rescue and save our City from further appearances of wrong doing.

Our task is not insurmountable, we “VOTERS” are acting to exercise our Constitutional Rights, our Best Judgment, by casting a VOTE for Good City Government.

VOTE NOVEMBER 5^TH for the candidate YOU judge will to be most capable of representing your values and principals when conducting city business.

ED BACA

A New Broom Sweeps Clean

The newspaper headline calls for POLICE INVESTIGATION of city officials, MAYOR and A Sitting COUNCILMAN included.

Your first response to stunning allegations of misconduct may be to ask yourself, WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CITY? 

How could things have gone so bad so quickly without the public knowing about it?  It may very well be that THINGS like SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT have been going on for a long time but in this new era of communication, incumbents can no longer keep a lid on THINGS as they have in the past.

Using clichés like "You Can’t Put the Toothpaste Back In the Tube", OR "now The Cats Out Of The Bag"...The question is HOW do we choose to deal with this developing crises in city government?

May I respectfully remind citizens that in our judicial system of governing we have traditionally allowed that a person IS to be presumed INNOCENT until proven GUILTY.

We may take solace in knowing that this Election there are NO incumbents for City Council running for re-election and there will be a New Broom cleaning City Hall.

The call for police to investigate allegations involving the Mayor brings forth the issue of CONFLICT of INTEREST.  Should the Chief of Police or City Attorney be placed in the position of investigating or prosecuting their Boss?

This on its face appears highly inappropriate. Please note that Utah Election Laws, section 10-3-928 (2) (Duties of City Attorney) reads……May prosecute under state law, infractions and misdemeanors occurring within the boundaries of the municipality.  The key word is MAY.

Sub section (6) reads, may designate a city attorney from another municipality or a public prosecutor to prosecute a matter, in the court having jurisdiction over the matter, if the city attorney has a conflict of interest regarding the matter being prosecuted.  CLEARLY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST exists for both the Chief of Police and City Attorney.

It is time to have an INDEPENDENT investigation conducted on all matters that have been brought to the forefront during the past few months. It’s the RIGHT thing to do.

ED BACA, candidate for city council.

Vote for Ed on November 5th. Thank you.

Tough Love for Those Entrusted to Protect & to Serve

During the course of this Municipal Election, Code Enforcement of City Ordinances has repeatedly come to the forefront. As might be expected, the procedural process for adopting laws and establishing enforcement guidelines have rested solely on the shoulders of City Staff with final approval being voted on by 5 sitting council members.

Policy and Procedures & Rules and Regulations are to be developed and supervised by the City Manager and Department Heads. Employees are expected to be trained and educated on elements contained in each ordinance. Employees are then to conduct themselves accordingly; keeping to prescribed job performance expectations.

LET US NOW DIRECT OUR ATTENTION TO THE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS and GOVERNMENT.

Particular attention to Property Rights and Code Enforcement is warranted, due to the recently filed Class-Action Law Suit naming the Mayor and City of St. George as defendants. Transparency on this issue is very important as it may very well cost the taxpayers a large amount of money to litigate this issue.

HOW DID WE GET IN THIS POSITION AND HOW COULD WE HAVE AVOIDED/PREVENTED IT FROM HAPPENING?

May I humbly suggest that we find ourselves in this predicament because those that have been entrusted to lead have succumbed to worldly temptations of power and have stopped LISTENING. I can vividly recall in my boyhood when I ceased to listen and adhere to the course I was expected to follow, my dear mother would say to me, “You are getting too big for your britches.”

Well, without describing in detail the failures that have led to the city being sued… the kindest way to put it, is to say, the predicament our City now finds itself can best be presented in the simplest and kindest terms by stating… The Mayor and City Manager appear to have gotten “too big for their britches.” As made evident by current events.

They no longer are LISTENING and more importantly RESPONDING to the folks who put them in office; they know better.

The Mayor and City Manager have grown too big to spank. There is an alternative.   It’s called an ELECTION!

Issues highlighted during this election cycle have been very disconcerting and troubling to say the least.

What has become Important in this election is that we, the people, can correct wayward, inappropriate behavior by putting individuals in office that WILL Listen, Hear, and Act in a Responsible way…And YES, be RESPECTFUL to the public when doing it.

The Mayor and City Manager should follow a mother’s admonishment.

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE!

I will Listen, I will hear, I will act in a responsible way, and I will RESPECT you. I am ED BACA.

VOTE NOVEMER 5^TH.  VOTE ED BACA, Thank you.

 

 

The Shame of It All

Right Here. In our beautiful community of St. George, I have come to feel the shame that many of us are sharing with what is taking place in the greater USA. 

I am not referring to the most recent despicable act our Federal Government has taken; a slap in the face delivered to Our American Veterans… The lack of respect to our fallen soldiers… It is enough to bring tears to the eyes of those of us who love our country and the Principals for which, It stands. 

Regretfully I am referring to the growing evidence and/or sequence of current events which reflects the Character of Our Municipal Government.

 1.  The alleged acts occurring at the St. George Animal Shelter revealed that the investigation conducted by our police department came to an end as the allegations of inappropriate or possible criminal behavior could not be substantiated by witness statements… as those seeking justice were made to feel threatened or coerced by the insensitive statements of an elected city official.  This in and of itself is insufficient to cause a feeling, or to concluded poor or shameful behavior on the part of municipal authority as a whole.

 The acts occurring were compounded by continued hints that potential witnesses to reported allegations had caused city employees or volunteers who may have witnessed acts under investigation not to come forward, but instead elected to remain silent for fear of reprisals or loss of their jobs. 

2.  The allegations of violation of 4^th Amendments Rights. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated. 

The questionable behavior alleged to have taken place by municipal authority ( Code Enforcement Officers) acting and following practices approved and authorized by those empowered to represent City Government cannot but bring attention and raise concern to City Government behavior with the recently reported threat of a class action suit to be filed against the city in which citizens were alleged to have been fined inappropriately and experienced a repressive behavior allegedly caused at the hands of City Government.

The benefit of doubt remains... as being incomprehensible, that OUR CITY Government has been given to malpractice or misconduct in governing and has given a free hand to those hired to supervise city employee behavior. 

In the interest of justice and fair play the benefit of doubt is given to City Government as personal emotions and just plain misunderstanding of motives may have a bearing on reported issues.

The SHAME OF IT ALL is manifested in item number three which tends to substantiate a pattern of behavior which is abhorrent to the American Public and most importantly the Citizens of St. George.

3.  The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or PROHIBITING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS.

That the Assistant to the City Manager has taken it upon himself to write the following to a member of the Press…..without explicit authorization from the highest authority within City Government is thought to be unthinkable if not unbelievable.

On October 27, 2013 at 4:05 P.M. the following email was sent to a member of the Press.

“I was reading the Senior Sampler date September 27, 2013 and came across the article, News from City Chambers by Ed Baca."

“I don’t have a concern with the article itself but I do feel that the title is misleading. It sounds as if the article is an official piece of information produced by the city which it is not”.

“Please consider changing the title to better reflect the information”.

Had the Assistant to the City Manager stopped here, perhaps, even during this current city council general election which is now in progress could be understood and explained away.

However, he did not stop.  Instead, censorship was exercised as he continued to write.

“Please consider changing the title to better reflect the information. If you would like something official from the City on golf or any other topic please just ask me”.

The writer has crossed the line, infringing on Freedom of The Press.  But, he did not stop. He continued.

“If you prefer to just cut and paste from a legal city contract or agreement and call it an article I can do that as well”.

In other words Government will provide material you can print. And if this were not enough censorship and coercion he continued to write.

“These public documents are available to anyone who requests them and if a number of people are interested in reading them through your publication I would be happy to assist."

It was signed, Marc M. Mortensen, Manager of Support Services. The city logo was affixed to the bottom of the page.

I find it reprehensible that a representative of City Government would on city time endeavor to apply undue influence as to what and how a Free Press presents news in an apparent effort to direct the outcome of an upcoming election.

Clearly a pattern of behavior outlined in three specific incidents cannot be ignored and one can only regretfully conclude that all indications are that we as citizens of St. George have been shamed by the behavior of our City Government.  Intimidation, violation of Constitutional Rights cannot be condoned or tolerated.

It is with great sorrow that I have found it necessary to bring these matters to light. 

-Ed

Code Enforcement Commission to Save the Name of The Good Old Boys

Having spent the last decade listening to countless efforts to DEFAME the GOOD OLD BOYS of our great City…I have come to realize that the name has a broader meaning throughout the nation.  I TOO AM A GOOD OLD BOY !

I feel I am able to say this because I represent the character of a Good Old Boy; someone who Believes in God, Believes in Family Values, and WHO LOVES HIS COUNTRY. 

There are a whole lot of us who can relate to these values. Both men and women can proudly say they are, in their own way, a GOOD OLD BOY.

At yesterday’s City Council Meeting (Oct.3^rd 2013) as I listened to our present mayor I recalled him recently stating, and laying claim to being a Good Old Boy.  Well, there sure are a lot of us who are.

Which brings me to my point.   When actions are taken or postponed by duly  ELECTED officials and others under their supervision who are known or thought to be “Good Old Boys” and who are perceived to be closely associated with one another, and when a blind eye to enforcement of the law (City Codes & Ordinances) appears to take place in in favor of an individual, business or company…The DEFAMATION of the term “Good Old Boys” takes place.

In order to protect and remove the demeaning image from all of us who can lay claim to being or are thought to be a Good Old Boy, I recommend removing the temptation/opportunity to act in a questionable behavior in the confines of limited public exposure.  The seed of doubt is planted when the head of SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT ARISES. When CODE ENFORCEMENT is to take place and not subjected to the Light of Day.

A CODE ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION designed to oversee enforcement application and techniques will bring Public Exposure to those charged with the duties and responsibility of seeing to it, in efforts to see that codes are applied equally and fairly. A Commission charged with the responsibility of evaluating the necessity of each code and determining the value of keeping the code on the books.      

My friends, there is a marked difference between an elected official who knowingly acts to restrict and/or remove commissions from the arsenal of Transparency and one who moves to create opportunity for the Light of Day to enter into the arena of accountability for our Elected Officials.

A CODE ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION may very well save the good name and reputation of the term, “Good Old Boy’.  Please join with me in helping to establish such a commission and supporting with your vote individuals dedicated to Transparency in City Government. 

-Ed