ARNOLD NEEDS BIRTHDAY MONEY – ATTACKS SHROYER

It’s another fundraiser/birthday party she is throwing for herself at the Inn Marin who with Boca restaurants provide one-third of her in-district campaign contributions. Shroyer has an unbelievable 2 to 1 lead in raising funds from within District 5 excluding Arnold’s two huge “in kind” donations from restaurants. Shroyer has a 7 to 1 lead in donations from individuals. Arnold leads in donations sourced out of district, out of County, and out of State. Arnold led in the illegal donations from State agencies category but someone blew the whistle and the category was cancelled.

In the birthday party invitation Arnold could not resist making another derogatory personal attack on Toni Shroyer. Since Arnold cannot attack Shroyer on her record of public service the Arnold camp has stooped to the below the belt political strategy of doggedly attacking her personally as an individual rather than on campaign issues.

 In fairness to Arnold for many years she worked for and was mentored by the famously profane potty mouth Senator John Burton, the Novato electorate denigrating and divisive ex-Supervisor Gary Giacomini (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kzypHxXPWo) of YouTube fame,  and Senator Carol Midgen of “unreasonably demanding and verbally abusive” fame in the California Senate. “You are judged by the company you keep” or kept may explain her otherwise inexplicable vicious attitude towards the widely well-liked, friendly and personable Shroyer.

In her fund raiser invitation flyer Arnold seeking ever more money  says “This will be the measuring stick with which each candidate will be measured.” Are resourceful, open-minded, respectful, enthusiastic, etc., secondary to “money” in how a candidate “measures up”? Toni Shroyer has raised almost twice the campaign money inside Novato District 5 as Arnold and from eight times as many individuals - not businesses, developers, unions, current and ex-office holders, county employees, contractors, affordable housing investors, consultants, etc. Using Arnold’s “measuring stick” Shroyer is preferred two to one by Novato residents. In Novato District 5 Arnold has been hoisted on her own bogus petard.

It is far better to focus on who has actually brought about change for the better to the Novato Community. Shroyer has manned the ramparts in the successful effort to avoid more low income high density housing while Arnold notable by her absence in Novato District 5 sat in her chair in San Rafael while Shroyer on the scene actually dealt with the issues. Shroyer has relentlessly removed graffiti, raised money for the Novato Police canine corps, successfully pushed the City of Novato to clean up the massive Wendover apartments complex crime problems, acknowledged that the County Pension System is not sustainable in its present form, and publically condemned the Supervisor’s indefensible slush fund among many  other positive endeavors.

Arnold has announced from San Rafael that she is a “leader” since nothing disastrous has happened on her watch. What actual change has she brought about remains a mystery? Maintaining the status quo is not leadership it is stewardship. But let’s give credit where credit is due. Marin has the highest property taxes in the State.

Notable for her absence in Novato during the successful low income high density housing revolt against the regional alphabet agency bullies, Novato locals successfully went directly to State agencies and were rewarded with housing density relief.  Arnold tried to co-opt the successful effort by pushing a bill in the State legislature to win a battle already won. Arnold and everyone else in County government knew beforehand the bill was dead on arrival with no chance of success. That’s her version of leadership on this very important issue.

The impartial Marin County Grand Jury begs to differ with  Ms Arnold’s assessment of her leadership qualities finding that the Arnold chaired SMART Board has members  “…do not have a solid grasp of the intricacies of the plan.”  and “...do not have an adequate understanding of the financial and operating system.”  How direct can criticism be of Arnold as Chairperson responsible for ensuring SMART Board members are informed and comprehend their duty to effectively represent their constituents.

The same Grand Jury condemned the Supervisors’ unique slush fund again asking that it “…be eliminated in the name of good government.” The Arnold led Supervisors tried to dodge the bullet of public condemnation by changing the fund’s name aka “putting lipstick on a pig”. In this case it is pork and is applicable. Unsurprisingly, the so called Community Service Fund expenditures soared above budget while being doled out to favored groups just before the coming election.  What a bunch of hypocrites!

No matter how you cut the cake Novato deserves a change for the better by being represented by someone who considers Novato residents’ preferences first. Unlike Arnold who cannot tell the difference between leadership and stewardship, Toni Shroyer has been an agent of change and accomplishment. She has the experience and demonstrated the ability to move forward on a positive note while remaining a very accessible, engaging and friendly person who actually gives her full attention to what is being said whoever is trying to make their point.

The Board of self-satisfied Supervisors fears Shroyer because she comes with no strings attached. She has a heck of a motor to get things done. Change is a threat to the current Board, especially change without strings attached. Shroyer looks at change as a possible opportunity to do things better. Arnold and her cohorts look at change as an excuse to hire more consultants and to justify raising taxes. Shroyer has the years of experience in actually getting things done not hiring more consultants.

Vote Toni Shroyer for Supervisor for Novato.