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Community Corner

JUDY ARNOLD TRYS TO BUY NOVATO

It’s obvious why Arnold solicits and receives 80% of her campaign funds from sources outside her district. Of the 20% of in-district contributions only 10% are from individuals. Arnold doesn’t need Novato other than to elect her every four years when she buys another election. No wonder Novato is perceived as the dumping ground for social services unwanted by the rest of Marin. Novato has no tener cajones at the County Supervisors’ table.

At the County level money is everything. Follow the money and the fog of insider politics fades. There is one big problem for special interest groups is every individual’s vote counts the same. How do you get around this problem - money and lots of it.

Next in line is to eliminate the competition by continually and publically assaulting them as a undesirable person. Truth plays no part. It’s irrelevant. Even a person such as Toni Shroyer the daughter of a minister isn’t immune from coordinated attempts at character assassination. It hasn’t worked. Too many people know Shroyer and have seen her in action..

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The major groups of donors to Arnold campaign kitty are consultants along with developers, contractors and property investors. They achieve leverage and influence with their cash for Arnold’s campaigns. Arnold recognizes this and welcomes it. Having already raised twice the campaign funds as Shroyer Arnold held a last minute fund raising influence buy in at Inn Marin. Contributions were mainly by donors “sensitive” to public scrutiny e.g., Inn Marin owners $11,000 so far.

There is nothing “wrong” with this scenario until it conflicts with the expressed preference of a city’s voters. Understandably, these large donors look after their self-interest first which in turn may conflict with that of a city’s voters. This is what is happening to Novato right now.

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Novato residents are immersed in the plastic perfection double wide signage professionally constructed. Problem is they were placed by rock quarry infamous Dutra of San Rafael. Dutra gives thousands to Arnold’s campaign kitty. Novato voters are perceived as bystanders in this election where the real challenge is how to eliminate the competition by character assassination because if the real issues move to the front burner there is a strong and feared possibility that Arnold the incumbent will be toast.

The bottom line is “follow the money”. The politicians want federal funds as they use it to create a co-dependency with the developers, consultants, unions, etc. who are employed using that money as directed by the special interest housing groups. This in turn enables incumbent politicians not to depend upon their in-district constituents for  their re-election campaign funds. The out of district special interests will gladly provide the cash considering it a necessary business expense.

With one co-dependent special interests’ hand scratching the incumbent’s campaign manager’s hand the incumbent easily outraises a challenger’s funds two to one. This huge finding advantage finances massive signage, campaign mailers, etc. that overwhelms the individual obliterates voter awareness of substantive issues in a campaign.

Throw in the cash cow of political party, public employee and union PAC’s the odds of overcoming an incumbent officeholder are very unfavorable. Money begets influence and access to officeholders who make housing and zoning policy interpretations and decisions.

In view of this onslaught surprising is Toni Shroyer’s campaign success. Many independent voters in Novato resent the use of massive amounts of out of district cash to influence their preference. Throw in the incumbent oriented county newspaper and its biased letters to the editor policy and voters become even more distrustful of what they are being told and hear.

Shroyer being free by choice of donations from the groups that feed off the County government budget poses a direct threat the cozy co-dependent incumbent/special interest cabal that has resulted in Marin being the highest taxed county in California.

Last minute Arnold hit pieces with lists of public pension beneficiaries are already in the mail. Arnold loves them and they love her because their gold plated benefit plans ensure their golden years will truly be golden compared to the average worker in the private sector. Expect the malicious and viscous personal attacks on Toni Shroyer to continue. This is Chapter 1 in Arnold,s campaign of dirty tricks.

Electing Toni Shroyer is critical to Novato’s future. She is being fought in every way clean and dirty by the special interests and Arnold. Shroyer’s election would terrify their cozy cabal. They would lose control of a District vote normally never questioned. Kicking the can down the road is how massive financial problems have been “solved” and “progress made”..

It is time for a change and a fresh dynamic approach.- Tony Shroyer brings all of this.


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