Shroyer vis-a-vis Arnold - Novato Supervisor Election

It is past time waiting for the Marin IJ to initiate any substantive public discussion on the merits of these two candidates. The Letters to the Editor gatekeeper seems to have an unhealthy fascination with robocalls as a major election issue. That's why the IJ is fast becoming an in-house publication of Marin County staff and its coterie of special interest and non-profit groupies.

I went to the IJ's "meet the locals" meeting at the Novato Public Library. To the IJ's credit they had six or seven key people there. That was more than the members of the public who bothered to attend. Public interest in the IJ is that bad.

The Novato Advance is on its knees financially and qualitatively. It is important that the Advance prosper. It is the only general circulation paper in/for Novato. There are plenty of bright, sophisticated potential contributors in Novato. Unfortunately, upper management is tethered to the traditional newspaper paradigm that has become the template for a newsprint media's death spiral.

The City of Novato's web site is much improved and the City Council should be complimented for its support. As a government publication it is doomed to a spiffy bulletin board something it does very well. The posting of meeting agendas is outstanding. There is one area which it avoids, i.e., debate on current issues.

Understandably, the provider of a public platform does not want it to be used for public criticism of that platform. End of story.

This leaves us with Novato Patch which faces many of the same financial issues as newsprint but potentially is in the best position of the three major Novato news conduits.

Early on the Patch enjoyed well written submittals by members of the community particularly regarding high density low income housing mandates. Eventually, the critical flaw in digital news became more evident, i.e., trolls, wackadoo's, rude, anti-social extremists, etc. This drove many from the digital stage and quality tanked.

Toni Shroyer will be a better Supervisor that the current Supervisor Judy Arnold.

There are and have been very big financial problems for the County which the current bunch of Supervisors refuses to acknowledge or address. To admit there are problems would be to admit they were responsible. No surprise there.

People outside the County bubble recognize these issues such as:

1) A high risk pension plan that is not sustainable
2) A postmortem of the $32 million computer system debacle.
3) The ongoing attempt by County and State alphabet agencies to wrest planning control from the cities.
4) A humongous vote buying slush fund masquerading as a "Supervisors Discretionary Fund"
5) Outside district funding of elections becoming the determinant component in district elections.
6) Important County meetings not televised and inventoried for easy access and use by interested residents. This is a disgrace
7) Passive acceptance of County agencies resisting public access to County documents and statistics

This could go on much further. Simply put Toni Shroyer would work hard to address and modify the above items as part of a program for an open and easy interface between County government and its citizens.

It will no longer be business a usual. Novato will have someone who represents its residents first, not someone who "manages" the residents to suit the County. She will be at the first local meeting regarding a contentious issue and not make the cameo appearance at the last meeting to take credit for "all of the good that has come out of these meetings".

It has been argued that Toni Shroyer lacks experience in the world of politics. Considering the above list of unresolved issues perhaps the political experience thing is her best qualification. New ideas and a fresh perspective are desperately needed 

The perspective of a working mother in the private sector is sorely missing in County Supervisor Chambers. Toni Shroyer gets things done whether it be money for police dogs in Novato or helping to mount a successful effort to modify Novato's housing element while blunting the alphabet agency bullies.

Arnold voted to keep the Marin County Housing Authority dominant over local housing planning agencies. Fortunately, she was outvoted by other Supervisors. Arnold was conspicuous by her absence in Novato's Housing Element meetings. Shroyer was there front and center.

But let's give credit to Arnold. She has excellent construction on her large signs. Unfortunately, for good government the signs were professionally constructed by Dutra of San Rafael quarry fame who frequently appears before the County Board of Supervisors with permitting problems. Apparently, no professional construction types in Novato were good enough.

Perhaps Arnold and Shroyer should publish every week the addresses and amounts of all contributors. Historically Arnold's out of district contributions far exceed contributions from within her District. Follow the money.

Shroyer only accepts contributions almost exclusively from within her District. Shroyer is not for sale to those outside her District. This is huge when outside monetary leverage is denied the opportunity to dilute the contributions of in-district residents.

The debate will move forward. There is much more beef in the sandwich. It's way past time for a change for the better. No more insider politics as usual. Elect Toni Shroyer for Novato District Supervisor.