'Rebuilding trust' to be Wilson's theme
Keri Wilson’s campaign for a second City Council term will be markedly different from her first effort four years ago, when she won a seat by a heart-stopping three-vote margin.
This time, Wilson says she won’t team with another candidate as she did in 2002 with Ken Ryan. Ryan recruited Wilson to run and acted as her mentor in that first campaign.
And Wilson says she won’t solicit or accept contributions from developers or political action committees, except those funded by public safety employees. She will take money from individuals and businesses with city contracts, such as trash-hauler Taormina Industries.
Wilson also dropped veteran consultant Dennis DeSnoo, who guided her 2002 campaign. DeSnoo worked for Ryan in 2000 and 2002, Jim Winder in 2000, Allen Castellano and Mike Duvall in 2004 and former downtown developer Michael Dieden in 2005 and 2006.
Janice and Paul Glaab from a San Clemente-based consulting firm will manage Wilson’s second campaign. Wilson says she was “disappointed” with DeSnoo’s actions during the recent petition drive to overturn the council’s controversial Old Town zoning ordinances.
Many residents complained about DeSnoo’s aggressive parking lot performances, saying he personally tried to suppress signature-gathering efforts outside several supermarkets.
At last report, Wilson was the campaign’s leading fundraiser as a result of a recent Black Gold Golf Course event, with a minimum $160 admission price. Her June 30 count was $29,869, including $14,200 in personal loans she’s made to her treasury.
Wilson’s contributions include $2,500 from two individuals, and that’s the most she’ll accept from a single source. Wilson also will consider buying endorsements on only three of those mailbox-choking voter guides because, she says, they’re “so expensive.”
And Wilson notes she’s already bought three pairs of tennis shoes for precinct walking.
Interestingly, Wilson admits to “the biggest mistake I’ve made as a council member”: affixing her name to the developer-funded letter asking residents to not sign petitions seeking to overturn those rushed-to-completion Old Town zoning ordinances.
Wilson says she played no role in writing the notorious letter, which insultingly called petitioners a “civic threat” and “a small group of naysayers” who “recruited operatives.” Wilson now says, “You don’t call folks names because they have a different opinion.”
However, Wilson still strongly defends her husband, who visited the homes of several individuals who signed an intent-to-recall petition naming Wilson. She maintains her husband’s actions “weren’t inappropriate,” but she “wished [the visits] didn’t happen.”
The most important issue in Wilson’s campaign will be “rebuilding public trust.” She says that can be accomplished by acting as a “good steward of the office,” carrying “a positive attitude” and “[looking] for common ground” among differing opinions.
A FINAL NOTE
There’s a lot of talk about a potential council appointment after Mayor Mike Duvall wins his state Assembly position in November. Keri Wilson favors an election to fill the two years left in Duvall’s term, rather than seating a council-selected replacement.
A good solution might be to appoint the candidate who places third in the race for the two seats on the Nov. 7 ballot, thus avoiding the expense of a special election. We’d also eliminate a second round of campaign mailers, recorded phone calls and roadway signs.
This time, Wilson says she won’t team with another candidate as she did in 2002 with Ken Ryan. Ryan recruited Wilson to run and acted as her mentor in that first campaign.
And Wilson says she won’t solicit or accept contributions from developers or political action committees, except those funded by public safety employees. She will take money from individuals and businesses with city contracts, such as trash-hauler Taormina Industries.
Wilson also dropped veteran consultant Dennis DeSnoo, who guided her 2002 campaign. DeSnoo worked for Ryan in 2000 and 2002, Jim Winder in 2000, Allen Castellano and Mike Duvall in 2004 and former downtown developer Michael Dieden in 2005 and 2006.
Janice and Paul Glaab from a San Clemente-based consulting firm will manage Wilson’s second campaign. Wilson says she was “disappointed” with DeSnoo’s actions during the recent petition drive to overturn the council’s controversial Old Town zoning ordinances.
Many residents complained about DeSnoo’s aggressive parking lot performances, saying he personally tried to suppress signature-gathering efforts outside several supermarkets.
At last report, Wilson was the campaign’s leading fundraiser as a result of a recent Black Gold Golf Course event, with a minimum $160 admission price. Her June 30 count was $29,869, including $14,200 in personal loans she’s made to her treasury.
Wilson’s contributions include $2,500 from two individuals, and that’s the most she’ll accept from a single source. Wilson also will consider buying endorsements on only three of those mailbox-choking voter guides because, she says, they’re “so expensive.”
And Wilson notes she’s already bought three pairs of tennis shoes for precinct walking.
Interestingly, Wilson admits to “the biggest mistake I’ve made as a council member”: affixing her name to the developer-funded letter asking residents to not sign petitions seeking to overturn those rushed-to-completion Old Town zoning ordinances.
Wilson says she played no role in writing the notorious letter, which insultingly called petitioners a “civic threat” and “a small group of naysayers” who “recruited operatives.” Wilson now says, “You don’t call folks names because they have a different opinion.”
However, Wilson still strongly defends her husband, who visited the homes of several individuals who signed an intent-to-recall petition naming Wilson. She maintains her husband’s actions “weren’t inappropriate,” but she “wished [the visits] didn’t happen.”
The most important issue in Wilson’s campaign will be “rebuilding public trust.” She says that can be accomplished by acting as a “good steward of the office,” carrying “a positive attitude” and “[looking] for common ground” among differing opinions.
A FINAL NOTE
There’s a lot of talk about a potential council appointment after Mayor Mike Duvall wins his state Assembly position in November. Keri Wilson favors an election to fill the two years left in Duvall’s term, rather than seating a council-selected replacement.
A good solution might be to appoint the candidate who places third in the race for the two seats on the Nov. 7 ballot, thus avoiding the expense of a special election. We’d also eliminate a second round of campaign mailers, recorded phone calls and roadway signs.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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