To the Editor:
In my opinion the most important issue facing the new City Council is the hiring of a new City Manager. One who can get along with staff and do the will of the Council with whom that person works for.
Ms. Quiring was not capable of accomplishing those goals, saw the "hand writing on the wall", and quit.
Hiring Ms. Quiring as Fillmore new City Manager three years ago, was a colossal mistake and Washburn & Brooks were part of making that blunder.
Why would the voters of Fillmore entrust these two with hiring a new City Manager? Not only did the existing two candidates agree to pay big bucks to hire Quiring away from a City that was firing her they paid even bigger bucks to employ her here. Three years into her contract, after firing all the Department Managers, she quits. Good thing I say!
Now Fillmore voters, do you really want to entrust this hugely flawed judgement to the same two who are up for re-election?
Maybe the previous City Councils had the City going down a dirt road. This Councils majority has Fillmore heading for a cliff. If Washburn and Brooks are re-elected the City, under their direction (along with Sipes who Quiring rented a house from {conflict of interest?}) as I see it, will have Fillmore going over the cilff. DISTASTROUS! It's time for a change. We've got some pretty good choices wanting to take their places. Most of them sound good. I say let's give them a chance. Can't do any worst and they probably will do better. Yep, it's time for a change!
Charles Richardson
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Have you had enough of you un-bias writings and photos? Your track record shows for the last 6 years its only hate, hate, hate that you write about when it come to the city politics. It’s been really bad when you spout facts and the have to research your own writing to spout them again. How bias is that I ask you? You have had to retract many statements in the past and admit you sources are wrong. Would you please quit championing your own agenda and write bias stories instead of your witch hunts, that’s what a paper is supposed to do? Your paper and writing are a disgrace to Fillmore and do nothing but insult the fine people who live and work here. Quit trying to please the old and try to help the new as the new will always be around and the old is just old. I challenge you to print this as you say you bias so prove it. Remember you can gain more with kindness; it’s really not that hard to do, try it you might find more people will believe you.
Tom Dawson
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
As a candidate for city council I want to express my thanks and appreciation for hosting the fireside meeting last night. Hopefully those that attended the gathering felt the time was as well spent as I did. It was refreshing to speak with and hear your concerns and suggestions about the park and the City. The many views expressed to me validated the reasons I’ve chose to run for Fillmore City Council. After last night I’m charged up and will keep working hard so we can get Fillmore working again. Thank you once again.
Respectfully,
Douglas Tucker
Fillmore

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To the Editor:
Why to vote for Washburn, Brooks & Pella
Neal, Tucker and Minjares want Fillmore residents to think the council squandered millions of dollars. These are scare tactics; self-serving statements. They cannot point to any page of the budget and show where the waste exists. Solutions over politics!
There was $2 million in reserves in 2008 when Washburn and Brooks were elected. Four million was in the sewer fund to pay off the balance due on the sewer plant. Bills came due and the money wasn’t there. No one could find where it went.
In the 1980's Fillmore blighted most of the property in the city limits and formed a Redevelopment Agency. Fillmore used the RDA credit card to pay for City Hall, fire station, public works yard, theater, parks, swimming pool, and city employee wages. How much was on that card? $2.8 million!
In 2010 Governor Brown took the $2.8 million from the RDA and said we had three years to pay ourselves back. In 2011 Brown successfully shut down RDA’s but the money is still owed. And the amount is greater - we have to pay back the money used to build the City Hall, fire station, etc. Now that amount is over $120 million.
Neal, Tucker and Minjares want you to vote them in when they haven’t a clue as to what the problems are or how we got here. Don’t be fooled.
Please join me in voting for Washburn, Brooks and Pella. They have the knowledge of the issues and they will work for you, not any special interest.
Trinka Reynolds
Fillmore Resident

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To the Editor:
A Congressional Candidate That Stands His Ground
Ventura County needs a leader in Congress who will value the people's best interests. We need a leader who is not recruited by another politician and from a different city. We need Tony Strickland.
Democrat Julia Brownley of Santa Monica was recruited by Nancy Pelosi to progress her plan in Congress. The reason is because Brownley supports Pelosi's itinerary to cut Medicare by $700 billion dollars and spread liberal Los Angeles ideals to Washington. Tony is a Ventura County native and will protect and improve our Social Security and Medicare. Strickland has made a pledge to look after America's seniors by insuring they receive their full benefits.
In times of a faltering economy, helathcare is a concerning issue amongst Americans. Ventura County must have a suitable representative in D.C. that will be tough and focus on healthcare policies, instead of focusing on their own political priorities, leaving American families behind.
Tony Strickland is determined and will stand his ground on the interests of the people. Vote for him for Congress!
Ashton Hebert
Thousand Oaks

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To the Editor:
Health Care
Those who suffer the most under our current health care situation are children. It is not fair that our children are denied adequate health care if their parents cannot afford or choose not to pay for their own plan. Tony Strickland agrees with this dilemma and does not want children to go uncared for. Tony authored a bill to reinstate the Healthy Families Program which provides health care for the working poor’s children in Ventura County.
Julia Brownley had been one of the votes opposing this wonderful program.
Children are a part of the population who are not always represented to the extent they deserve, and Tony Strickland looks to change that. Tony also opposes the Pelosi Health Care Bill which seems to be more damaging than helpful to our current health care situation. Taking $700 billion from Medicare threatens those who depend greatly on it. Why make people already worried about their health any more concerned? Tony Strickland has my vote this election; he knows what the American people need and he wants to help improve our health care situation, not worsen it.
Whitney Beatty
Camarillo

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To the Editor:
In these times of economic peril, one would imagine that the correct thing to do would be to enact fiscally responsible measures. Well according to Congressional hopeful Julia Brownley, that doesn't seem to be the right path to take.
Truth be told, the Santa Monica native voted in favor of creating a High Speed Rail which cost Ventura County tax payers a whooping $24 billion. It gained her the votes of her Santa Monica constituents who had the opportunity to seek employment in this new project, while slapping the High Speed Rail bill on us (even though it created zero jobs in our county). One would imagine that a politican would highlight their previous decisions, but now that Julia Brownley is running for congress in our district she doesn't even acknowledge this on her website, mail propaganda, or even in her speeches. It's obvious that Brownley wishes to keep her slopp financial record a secret.
Believe me when I say that Julia Brownley is not what the people of Ventura County need. We need an independent thinker who will be able to pass measures that are financially reasonable. We need someone who will make the right, but tough decisions even if it gains them the disdain of their constituents. We need someone who will put the people first and party bosses in Capitol Hill second.
If we really want to recover, we need a leader who will control our national debt. And that leader is the independent and financially responsible, Tony Strickland. Join me in aiding our country by sending Strickland to congress and keeping Brownley's financial frivolousness where it belongs, Los Angeles.
Otto Tielemans
Ventura

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To the Editor:
I am appalled at Julia Brownley’s false attacks on Tony Strickland. These attacks cheapen the effort to protect women and children from violence when the fact is that Tony Strickland is one of Ventura County’s strongest advocates against domestic and sexual abuse. In fact, Tony Strickland has been a tireless volunteer at the Ventura County Coalition to End Family Violence.
Tony Strickland has made numerous visits to multiple Coalition safe houses. These visits have provided him with first-hand knowledge of the emotional and physical effects of domestic violence and given hope to the victims of the violence that Tony Strickland is working relentlessly to eliminate. With Strickland in office, the public could not possibly be more assured that the fight against domestic abuse is never neglected.
As a senator, Tony Strickland has ensured the funding for the Crisis Response Intervention Program. This is essential during these complicated budget times. Strickland’s presence at the California Partnership To End Domestic Violence allowed Coalition Advocates to directly appeal for his help to keep the essential funding necessary to keep this and other programs available.
When it comes to domestic abuse, Tony Strickland is the stronger candidate, putting the victims first and foremost.
Briar Goldwyn
Camarillo

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To the Editor:
An elected representative is meant to vocalize the opinions of their district in Congress. In the face of economic turmoil, it is up to our Congress to support initiatives that will pull the country out of its current state. Julia Brownley, running against Tony Strickland for a seat in Congress, is clearly out of touch with the present condition of this country. She voted to spend nearly $14 billion for the High Speed Rail initiative, a railway that would mainly benefit Los Angeles and San Francisco. Currently in state legislature representing Santa Monica, Malibu, the Pacific Palisades, and the West San Fernando Valley, Brownley is disconnected from the needs of Ventura County. The High Speed Rail initiative will not create jobs in Ventura County, nor is it slated to cross through the area.
Tony Strickland is from Ventura County and understands what the values of the county are. He voted against the High Speed Rail because in addition to having no benefits for Ventura County, the railway is superfluous. In a time when money is scarce and resources must be allocated efficiently, Strickland represents Ventura County well. That is why Strickland must have our support.
Angelina Nguyen
Camarillo

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To the Editor:
At the helm of the battle for the California 26th Congressional seat, is an issue that has become overwhelming present in the race, domestic violence. Without a doubt, both candidates Strickland and Brownley have made their cases as to how they would better represent the district on said issue. As an educated future constituent, however, it is important to wade through presented information and reach a conclusion, and decision to vote on which candidate regularly works to improve the outlook for this issue.
If one is a presented with a candidate who not only commits time to discussing how to improve these issues, but also takes active steps within the community to help make a change themselves, a candidate who regularly visits safe houses to meet with victims of abuse, a candidate who supports these programs at the state level and facilitates their funding, and thus survival, then it is their civic duty to vote for this candidate. If you are a constituent of the 26th California district, it is your civic duty to vote for Tony Strickland if furthering the cause to end domestic violence is important to you.
Molly Lowe
Thousand Oaks