Let the sham begin! Both of these organizations are strong allys of Yakima Business Times publisher, Bruce Smith (B.S.) and both have Republican Party officials and Precinct Committee Officers “helping” decide whom to endorse and donate money too. After their “endorsement” B.S. will kick in with a barrage of articles praising the “anointed” ones. He won’t give them any money though. So, what’s so bad about that one might ask?
Well, let’s look at some recent history. Both CWHB and the Realtors donated $11,000 ($5,500 each) to help Rick Ensey buy a seat on the council two years ago. That pretty much reflects on the ethics of these groups. The end justifies the means is their war cry. They issue “invitations” to candidates for interviews or they may have a phony “forum” to glean information from those they do NOT want to be elected. Their choices are predetermined and I will list them here:
They will choose Maureen Adkison over Paul George because she is a good soldier in Republican politics and she will NOT think outside the box and certainly not rock their boat.
Naturally if the Homebuilders and Realtors are in love with the diminutive and cuddly Rick Ensey then you know they absolutely love Bill Lover, (Ensey’s most stalwart supporter). So, they will endorse him.
They will endorse Dave Ettl over Sonia Rodriguez because he is a good mouthpiece for them and Bruce Smith has already bashed Sonia and they wouldn’t dare cross B.S.
Micah Cawley will get the nod over Mary Place, not because they like Micah, rather because Bruce is brutalizing Mary and once again, these groups will not defy Big Bad Bruce. Micah allows himself to be used by these special interests and seeks their favor.
If they are successful in putting these shills on the council then they will have total control and the city be dammed. These two faced doubletalking groups are all about control ala Rick Ensey, their poster child.
There are actually some progressive thinking people in the CWHB and YRA but they have no influence in the decisions they make. Too bad. Both organizations would be stronger with a little more objectivity.
So what is their agenda? Same as Bruce Smith. Dump the city manager with no plan afterwards, watch city government fail, then make a move to have the voters approve a strong Mayor type of government, and then – ultimate control!
The CWHB money is going to go where they want it to go, so Mr. Bonlender, don’t grouse about their process, its their money.
With all respect to CWHB’s, they are a special interest group, much like environmental, or property rights groups. If I run a company that builds homes, an endorsement by the CWHB might mean something, or if my singular interest was the environment I may be swayed by the Seirra Club’s endorsement.
You know campaigns are about money, it fuels the message. An endorsement from a special interest in an election like this is meaningless, as nobody really cares about the collective opinion of a special interest group.
Much of what you say I agree with, however, the point here is the CWHB and the Realtors would like everyone to believe that they are making an objective decision on the candidates based on their interview process or forums. That is a sham! They know who they want already and many of them are already working for their candidates. So they should forgo the phony show and get to it.
I hope you are right that their “endorsement” is meaningless. Their struggle for control of the city council is at the expense of the taxpayer. Good government and open, honest government is the very least of their priorities.
Here’s a news flash. Anytime a union organization does one of these “Phony” endorsement processes they choose Democrats – 99%. It is what it is – you know the political game as well as anyone – so why do act surprised or think it is worthy of an article? Does that also mean that their candidates are “puppets” being “used” by the union? You have such a double standard it’s laughable. Here’s another idea. Write ONE article without calling someone a name, or calling them by a nickname that you made up. You are trying so hard to be the anti Sean Hannity. Hilarious.
CWHB is not a union, the comparison is not there. No one has to try hard to be anti-Slant Head Hannity. The opinion in the YHR and KNDO was strongly against the private emails BS created, that should be enough to remind voters Bruce Smith is bad for Yakima.
So now because the YHR and KNDO have a opinion, that the world and all in Yakima must follow their drum beat.
Why would anyone in Yakima care what KNDO has to say, They are broadcast out of the DRI CITIES
they could care less whats happening in yakima news as long as they sell ad time
You sir have used too much acid in your younger days.
The same YHR that said to vote no on the paramedic issue? I guess that issue was bad for Yakima too, then.
blah blah…looks like mainstreter didn’t get the “name calling” memo…
Thanks for calling out the phoney candidate forums of the CWHB and Realtors. You can add the local Christian Braoadcaster that hosts a forum for LD races to that group too. The bogus forums are just tools they use in an attempt to give legitimacy to and get air time for their right wing agenda. And as much as I would like to think folks can see it as a pure partisan activity, I’m sure some voters are sucked in by it.