A Return to Civility

As a resident of the City of Fontana, I am saddened and disturbed by the lack of decency being demonstrated in some in the mayoral and city council elections in Fontana. While misrepresentations and political jabs are to be reasonably expected in a run for elected office, what we now see in the news and read in the local papers have sunk to a level of quagmire that sickens the stomach. Does anyone even realize that the dirty politics being played in our city gives us all a black eye?

As a member of the General Plan Advisory Commission ("GPAC") and the Fontana Planning Commission, I have had the honor of serving our great City as well as the privilege of working with and getting to know many in Fontana City Government, both on a professional and personal level, including the Mayor and members of the City Council. While I may not always agree with the opinions and/or positions taken by some, I don't feel that my disagreement on issues with someone should be the basis to justify what in effect is a smear campaign against someone else. I'm not naive, but I think that there is a fundamental problem when the basis of one's campaign solely rests on the effectiveness of character assassination. Such negative tactics in an election campaign not only skewers the focus off of the candidates and the issues, but also cheapens the entire election process. Is this the message we really want to send to the next generation of voters in Fontana?

You know, its true that years ago, President Bush had a drinking problem. However, during the 2000 election campaign, Bush's past drinking problem wasn't the major (or only) focus of the campaign because it simply wasn't relevant to the issues facing the American people. So why is it that locally here in Fontana, the campaign only seems to be focused on who can dig up the most dirt on who? Has anyone taken a moment to consider how the City would be run if such negative campaigns are successful? History has shown that generally, leaders (regardless of the level of leadership) who obtain office by mudslinging, character assassination and the like usually do more harm to the office than good. Primarily, this is because in most cases the main reason in seeking the office was not for the "betterment of the common good", but rather to further a personal agenda of self interest. Is this really the kind of "good government" that we want for Fontana today and/or tomorrow?

I say all of this because with only approximately 3 weeks until we vote, its time out for airing the candidates' dirty laundry and time to really discuss the serious issues concerning Fontana's future. How do we manage commercial, industrial and residential development and maintain the high level of quality of life that Fontana has to offer. How do we attract Fortune 500 companies to our city so that we can create higher paying jobs in Fontana and not have so many residents commuting to Los Angeles and Orange Counties for better wages? These and many other challenging questions face our city, and the person you vote for should be the one that you agree with their view of and capability to address these issues; not simply because they had less dirty laundry than the other candidates. Truth be told, we all (myself included) have made mistakes and have unflattering issues in our past that really should remain private because they are not relevant to what we're doing that's positive today. And maybe its time for the entire city to open our Bibles and remember Jesus' words: " He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone" (John 8:7).