[Vision2020] The BLog and More Political Contributions

Thu Nov 1 19:09:59 PDT 2007

Sue,

  Thanks for the civil response. I always enjoy hearing your well sounded opinions, even if I don't always agree with them. 

  I agree with a lot of what you have to say on this issue. However, I don't think it is fair or reasonable to judge three candidates based on the actions of one contributor 12 years ago. 

  I do support decent wages for workers. But we aren't talking about a man without morals. We are talking about a man that made a financial error more than ten years ago, and you are holding him to the fire for it indefinitely. I think their should a statue of limitations on making businesses mistakes. Rape is only 7 years, how much should it be for skimping on wages from $30 a hour to $28 so you can complete the project and pay everyone?

  This is a guy that works with the disabled, scouts, and sports. He contributes to the community in many positive ways. To focus in on one thing he did unintentionally through a miscalculation on how much he could pay his workers and still complete the project is not a fair assessment of a person's character. Further, this money has nothing to do with that project. 

  I think we have to look at people as a whole, and look at their intentions and overall history. Fecca doesn't have arm long rap sheet. He has one thing a dozen years ago that are outweighed by the positive things he has done for the community.  

  In terms of working with John Fecca, the City Council already does. So nothing would really change in this regard. 

  Best,

  Donovan

  Sue Hovey <suehovey at moscow.com> wrote:
          Exactly.  But the source of that money is also a strong indicator of the values held by their supporters.    And that's why taking money from John Ficca is a clear indication of the regard one has for the rights of employees.  They might not have known about his past when they accepted it, but they know now and whether they keep it or return it is key to their own values.  If they decide to return it, then they need to make a public statement to that effect.  Otherwise, how would we know in time to vote for them?

  An important issue, to me, is the request by the police to form a union.  They were denied that opportunity last year.  I want to elect candidates who will not deny that request again.  Those who would overlook John Ficca's behavior might well be disinclined to allow the police effort, as well. 

  As I have been involved in the debates among the candidates, I really have come to feel that electing all the council members from either MCA or GMA might not serve us as well as electing candidates from both groups.  At this time, I am convinced to vote for Aaron Ament.  I am still trying to determine where my other votes will go.  I had intended to make support for the school levy re-run a determining variable, but I am convinced all the candidates support that effort.  Evan Holmes, Dan Carscallen, and Aaron Ament have not only voiced their support, they have written articulately of that support.  Wayne Krauss also has a long history of supporting Moscow Public Schools.  

  The word of the candidates in response to the Christ Church representative, Dave Glasebrook, and the malicious sign he carried, are also significant.  I was particularly bothered by the statement from Dan Carscallen, "I don't condone it, but I guess I don't condemn it, either."  And pray, why not?  It would seem to me that any posturing from a person filled with all that invective would compel one to condemn it.  And coming on the heels of Shelly Bennett's letter which carried the same message, I think one can expect antics such as these to continue.  

  One thing, though, through all of this the candidates have comported themselves with the level of civility one has a right to expect of people running for public office.  They have all done well by us.  I am sure that by election day, I will cast my vote with confidence in those who receive it. 

  I would have sent this letter to the Daily News and Lewiston Tribune, but my allocation of letters to the editor was already expended through my effort to support the levy re-run. 

  Sue Hovey
    ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Donovan Arnold 
  To: Tom Ivie ; Moscow Vision 2020 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 9:50 PM
  Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The BLog and More Political Contributions

  Tom I.,

  I don't think money wins an election. But it is the strongest indicator of what kind of support a candidate has in the community.

  Best,

  Donovan 

Tom Ivie <the_ivies3 at yahoo.com> wrote:
  Nothing is ever certain in horse races or politics.  All the money in the world doesn't win an election.  It does help though.  Send your checks to...

Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com> wrote:     I cannot wait to see who wins the third seat for the four year term. I really think it looks like Tom Lamar, Wayne Krauss, and Dan Carscallen are going to be fighting for the last two seats. I think Aaron Ament with a big load a cash, incumbency, and being liberal in a liberal town is definitely going to place in the top three. I am also certain that Walter Steed will win.

  Best,

  Donovan

Tom Ivie <the_ivies3 at yahoo.com> wrote:
  One person contributed $4,000 to a city election? What are we, Boise or Seattle?  or is that what they want us to be?  What does one person have to gain by providing so much money in a little race? like ours?  Nothing against the candidates though, good for them to have a big spending benefactor.    

Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:   >From Dale Courtney's blog at:

http://right-mind.us/blogs/blog_0/archive/2007/10/31/55739.aspx

------------------------------------------

"Hey, Big Spender 

I have a copy of all of the City Council Candidates' Campaign Financial
Disclosure Reports. 

I'll post them shortly. 

Of interest is how much money the candidates have received. 

Aaron Ament: $9,475 
Tom Lamar: $8,817 
Walter Steed: $6,936 
Wayne Krauss: $6,135 
Dan Carscallen: $4,545 
Linda Pall: $3,910 
Evan Holmes: $1,992
Bill London accuses the GMA candidates of being the "big spending" group. 

Seems like most of the money is being funneled to the liberal candidates. 

If money is any indication, the libs have their bets set on Ament. 

Heaven help us."

------------------------------------------

Although it is important to learn how much money has been contributed to
each candidate, it is vitally more important to learn from where that money
was contributed.

Your attention is invited to the Financial Disclosure reports located at:

http://www.MoscowElection2007.com

A review of the Financial Disclosure Reports submitted by Dan Carscallen,
Walter Steed, Wayne Krauss, and the Greater Moscow Alliance Political Action
Committee reflects contributions in the amount of $1,000 to each of the
aforementioned by Palouse Rental and Construction.

Who is Palouse Rental and Construction you ask?

As mentioned earlier by Mark Solomon in an earlier posting at:

http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2007-October/049113.html

"As I'm always interested in who is contributing big $$ in elections, I
looked it up and saw Palouse Rentals and Construction had donated $1000 to
GMA. Maybe I'm just out of the loop, but I did not know that name. A quick
search on the Sec'y of State website gives up John Ficca as the president of
the corporation, which, by the way, has been administratively dissolved by
the Sec'y of State for failure to file annual reports since 2004."

It appears that this defunct company is/was headed by John Ficca, who back
in 2000 . . .

http://www.lni.wa.gov/news/2000/pr000214a.asp

"TUMWATER - An Idaho employer must pay more than $95,000 in unpaid wages to
12 current and former employees in the Spokane area according to a
settlement agreement announced today by the Department of Labor and
Industries.

John Ficca, of Moscow, Idaho, owner of Art's Electric, Inc., also has been
permanently prohibited from bidding on or performing work on future public
works projects in Washington. Ficca also does business as Palouse Country
Electric and U Cities Contracting."

It appears that perhaps the state of Idaho may be interested in the business
posture of "Palouse Rental and Construction" as it makes political
contributions to a select few (Steed, Krauss, and Carscallen) of Moscow's
city council candidates.

One can only wonder how Moscow will be divvied up . . . er . . . uh . . . I
mean rezoned come January if Palouse Rental and Construction should gain
three seats on our city council.

Things that make you go . . .

Hmmm. 

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college
students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)

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 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
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=======================================================
List services made available by First Step Internet, 
serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. 
http://www.fsr.net 
mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================

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