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Sweetwater board candidate has his sign damaged
If you want to debate numbers, if we are few, it looks like you are on your own here. Regarding looks, I'm not quite sure what you are getting at. Are you saying that we look Italian? I myself haven't seen 'County fair ride operators' is quite some time. You may have to update me on their look! Regarding signatures, do tell, who was it who made sure to report those who were trying to get signatures? Wasn't that John McCann? Yet another blot on the old escutcheon.— June 10, 2013 6:24 p.m.
Sweetwater board candidate has his sign damaged
Oh please. You are joking, right? Where does one begin...? So good that you are feeling brave again, timtim. Wouldn't want to think that you were intimidated. Regarding the "war hero" status of John McCann, that is decidedly debatable. I have had the good fortune of meeting a few true war heroes, from WW II on up to the present, and the one thing they have in common is that they don't toot their own horn. (In case anyone is paying attention, that would be a good lesson to learn). To answer the question, why would Jaime run against John...why not? It isn't as if McCann has ever done anything this community is grateful for. To reiterate: McCann gave $500,000 to Gandara, when Gandara could have been fired for cause (remember the missing report? we do). McCann brought Ed Brand back--need we say more? McCann has not once stood up to do the right thing--he always goes along with the Loyal Voting Block, proving either a lack of convictions, or a lack of discretionary powers, or both. Delusional, deluded John McCann--this community sees what he does not. We need representation with courage, intelligence, foresight, willingness to work, and a balanced sense of reality.— June 10, 2013 5:59 p.m.
Sweetwater board candidate has his sign damaged
Yes, well, friends of Ed Brand have never really known how to comport themselves...Brand himself has a reputation as a bully and general 'operator' or operator wanna-be. We wouldn't tolerate this from students, and we have teachers employed by this district encroaching on private property and attempting to remove a sign? Seems to me there are a few violations there. It is time for honesty to return to Sweetwater. Mr. Mercado, there is work to be done in Sweetwater, work that Ed and his cronies don't seem to know how to do.— June 10, 2013 12:04 p.m.
Sweetwater scandal spotlight: trustee Jim Cartmill
I certainly hope these people are starting to listen. Judges, mayors, representatives--county authorities, city authorities, state authorities, federal authorities...this bunch has probably run afoul of laws, statues and regulations for all of the above. Has this bunch has been out of control for so long, they have become deluded into thinking that what they are doing is ok? Going to the board meetings--and I'd say I've been to around half a dozen--it is astonishing to me the degree of contempt the majority board members and Brand and his entourage show the public. When in reality, they are the ones who have earned the great contempt of the voting public and the students.— June 10, 2013 11:59 a.m.
Sweetwater scandal spotlight: trustee Jim Cartmill
Yes, isn't it amazing that Ed and pals want to have a bulwark against the people they are supposed to be serving and representing? So they try and keep school and district employees from telling the truth. I wonder if they--that would be Eddy and pals--are planning a moat and portcullis or any other defensive measures as part of the new district headquarters to be built on one of the many properties Sweetwater owns?? Talk about your siege mentality!? That would be Sweetwater's ostensible leadership...when, in point of fact, we haven't seen any true leadership in evidence for a very long time. We have seen self-serving, we have seen wheeling and dealing, we have seen destruction of needed programs, we have seen wining and dining, we have seen the taxpayers taken advantage of, we have seen the students robbed of classes, we have seen teachers pink-slipped. We have seen massive misuse of Bond monies. We have seen our district become a laughingstock, synonymous with cheating, fraud, scams, ineptitude and behavior that is blatantly, mortifyingly, stupifyingly lacking in basic judgment. Not even close to reasonable judgment, let alone good judgment. What we haven't seen is anyone taking responsibility for their own egregiously bad behavior. Like the toddlers who think no one can see them when their own eyes are closed, our "trustees" cavort as if no one can see them. They don't apologise for all the enormous missteps, the selling out of the district, the cost overruns that exist because the contractors are paying through the nose to take these people to ball games and dinners and who-knows-what-all. What was the title again of the imaginary soap opera? 'As the Slimeballs Twist and Turn"? My friends in the community, in the schools, at the district--now is the time to speak up, so that what these people have done to undermine and destroy this district will be halted. anniej, as you say, soon the cleanup will begin. Thank goodness for all those who do really care about this school district. Such a pity the most recent superintendents and majority board members cannot be counted among that number.— June 8, 2013 1:28 p.m.
Sweetwater scandal spotlight: trustee Jim Cartmill
Relax! I doubt if anyone will be convicted of fashion crime!— June 8, 2013 7:59 a.m.
Sweetwater scandal spotlight: trustee Jim Cartmill
FYI--do you mean temerity? Happen to have my Webster's at hand. Temerity--meaning 'reckless boldness, rashness'. Surprised spell-check didn't help you out! (I always loved vocabulary in English class...).— June 8, 2013 7:24 a.m.
Sweetwater scandal spotlight: trustee Jim Cartmill
I came across again a few days ago, "Character is what shows in how you treat people who can't help you out." There are probably quite a few versions of that kicking around the internet. Anyway, this is how Sweetwater's board members and superintendents have treated people who could, would and WERE helping them out...so I guess I am not as surprised to realize how little they have done for the students, teachers and taxpayers of this district. Anyone wonder what kind of "reward" it would have taken for all the Adult Ed programs to be saved? I mean, just out of curiosity...what would it take for Fast Eddy and crew to change direction. Because they wouldn't do it for ethical reasons, or to help students, or to maintain a stable and supporting educational stepping-stone in a vulnerable community. If we had had cold, hard cash to offer them, would they have taken it, and reinstated the programs? Or would they have just taken the cash?— June 7, 2013 2:59 p.m.
Sweetwater scandal spotlight: trustee Jim Cartmill
That would have been a priceless moment to record for posterity...sad that I had to miss it.— June 7, 2013 12:05 p.m.
Sweetwater scandal spotlight: trustee Jim Cartmill
I heard Mr. Cartmill himself 'testify' in a board meeting not long ago that Mrs. Chapman was his second grade teacher, and that she essentially had eyes in the back of her head as she had caught him throwing rocks under cars across the street from the school during recess. Right now I wish Mrs. Chapman's eyes could be on Jim Cartmill and I wish she could say what she very well might be thinking...Cartmill said that he had served on the school board WITH Mrs. Chapman. You would think that he would want to make some effort to live up to what she had tried to teach him, and what her personal example was for education and civic service and duty. You would think. Mrs. Chapman, if you are watching, we could use your help. Things have gone downhill since your departure, I am very sad to say.— June 7, 2013 11:22 a.m.