Editorial

EDITORIAL – Welcome to the new democracy Madera. In the last few weeks my email box has been filled with messages about what many are calling ‘illegal voting practices’. People are questioning how all of the candidates they backed could have lost their races to a bunch of inexperienced newcomers and apparently, even more important, what am I going to do about it?

Other than reporting the stories, I’m not sure what I am expected to “do about it”. I endorsed four people in four races and three of my candidate won. Other than the loss of one city councilman, I am very happy with the results of the November 6^th election. However while I can see how a certain segment of this community might feel cheated, there is no proof of any illegal activity in the casting of even one single ballot and no one has stepped forward to request an investigation by the California Secretary of State or the Fair Political Practices Commission.

EDITORIAL – President Donald Trump has weighed in on the epidemic of tragic fires plaguing the state of California in the sensitive manner we have become accustomed to from him. He claims the fires are the fault of forest mismanagement and to steal a line from the movie Animal House, “Bluto's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right.”

Trump Tweeted, "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," He added, "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!"

EDITORIAL – When Steve Montes was filing his papers to run for the Madera City Council I learned that the former Madera Redevelopment Agency staff member had a checkered criminal past. I also knew over a year ago that Madera City Councilman Will Oliver was arrested for driving under the influence a short time after his father passed away in 2015.

In the first case, the felony weapons conviction happened when Montes was very young, only eighteen years old. In the second, while it is no excuse, I could completely understand the mistakes of excess a relatively young man is likely to make when grieving for a parent. In both cases I did not feel writing about past indiscretions would lend anything to the issues of the campaign for the Madera City Council.

EDITORIAL – This year’s race for Madera County District Attorney is one of the most important races in the county. For the last ten years the DA’s office has been running on autopilot with no leadership. Between the current issues regarding employee harassment with the current incumbent to the flat out hostile work environment from former District Attorney Michael Keitz that cost taxpayers over $1.5 million is legal fees and employee settlements, this county DA’s office has been an embarrassment.

When Sally Moreno announced her run for Madera County DA nearly two years ago, on her right was her current boss Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and on her left was her former boss former Madera County District Attorney Michael Keitz. Michael Keitz will go down as one of the worse district attorney’s in the entire state of California and Sally thought it was a good idea to have him standing there when she announced her run for DA?

EDITORIAL – In Madera County the ballots are in the hands of the voters and our month long “Election Day” has begun. For the next four weeks voters will select a new Governor and pick who will represent them in the United States Senate and Congress, State Senate and Assembly, School Boards and City Councils. We will also be selecting a new Madera County District Attorney.

In the following few paragraphs we will be sharing our recommendations for the local city council races. These are only our opinions based on past experience, candidate’s performances at public debates and public statements. We recommend that every voter take the time to research each candidate and the issues on their own; then form their own opinions.

EDITORIAL – This is going to be a strange endorsement. Most endorsements are for the best candidates for the job, this one is different. This endorsement is asking voters to again do what is in the best interest of the county and Supervisor Robert Poythress leaving the county board is not what is best for Madera County.

Rob Poythress is a good man. He is actually one of the only honest men sitting on the Madera County Board of Supervisors. He is the only man who will call out Brown Act violations and the only member of the board not sucking at the teat of the Fresno Developers lining their pockets with cash from their billion dollar projects along the Highway 41 corridor.