The Guy Houston campaign has countered a web-based “swift-boating” attempt by special interests supporting incumbent Mary Piepho, with its own site, The Truth About Guy Houston.
Houston notes that, “Outside special interests have launched a campaign of personal attacks on me. They are aware of my opponent’s weak record and would prefer to attack me rather than defend her record.
“I am proud that Sheriff Warren Rupf, Treasurer Bill Pollacek, Assessor Gus Kramer and Controller Steve Ybarra along with many others have endorsed me for Contra Costa County Supervisor – they know I will be a strong voice for fiscal discipline and public safety.”
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Real People keeps forgetting to mention Mary Piepho’s stipends and car expenses and all the other benefits she receives as a Supervisor. As usual there are two sides to every story and Piepho is not telling all the story about the income she gets, besides her salary. Thats why the Unions support her. They are only using her and know it will be pretty hypercritical to deny them raises when they have gone beyond the pail for themselves. Rollie could care less about public safety he is going to hold the County accountable for the 60% raise. Pretty dumb. Here we are right back to that High School education of Piepho’s. Our Supervisor has sold out to the unions and does not have the guts to deny them anything. Or is she on the payroll there too?
~ EDITOR REPLIES — first of all who gets paid what is a stupid topic, there are a lot more important issues to discuss; 2) no matter what they say on TV there are no independent appointed commissions in California, 3) according to the state constitution, it is the legislature that passes pay increases no matter what a commission of sycophants recommends.
The Editor has it wrong. Its not the legislature that increases legislator’s salary, its an independent citizens committee. So his statement of a “democratic controlled assembly” raising pay is just flat wrong. Even if it had been a republican controlled assembly, the pay would have increased. Also, the point of my earlier comment is to point out the HYPOCRISY of Guy Houston, who accepts his $116,000 salary plus $30,000 tax free stipend, and criticizes Mary Piepho for accepting her salary, which is far LOWER than his. Maybe if he had chosen not to accept all of his legislative salary and promised to accept a lower Supervisor’s salary, then he may have been justified in criticizing Mary Piepho’s salary — but he didn’t. Oh, I forgot to mention the thousands of dollars in campaign money he spent on himself and his wife for his trips to Hawaii and abroad. And he even “forgot” the conference he was going to. Ha. You really believe him?
Houston’s legislative salary is $116,208 per year plus a non taxable stipend of $162/day for each day the legislature is in session. The average legislator gets about $30,000 per year in stipends (legislators do NOT pay state or federal income taxes on this amount), which translates, according to Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee, to about $50,000 per year in taxable income. So, that amounts to about $162,208 per year. Guy Houston, like every other legislator, also receives a free car, which amounts to about $10,000 in taxable income per year. So, since Guy Houston is criticizing Mary Piepho for raising her salary from about $59,000/year to about $96,000/year, maybe he should promise to only take $59,000/year if he is elected.
~ EDITOR ADDS SOME INFO — Indeed, under a Democratic-controlled Assembly, legislator base pay went up from $96,000 in 2003 to $116,000 today. Not as big an increase as BOS pay raise…but still. SFGate has a story on how Sacramento six-figure positions has doubled during Mr. Blow up the box took over.
http: sfgate.com/webdb/statepay
Supervisor Piepho continues to give false information about her accomplishments. She braggs about the no ski zone she put in Discovery Bay. The no ski zone she supplied false information to the other Board members to get it passed. I can only say this deceiving evil minded person does not deserve to be re-elected. I guess being honest is not a qualification of hers, just being a master of deception is.
Real People: Are you saying that Piepho’s salary is not taxpayer supported? You keep forgetting the stipends, auto allowance and other benefits that Piepho gets. Everywhere she goes she expects to receive everything free and when she does not get it she turns in the Queen of ugly. With the 60% increase and the additional benefits it is real close. And when you compare the accomplishments of Houston to Piepho, Houston gets financially short changed. If fact there are no real accomplishments for Piepho so the taxpayers are getting screwed. Or do you have some hidden wonders from the developers she has accomplished in one of her private meetings. Please someone name all the wonderful stuff she has accomplished on her own and not on the backs or exits of others. I keep asking anyone to list the wonderful things she has done for this County and no one can find any so far. When was the last time Mary Piepho received any kudos for doing anything except giving the olive and grape guys a free ride on the taxpayers backs?
You failed to mention, that even with the 60% salary increase, Guy Houston’s taxpayer supported salary is still MORE than Mary Piepho’s salary……why don’t you say that?
The Sheriff’s and Nurses unions are only supporting the incumbants because their contract is coming up. No matter who wins or looses the contracts will begin negotiations with the current incumbants. AND, that is the ONLY reason they would support who they support. To get more $$$$ on their contract. Unfortunately, we the taxpayers will have to pay the piper . That’s why I think all raises above the cost of living need to be voted on by the public majority. Our budjets would balance all the time.
Un-informed voter, if you understood the election process or had done your homework, you would know that an independant expenditure was behind that. Are you saying the people that put their names to it(including Sheriffs Deputies) are now liars?
Sorry Bill, suggesting the Deputies Assocation is only union officials talking doesn’t wash.
~ EDITOR REPLIES — Here’s a fact for you to parse parsimoniously: When any public employee union in Contra Costa County advocates for a Supervisor candidate it’s about political pressure to keep their obscene benefits. The last thing public employee unions qua unions are concerned about is public safety, education, or healthcare. Just ask Rollie Katz.
To All:
Fiscal recklessness is the best way to describe the actions of the current Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County. In late 2006, the supervisors raised their pay 60%. All five members of the current Board of Supervisors supported the pay hike.
The county has unfunded liabilities that, until recently, approached $3 billion.
When county workers went on strike in June 2006, I asked for a property tax refund.proportional to the length and breadth of the strike. The county lawyer said I was not entitled to a refund. The couinty lawyer said that even if the strike had gone on for a whole year, I would not have been entitled to a tax refund.
In February 2008, I wrote traditional letters (not e-mails) to incumbent supervisors Mary Piepho, Gayle Uilkema, and Federal Glover. I asked each supervisor if he or she would pledge not to raise taxes or fees if re-elected. To date (May 23, 2008) not one of these supervisors has replied.
Thus, I am pleased to support Guy Houston, who, if elected, has pledged not to raise taxes or fees.
Earlier in 2008, I supported Joe Canciamilla for the State Senate until he decided not to run. Mr. Canciamilla would have made a fine State Senator.
In 2006, I supported Kristine (Kris) Hunt for county supervisor and Laura Canciamilla for the State Assembly. They both ran excellent campaigns and wouild have made excellent public servants.
Sincerely,
Richard S., Colman
(Resident of Orinda)
President
Biomed Inc.
Concord, CA
TEL (925) 609-2820, ext. 203
FAX (925) 363-7798
E-mail: rcolman@biocorp.com
Tsk Tsk Non Nonsense…Looks like you just outed your wife as being behind the mailer by saying …”But I’m guessing it’s elbows and a-holes at Houston HQ trying to defuse that mailer”. There you go again with your sewer mouth…Mr elected official…too much sauce buddy?
Here ya go NOSENSE,
His opponent (MARY P.) has saddled the county with debt ($1.75 Billion!) while giving herself a 60% raise, and spending our taxes on $15,000 desks for her staff – what is going on here?
Now this is relevant and pertinent to the campain……………………
If I was Guy, I would say the same thing. The only reason someone would put out old dirt non-relevant to the issue would be a person who has no morals and no tract record…… I’ve got to go now, follow the yellow brick road, as I hear the wicked witch of the east brooming over my way ……… he he heee I’m melting………
Disclaimer: The humor was not paid for by any candidate, the wording has not been spell checked
Bill, does Guy not read your site when he claims, “would prefer to attack me rather than defend her record.”
For a second there I was feeling slighted! But I’m guessing it’s elbows and a-holes at Houston HQ trying to defuse that mailer. Looks to have left a pretty big crater in the lobby.
The best part is seeing him taken to task by law enforcement who he claims he supports. Oh, the irony!
~ EDITOR REPLIES — Well since you’re already near a defribillator and emergency care, it may come as a shock for you to learn that the sheriff’s union rolling over Mary (“I don’t take money from special interests”) Piepho is not law enforcement per se.
CLEAR