Smart Growth wrote on Mar 25, 2008 6:41 AM:Beware of any candidate backed by Feller. I would expect someone who is pro-business to have a plan for smart growth of business within the city. That plan would include attracting quality businesses that will not have significant adverse impacts on the residents of this city. Feller's plan just put at least 60,000 cement trucks annually on Oceanside Blvd. The paltry $200k per year will never pay for all of the pot holes created by the cement trucks. 17 jobs on a 3 acre lot - that is not pro-business. Something else is at play. hmmmmm

Lets get rid of dead Wood wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:01 AM:
Gibson has a better chance of running for Mayor we need to get rid of DEAD WOOD. How about it Gibson get rid of OPD union calling the shots in city hall and writing their own pay checks. How about voting out all of those who voted for OPD pay hikes? Get rid of Wood, Sanchez and Feller!!!!

Go Gibson Go wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:30 AM:I'm glad to hear that Jim Gibson is running for Oceanside City Council. Our city needs people like him on the Council. This guy has turned the Vista School District around after it was destroyed by the teacher's union. I saw one of his meetings where the Union yelled at him for hours because he proposed teaching English to the Spanish speaking children. Finally, after he became President two years ago, the district adopted English immersion and scores have increased dramatically. I hate to see him leave the school board but I think that since the mayor's seat is also open that he should run for Mayor and provide the same strong leadership to the city to help improve it like he did the school district. I know there are some people at VUSD that will be glad to see him go because of his high standards and no nonsense approach to getting things done and I'm sure you will see them on the blogs today. It's a sad day for those of us who have enjoyed the progress at the Vista School District and we'll miss his leadership.

Track Record at VUSD wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:40 AM:Mr. Gibson's track record at VUSD speaks for itself. He, as board president, is responsible for millions of dollars in delays at the new dual magnet high school. His decisions were more political than business based. He will fit in well at the Oceanside Council.

VUSD's Gain... wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:41 AM:This is the best news that has come out of VUSD in years... Maybe Dr Guffanti will run for dog catcher and we would have a real school board back again.

keep the government out of business wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:52 AM:It's a good thing Gibson is running for city council. Red tape is killing businesses. Sanchez better watch out, Gibson is tough to campaign against. Maybe dead wood is right, Gibson probably would be good as mayor.

Oceanside Resident wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:03 AM:I've known Gibson for many years. He has done a great job at VUSD wrestling it away from special interest groups, ending the bilingual program and providing true leadership to the board. He stopped the infighting and has brought about true progress in the Vista School District since he became President. He should run for mayor.

Randy wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:50 AM:Oceanside is evenly split between pro-growth and tree-huggers. A City Council that is comprised of only pro-business members is NOT representative!

Randy wrote on Mar 25, 2008 9:06 AM:Some aspire to the Oceanside City Council to give back to our community. Others aspire to use our community as a stepping stone to the State Assembly!

Yokozuna to Randy(8:50) wrote on Mar 25, 2008 10:04 AM:I really don't believe the split is even. Apathy rears its ugly head with respect to the environment. Ever check out how many of your neighbors are even using their recycle bins?

VUSD Board Leadership? wrote on Mar 25, 2008 10:39 AM:Mr. Gibson is only one of five board members. His "leadership" has not stopped the infighting and the progress still has yet to be measured. His business experiance is extremely limited to small business. His management model is also out dated. I have seen no inovation from him on the board. He tipically stonewalls new ideas and concepts. Not a model for a progressive community which Oceanside proposes it desires. He is more of the same like Feller.

Watcher wrote on Mar 25, 2008 10:53 AM:Jim Gibson and Jack Feller are running as a team. They are alike in many ways; both are mean-spirited and pro-developer because that is the only business they really care about. Gibson was the Esther Sanchez of the Vista School Board in that he was disruptive causing trouble with the teacher's and with the public. He caused as much grief as Esther ever did.

Yawn wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:03 AM:Gibson -- no name recognition, can't walk, made promises to Oceanside residences while on the Vista School Board and changed his mind -- forever alienating himself from our residents in the east, probably the worst performing school district in San Diego County ... Not much to say here.

No taxes??!! wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:10 AM:Didn't he endorse the Vista school bond? Where does he think the money comes from, trees??!! If this is what we can expect, then there will be alot of double-talk from this guy. Isn't he also the one who betrayed the residents of Jeffrey's Ranch? Didn't he split the community over whether there should be a third high school in a dangerous spot (76) when in fact enrollment was declining? I live in the Vista School District and I absolutely hate what the board, and this man in partcular, has done to our children. I guess there is a silver lining -- he'll be off the Vista School Board, allowing someone who will do a better job for our children!

No comparison! wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:18 AM:Compare Oceanside Unified with Vista Unified (apples to apples) and its not even a contest! Oceanside Unified has NEVER had the infighting that Vista Unified has had, certainly never the performance issues that continue to plague Vista Unified. Have you EVER attended a Vista School Board Meeting? I doubt that Gibson will be able to rid himself of the albatross of his image -- a weak leader who never seems to know what he should do, sometimes not attending meetings to avoid constituents' expectations of following through on promises.

Who? wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:20 AM:More importantly, is he kidding?

Is this a trick? wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:24 AM:Does Feller have something or someone else up his sleeve? After weeks of polling, this is it? Absolutely no chance of beating Mayor Wood but Gibson is the strongest candidate they have to challenge Sanchez? There must be strategy afoot -- Gibson will go out and raise money, then they'll get someone else to really run for council...

Political Suicide wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:27 AM:I really don't know who Gibson is, but if I were him, I don't think I would align myself with Feller. Feller pissed off a cross section of our community (me, included) who will not rest until he is assured of losing his race. What Feller has done is to let us all know who we also need to avoid. Thank you, Feller, for letting us know who NOT to vote for!

Please Everyone, wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:27 AM:Stop criticising Mr. Gibson, the sooner he is elected to the Ocenaside Council, the sooner he is gone from VUSD... Please, please, please support his campaign! Even, if you have extra throw some money!

Two birds with one stone wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:30 AM:Thank you, Mr. Gibson, for leaving the Vista School Board. Perhaps now we can get leadership elected who really cares about our children. Don't worry, Oceanside. Just examine his record. You will not hav anything to worry about. He doesn't stand a chance!

Leon wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:33 AM:What great news!!!! Jim Gibson is a real hero of the taxpayers -- and he will be a great member of the Oceanside City Council. With Jim Gibson on the Council, the public can be assured that the City won't allow public employee unions to loot the city's coffers with their demands for extravagant pension and salary increases. And Jim Gibson will bring former GE Chairman/CEO Jack Welch's proven management techniques to City Hall. Again, this is GREAT news for the people of Oceanside. Go Jim Go!!!

No Pro-Business in Government wrote on Mar 25, 2008 12:19 PM:Please vote to keep Pro-businesses out of city council. We have had enough of dumb development that has not contributed to SMART Growth for Oceanside! Keep Woods, he is respectable and Ester Sanchez brings educated reasoning to the table and she LISTENS To the residents ... Build Green for Oceanside, for the future, for sustainability!!

No More wrote on Mar 25, 2008 12:25 PM:Oh my gosh. Don't these tyrants have anything better to do then take advantage of residents they represent? I thougth city council was to oversee what is best for a city/residents, not for sucking every business penny out and letting huge corps keep the tax dollars in another city....duh why do you think Oceanside is the least desirable coastal city in San Diego County.....its crap. We need new blood, who does community work..mmm any relatives of Obama live here?

Mr. Gibson go away and Please take Feller with you....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Dr. G wrote on Mar 25, 2008 12:30 PM:For 8 years I've served on the VUSD board with Jim Gibson, and I will be sad to see him leave the board. It's been a pleasure serving with him -- he is a man of high integrity and brilliance. Jim will be an asset to the Oceanside City Council.

Just What O'side Needs wrote on Mar 25, 2008 2:53 PM:Another Bill Horn Crony on its silly council.

Tree-Hugger wrote on Mar 25, 2008 3:32 PM:Northeast Oceanside still remembers that Esther Sanchez was the one who helped when we were trying to keep VUSD from destroying our neighborhood with their "trailer park school", possibly putting Singh farms out of business...and yes, she supports "green" and keeping what's left of our farmland from being paved over. I would NEVER vote for someone who "said his candidacy is aimed at Sanchez's post."

Umm.. wrote on Mar 25, 2008 3:59 PM:..and with one Feller Swoop, he's out of the race. 60,000 cement truck trips, I love it. $230,000. Thats four bucks each time a cement truck goes over the driveway. for 17 jobs from out of town carpet baggers. Stick to the Vista School Board. That way you can honestly say you'll give those voters the 100% effort your promised them.

John wrote on Mar 25, 2008 5:00 PM:I know city councils are supposed to be non-partisan, but Gibson didn't have any problems brandishing his party and pumping GOP money into the VUSD races. After the last 8 years of having businessmen mismanage the country, please don't vote for ANY republican in 2008. It sounds like a bargain. Unfortunately they don't run government as well as they manage their businesses and personal bank accounts.

Dumb is as Dumb Does wrote on Mar 25, 2008 5:00 PM:Yeah, Jack we need someone like you who lost his businesses and another carpetbagger like the KFC troika who don't understand what a coastal city is all about. What a joke! More pro-development on the council? You couldn't be more wrong about what the citizens want. Please, please Jim run on a slate with Feller and we'll get rid of two jerks for the price of one!

Hurray wrote on Mar 25, 2008 5:01 PM:Won't that be great? We can pave over everything in central Oceanside, get more massage parlors and check cashing joints and screw the people out of their homes off Melrose! No thank you!

I wonder wrote on Mar 25, 2008 5:03 PM:I wonder how Jack got $100,000 down payment to buy a second house with a $3000 a month payment when he only makes about $38K a year for sleeping on the council dais. Don't you? C'mon press..Get going on these stories! Also about how Jack lost his business...how Jim Gibson is wildly unpopular in Vista..the list goes on and on and on...

Har de Har Har wrote on Mar 25, 2008 5:33 PM:Oh gosh. Jack hasn't figured out that people don't like him after always deciding against the neighborhoods!?
Sure, team up with Gibson..the most disagreeable person on the school board who can't close the school deal, with millions over-budget, etc. Just what we need,,,another councilman who can't handle finance!

Helpless wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:18 PM:What will ever happen to Oceanside. I thought that Nadine was going to run for city council. There were several posible candidates that spoke the night of the Robertson's meeting. I'm so tired of seeing the same faces run for office. If you're so concerned about the future of this great city please step up to the plate, I'm just to old.

I see what you are saying wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:41 PM:I see how Gibson has beat the Union for the past 10 years and was the highest vote getter in the last election. He was also the one who voted NOT to put the school on 76 but was outvoted by the 3 Union members. If the people at Jeffries Ranch are mad at him, it is because they are misinformed. For those who are accusing him of mismanaging the money, once again, there are 3 Union Board members that constantly outvote him. As I read these blogs I can see that there are a lot of Union members in VUSD who are ticked at him because as he has always said he represents tax payers not special interest groups. The Union has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars running against him and he still beats them each election. The only way they will get him off VUSD is to support him for City Council but they are too dumb to see that.

Gibson thinks for himself wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:44 PM:Just because Jack Feller supports him, don't be fooled, Gibson is his own man and makes his own decisions. He is an intelligent, reasonable person who thinks for himself and is not persuaded by special interests like Unions.

Teresa wrote on Mar 25, 2008 7:57 PM:How is it a school board member of VISTA suddenly decides he is qualified to be a O'side council member? Could Vista be tired of you and you're on your way out anyway, perhaps looking for another cush job? Pay attention! NO we do not want more and more development in O'side! Let's watch and see who funds his campaign!

TC wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:05 PM:Ok, let's see if I get this straight. Mr. Gibson starts a business in Orange County....What? Oceanside isn't good enough? Then he sits on the Vista School Board.....What? Oceanside isn't good enough? Now, because your buddy Jack Feller want's you to run because you are pro business, now Oceanside is good enough? Beware voters and pay attention to those who fund his campaign!

Union Cool-aid wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:07 PM:Those who are anti-gibson with their hate speech are drinking the Union's Cool-Aid. you need to get the truth and think for your self.

I know Gibson wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:13 PM:He lives in Oceanside and he has always had an office in oceanside and he self fund his own elections. He is a true public servant.

to TC wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:20 PM:he lives in oceanside, he has always had his business in oceanside and half of oceanside is in the VUSD. So he lives in east oceanside in the VUSD area therefor he can only serve as a school board member in VUSD. You must live in the district to run for that office.you realy need to read the NCTimes more offten.

Reply to Two Birds wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:20 PM:You obviously don't understand: Gibson will only leave VUSD if Elected to the O'Side Council. So, you will not get rid of him if you continue to impune him. As for getting pro-children people on VUSD Board... Gibson is pro-children and pro-education. Whereas the Board Majority has alwasys been pro-teacher union agenda, and as clearly stated by them, "(they) will begin to represent children and parents when they start paying union dues." It is due to the Union-Trio that VUSD is going broke, not due to Gibson's business knowledge. He will be missed on VUSD Board, and welcomed on the O'Side Council.

Ester is in truble wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:27 PM:Ester and Wood is in truble.

to tree-hugger wrote on Mar 25, 2008 8:35 PM:Eather asked the school board to put the high school on the rt76. Gibson voted to build the high school on the old Lincoln campus in down town vista. you need to get your fact.

Tree-hugger wrote on Mar 26, 2008 7:05 AM:You are absolutely wrong that Esther asked the school board to put the high school on Route 76 at Melrose. She went to VUSD board meetings and spoke out against it many times, asked them to choose another location,...and Gibson did say he preferred the Lincoln campus, but he voted to take the Melrose land by eminent domain, which takes four votes, and so it wouldn't have happened without him. You need to get YOUR facts right; this is all public record, and you can look it up in the minutes of VUSD board meetings on their website.

Sam wrote on Mar 26, 2008 7:51 AM:I wrote a coment yesterday, but I guess it was too bad. Gibson is a lost cause. The last post he had, he did as much damage as he could at VUSD. He voted to put Dual Magnet school is the worst possible location; Melrose & Hwy 76. This area is known as Death Row. The money spent for this school is unknown, the monies needed to finish this fiasco is unknown, and the monies needed to bus the kids is unknown. Gibson has already messed up Oceanside. With the other three stooges. Chavez, Feller, and Kern;we need Gibson like another hole in the head. HELP!

to Tree-hugger wrote on Mar 26, 2008 8:06 AM:Esther is good friends with the three union trustees. She was the only Oceanside City Council person who asked the VUSD Board to put the campus on 76. Yes, the land was condemned but the condemnation was overturned by the courts. VUSD trustee David Hubbard, negotiated a purchase of the land for $19million, far in excess of the land's value. Gibson and Guffanti voted against purchasing the land and have repeatedly asked the other board members to consider the unused Lincoln site location. THe other 3 Board members refused to even consider the Lincoln location. I, too was at the Board meetings and have been following this board for years. You need to go back to hugging your trees because you have no clue of the facts - check the records yourself.

Bill wrote on Mar 26, 2008 8:51 AM:It would appear Feller thinks he is going to re-elected. Don't count on it! He has been upsetting many residents for a long time, most recently with his vote to dump concrete trucks all over Oceanside Blvd and El Camino Real. We don't want this kind of "business guy" on the council.

to sam wrote on Mar 26, 2008 9:21 AM:WOW I can feel the hate you have for Gibson, But Gibson and Dr G. has been voting ageist the Rt76 location for years.
That is why the union people are charging him with costing the district money.
He is on your side on this. If the other 3 board members would have done what he has repeatedly requested and built on the Lincoln campus the school would have been built years ago. Gibson can't win with any group. One said that he supports the 76 the the union said that
he does not support this location. by the way Esther did push for the 76 location. she said it at the board meeting, i was there.

to tree-hugger wrote on Mar 26, 2008 9:26 AM:Esther was for the 76 school location. Chavez and Feller sued the school district about it and Kern was not yet on the board.

Tree Hugger wrote on Mar 26, 2008 9:26 AM:I have never seen any evidence whatsoever that Esther is good friends with the three union trustees. As to your claim that she asked the VUSD board to use 76 / Melrose, you are either misinformed or worse, and I will not respond to you again. The board meeting minutes are not available on the website (I just checked) before 2005, but this link still works, and anyone who wants to know the true story can easily check the NC Times around that time, when the site was condemned. As to the other board members refusing to consider Lincoln, if you REALLY did some research you'd find that Hubbard originally suggested it, but they withdrew their request to the state to approve it when they found out about the Melrose location.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/04/24/news/coastal/22_10_284_23_04.txt

Vista parent wrote on Mar 26, 2008 10:26 AM:Gibson and VUSD....Gibson came off ignorant only when he when he listened to Dr. G. Once he started thinking for himself, he did just fine, most of the time. In fact, he ran a pretty well-disciplined meeting. He's not too bright, but he's a decent man. Remember that school boundaries are not the same as city boundaries. Mr. Gibson lives in O'Side, therefore he is running for O'Side City Council. Yes, it's a climbing stone for him. So?

Correction wrote on Mar 26, 2008 10:56 AM:It was Council Member Rocky Chavez who supported the school at 76 and Melrose, NOT Sanchez. And Gibson voted FOR EMINENT DOMAIN. There were about 75 of us at that meeting, representing 100's more. We, including Sanchez, spoke AGAINST the location. Chairman Hubbard yelled at Sanchez, treated her horribly! Gibson asked for a "compromise" -- no stadium for 10 years -- then he voted FOR the high school!!! He deceived us! His vote was the deciding vote FOR the location of the high school. They needed a super majority, and Hubbard coaxed Gibson into voting for it. So, it was GIBSON who voted WITH THE UNION TEACHERS AND WITH HUBBARD AND HERRERA, ignoring the fact that there was NO MONEY LEFT for such a huge project, especially in light of declining enrollments.

To Tree Hugger wrote on Mar 26, 2008 12:15 PM:Here is a hug to your thoughts! I know what sort of tyrant claims thier aim to take a seat from Ester....poohy on Gibson..go away..

to Correction wrote on Mar 26, 2008 1:36 PM:Where in the world do you come up with this stuff. I was there Sanchez pushed for the mission 76 location. Gibson supports the Lincoln location and that is on record.

to tree-hugger wrote on Mar 26, 2008 1:50 PM:i read your link to nctimes. guess what? That decision was overturned by a state judge years ago. Gibson went on to vote ageist future condemnations. Hubbard and the others refused gibson's request to build the high school at Lincoln. Hubbard only recently offered the Lincoln school location for a short stop gap until the mission 76 school is opened. You really twist the facts. What is your problem with gibson?

History Repeats... wrote on Mar 26, 2008 3:15 PM:N. C. Times, Tuesday, November 23, 2004 10:25 PM PST

Vista Unified trustee considering Oceanside council bid

By: DAVID FRIED - Staff Writer

OCEANSIDE ---- When City Councilman Jim Wood won the mayoral race in Oceanside this month, his victory not only unseated an incumbent, it also left an open seat on the council.

Now, the struggle to fill that power vacuum could reverberate in neighboring Vista.

One of three names bandied about in discussions of possible replacement is Jim Gibson, a trustee with the Vista Unified School District, which serves the southeast portion of Oceanside.

Gibson, a former Marine captain and owner of a telecommunications business, said Tuesday that he would welcome the opportunity to serve on the council, an apparent possibility based on discussions he said he has had with Councilman Rocky Chavez and others in Oceanside...

...Gibson said he would "strongly consider running" in a special election to fill the vacated seat. If successful, Gibson said he intended to serve the remaining two years of his term as a trustee on the Vista Unified board.

Decision NOT overturned wrote on Mar 26, 2008 3:27 PM:That case was not overturned, and the city of Oceanside lost the appeal. Alot of tax dollars went into fighting the case, due to Gibson, and ultimately the courts upheld the eminent domain case. Dave Arnold HAD to settle! I don't understand why you are insisting on stating incorrect information. You OBVIOUSLY did not appear at ANY of the hearings and you also OBVIOUSLY don't live here. Otherwise you'd know better!For your information, Gibson wrote a community forum, published by the NCT, apologizing for his vote. Too late to do anything about it! Sometimes you can't reverse bad judgement. This was a huuuuuuuge mistake, that we are are still paying for and will continue to pay for to the tune of millions of dollars! Sanchez fought with us, that's why we will support her -- again!

Was 2003 "Recent"? wrote on Mar 26, 2008 3:43 PM:North County Times Saturday, March 22, 2003 10:00 PM PST
MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS
Staff Writer

VISTA ----By recycling properties occupied by Lincoln Middle School and City Hall, the Vista Unified School District may solve a dilemma on where to build a high school campus, district and city leaders say....

School board President David Hubbard said the location of the Lincoln-City Hall properties would be a good fit for the magnet schools, which would be open to students from throughout the district. The site is in the heart of Vista, surrounded by urban development and residential neighborhoods.

"The beauty of the idea of creating this campus downtown is that it puts the school more where it needs to be," Hubbard said. "There's infrastructure already there. It creates synergies with the downtown business area and it doesn't have a lot of environmental and political impediments to it. There are challenges, obviously, but if done properly and we get the approvals we need, it could be a spectacular school and a wonderful centerpiece for downtown."

Set sights on Wood wrote on Mar 26, 2008 9:02 PM:I wish Gibson would gun for the Mayor instead. Think of how boring the council would be without Esther there having her little foot-stamping temper tantrums.

Not there ... wrote on Mar 28, 2008 12:25 PM:To the person trying to throw out misinformation -- do you honestly believe you are going to convince our Jeffries Ranch neighborhood that Gibson was the hero? He BETRAYED US!!! Sanchez stuck by us all the way, fighting the location until the end. If you really support Gibson, you should be defending his actions -- what you have accomplished is attacked him and put out his bad decisions to be talked about over and over again. You were NOT there, so you probably feel free to play with the truth. If this is any sign of his supporters, then I want NOTHING TO DO WITH GIBSON!