FTM wrote on Sep 11, 2008 7:15 PM:I'm following things closley folks - no fear.

I plan to decide soon on an endorsment.

I really have no direction to give you at this time, but be assured - whomever FTM endorses I really suggest we elect.

We will see what the future brings.

Stay involved, and keep you minds free of political ideologies - this is the mayor of Oceanside - not the President of the United States.

Party Affiliation means NOTHING at this level. There are much more important indicators that reveal the future behavior of these guys and I expect to see those indicators expose themselves in the near future.

Bullwinkle wrote on Sep 11, 2008 7:49 PM:Rocky couldn't talk a 100 teenagers a year in attending his school, so it failed. How in the world does he expect to lead 170,000 people?

Oside Voter wrote on Sep 11, 2008 8:02 PM:Did the City Council vote on the Manchester settlement in 2002? I honestly don't remember. If that statement is accurate, then Rocky and Jim voted on the settlement at their first or second meeting on the City Council. They were both elected for their first terms in November 2002, and did not officially become Councilmen until December 2002. I'm not saying that they should not be held accountable for the things they did at the beginning of their first term, but I'm not sure if it is a fair question for a debate.

Lairdy wrote on Sep 11, 2008 8:34 PM:All we have to choose from is these two! God help us.

Joan wrote on Sep 11, 2008 8:35 PM:I can't believe the city was sued and paid $17,500 and it is at the end of the article as a side note. Jim Wood's secret meeting caused the lawsuit so he should have to pay the city back the money.

Talk about give away wrote on Sep 11, 2008 8:56 PM:Rocky and his pals Kern and Feller gave away over 2 million dollars of City Tax dollars in the last 90 days! Outsourse it now because Rocky and his pals do not hold themselves accountable for their own action and are certainly not doing the oversight of these give away funds! At the rate they are going, there will be no reserves left to operate the City with. Maybe outsourcing their own Council seats is the correct measure of accountability to the taxpayers! At least we would have the representative council seats locked into a performance level worth paying for!

Come On Rocky wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:01 PM:Why wouldn't you want to talk about Robetson's Concrete Plant. You know they put that money in your campaign and you voted in favor of the nasty mess on the Loma Alta Creek! Now the City faces a lawsuit over your decisions shared with Kern and Fellers votes to put it there. The taxpayers are having to pick up the tab for that right now. Of course, Robertson's will help you out with your campaign and Fellers too!!

Sylvia wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:13 PM:Jim Wood has done a great job for our city- hiring more police officers and crime is down. Hiring more paramedics and emergency response times are down. He understand's the neighorhoods and really listens to residents. Rocky does none of the above. He postures, argues, belittles just about any person he comes into contact with that doesn't totally agree with him. We don't need people like Rocky as our mayor or even on the council. Jim Wood is going to a fine job for our community.

Mandy wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:15 PM:Yeah the concrete plant was a great idea Rocky..now the City is being sued over it and you have upset all of the neighorhoods by not listening to any of our concerns over it. You don't belong in the Mayor's chair. You don't have the temprament or demeanor to be our leader.

Original Osider wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:32 PM:OK, 55 and over attended this debate. I know both parties agreed to this leaving out the younger generation whom will be here much longer to live with these current decisions. The I see it, were all in the HOLE with the choices we have. Bottom line, we should have had some of our youth present as well. Isn't there anybody out there that is willing to take office? I am almost ready to put my name on the ballot because, I know I could do a better job than whats being going on in this city!!

Pappy Marine wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:20 PM:Rocky has a lot of nerve bringing up that trumped up law suit on a so-called secret meeting. The meeting was a sub-committee meeting and was not secret at all.I remember that this was when Rocky and Jerry Kern were ramping up to run for council and the law suit was a smear job that would cost the city a lot of money to fight. Not nearly as costly as the $2.2 Million Rocky gladly handed over to Manchester. The few thousand dollars that saved the city a lawyers bill pales in compaison to the $2.2 Million Rocky turned over. Forget it Rocky--you can't run a school with 80 kids in it so quit trying to run the Council. Mayor Wood has done a good job--no need to replace him.

Pirate wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:28 PM:Jim Wood has a history of being referred to as the imperial mayor and I can see why. Rocky met with a ambulance company and Wood is upset that he wasn't told about it. I didn't vote for a councilman to kiss up to the mayor. I voted for him to act in the best interests of the city. Wood tries to attack Rocky's leadership style but Wood's style is imperial and secretive. We don't need a return to the troika of Wood, Sanchez and Mackin.

Peter Principal wrote on Sep 11, 2008 10:52 PM:Peter Principal

Did Chavez hide his incompetence in the Marine Corps by being reassigned every couple of years? Jim Wood stayed in his community where helped victims of crime and was home at night so he could raise a beautiful family, even at the expense of moving “up the ladder” at OPD. Wood is an experienced Mayor who cares deeply about the citizens and future of Oceanside. I am voting for Jim Wood, the man with a big heart who cares about us seniors and the quality of our lives--- not the out of town developers’ puppet, Chavez.

John wrote on Sep 12, 2008 12:56 AM:Hey guys, stop spending money on studies and consultants that you ignore. Remember RDO? Why study Goat Hill now? Why give away city assets? This did not sound like an informative forum.

History Repeats Itselff wrote on Sep 12, 2008 6:48 AM:Back in the early 90's, we had Melba Bishop, Nancy York and Don Rodee. Kern, Chavez and Feller are repeating that history. Go to a Council meeting and you are called names in the newspaper by these three. Be careful what you wish for! We need to break up this wasteful group before any further damage is done to our fund reserves or the City's reputation. Who is going to be polite to the Public at these meetings, leave Staff alone to do their jobs and not embarrass us about living here and most importantly, knows how to be fiscally responsible. Who among them can run this City with the expectation of accountability and oversight of Public money in the budget? Who will stop the give-away of our cash reserves?

Sam... wrote on Sep 12, 2008 7:04 AM:Well, The Three Stooges," Chavez, Feller, Kern,; are ate it again! You don't build a concrete or asphalt plant in the city. They are built outside the city. ... Chavez for mayor is a joke. When would he bail out of that? Feller and Kerns as councilmen are another joke. They are trying to ruin the city of Oceanside, putting cement and asphalt plants in the city, putting highways thru residentual areas, building schools on highways, wasting monies on dream studies, etc.. We need them like we need another headache. Vote them out before they destroy our city.

He Said to Come on Rocky wrote on Sep 12, 2008 7:07 AM:Your 9:01 PM post: I have heard about a Robertson related lawsuit but cannot find any information on it. I have checked agendas for the "behind closed doors" (not the real name) meetings held prior to the council meetings. Is there a name, xxxxx vs Oceanside? or court #? Or has it been settled?

THE ONE wrote on Sep 12, 2008 7:24 AM:To Pirate: How can you call yourself a Pirate O.H.S. Alumni and support a councilman who lashes out at O.H.S. and calls it's students burger flippers? Do you recall how successfully he ran the School of Business and Technology. O.H.S still stands and where is his School of Business and Technology? I can just imagine what direction he would take our city...downhill.

Janet wrote on Sep 12, 2008 7:26 AM:I had a giggle when I read that Jim Wood accused Rocky Chavez of using intimidation as a style - maybe someone should speak to all the former staffers that he got rid of "Don't agree with me? You're fired" - or just talk to retired Oceanside Police Officers to get their insight on Wood. I actually think both candidates do care about Oceanside but it really still bothers me that the Unions back Jim Wood with so much money and then he awards them huge contracts we can't pay for, that's the bottom line for me.

John wrote on Sep 12, 2008 7:38 AM:A choice between WOOD and CHAVEZ for Mayor is like a choice between AIDS and CANCER! Whatever happened to the "Tiki Daddy" candidate? I guess I will vote for GEORGE CARLIN for Oceanside mayor, because even a dead comedian is a better choice then these two yo-yo's!

Manchester settlement recovered El Corazon wrote on Sep 12, 2008 7:51 AM:The Manchester settlement was a good business decision at the time. Oceanside was at risk of losing both the hotel property and El Corazon. The City entered into a contract with Manchester that gave him an option on El Corazon if the hotel failed. Well Sanchez, Kramer and Mackin loaded the busses with seniors to pack the Coastal Commission hearing to make sure it failed. Mayor Wood chose the politically expedient path to stand and fight the bad developer, after all it was not his money and the fight would look good win or lose.

To He Said wrote on Sep 12, 2008 8:34 AM:The lawsuit, USD vs. City of Oceanside, is on file at Superior Court in Vista regarding the decision to allow Robertson's cement along the Loma Alta Creek. No date set for trial yet.

People Befor Profit wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:11 AM:Vote NO to ROcky
Vote NO to Feller
(when Kerns Seat is up VOTE NO KERN)

All of Rocky, Feller and Kern Support Gibson DO NOT VOTE FOR THESE PEOPLE.

THey do not bring balance to our City for the Future!!! They live in the 1950's they are the good-ole boys of naty politics. and will never be Environmental.

You want Balance
VOTE YES to JIM WOOD
VOTE YES to ESTHER SANCHEZ
VOTE YES to CHUCK LOWERY

Great, Great Group of people to keep order and balance to all of Oceanside

He Said wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:13 AM:to "To He Said"@ 8:34. Thanks.

KEEP THE FAITH wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:14 AM:KEEPING ROCKY, & FELLER on council

Is a dis-grace, embarrasing THEY WORK LIKE A DISFUNCTIONAL FAMILY.

We are done having representatives work like this.

Rocky has tons of campaign monies from out of city developers!!

Feller, cant talk let alone have one focused sentence... GET THESE TWO OUT!!!

Rocky is so NOT RESPECTABLE!!!

Its time for Innovative People wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:29 AM:Its time to vote for REAL CHANGE!!

We need to update a lot of oceanside regulations...they are wide open and not thinking of the future.

WE NEED LEED, WE NEED ENVIRO, and RESIDENT FRIENDLY PEOPLE....
ITS OUR CITY
NOT DEVELOPERS TO LEAVE US HIGH AND DRY.

"PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT" GO ESTHER & LOWERY & WOODS

NOR ROCKY< FELLER<GIBSON

Tough Shod wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:55 AM:The Kern, Feller and Rocky threesome have run rough shod over Staff and the Public who try to participate.Having to ask Staff what is a Staff report at a Council Meeting speaks volumes about being prepared to make a decision. Why don't they read the Staff Reports before the meetings and and quit telling Staff how to do their jobs! Stop talking down to and calling the Public names in the paper! Mayor Wood and Councilwoman Sanchez are polite to everyone and we need Chuck Lowery to turn this mess around.

Not All Only Some wrote on Sep 12, 2008 11:08 AM:Whose fault is the Robertson lawsuit? Blaming Rocky for a lawsuit that THE OPPONENTS of the concrete plant filed, after LOOSING their campaign at City Hall is infantile. It's behavior similar to that of a small child who doesn't get it's way, breaks something, and then blames the parents for "making" them do it. How much more immature and childish could someone be?

Not only that, but they do it claiming to represent us ALL. If someone wants to represent the citizens of Oceanside, all they need to do is GET ELECTED. Otherwise, quit claiming to speak for EVERYONE. You don't. Not even a simple MAJORITY for that matter. I know, that's so grown up and responsible, not nearly as fun as painting signs and coming up with catchy slogans. Peace, love and anarchy is a lot more "fun".

Rocky, Wood, and the rest of the council REPRESENT us, because they were ELECTED. There's an election coming up. We'll once again elect representatives, just the way we have for almost a hundred years around here. And the simple fact is the folks of the Loma Alta gang and their neighborhood association compatriots couldn't get elected to the City Council if Hilary Clinton endorsed them and Bill Gates funded them.

Instead, they elect THEMSELVES to their little clubs, and then, suffering from serious delusions of grandeur, claim to represent EVERYONE.

None of the candidates are perfect, that's obvious. Vote for who you think will do a better job. Lobby them all you want while they are in office. Speak up at council meetings. Try to sway their opinion. But when a decision is made, don't old it hostage because you're a poor loser and can't act like an adult, claiming your doing it for the "good of the people". We're just a bit brighter than that, and we don't need this kind of help.

dave from oceanside wrote on Sep 12, 2008 11:15 AM:Mayor Jim Wood has my vote.
He has and will continue to do what is right for this city and its people.
Rocky, sorry man you are outclassed by Jim.

What savings wrote on Sep 12, 2008 11:29 AM:What savings is there by having 4 concrete plants instead of 3? Something was not quite right with that deald. The citizens were sold out. Remember Robertson's vote NO on Rocky!

GG wrote on Sep 12, 2008 1:06 PM:If Jim Wood had been successful back in 2002 and killed the Manchester settlement, we would still be waiting for the downtown redevelopment to happen. Settlement was the right decision then and still is. Its easy to predict a jury's decision when you don't have to worry about facing it.

Yes to Wood Lowery Sanchez wrote on Sep 12, 2008 2:14 PM:City Hall needs people who care for the community. Any developer can now come to Oceanside with lousy, low standard projects that would never be accepted in Carlsbad or Encinitas but that get approved by Feller, Chavez, Kern. We can be thankful to the many Oceanside residents that over and over have put time and money into stopping huge mistakes from happening. It now time to get rid of Feller and later Chavez and Kern. Oceanside is a beutiful city and developers need to give it the same consideration they give to the other coastal cities.
Vote YES for Wood, Chavez and Lowery!

To What Savings wrote on Sep 12, 2008 5:09 PM:For the communists out there, it's called competition. Supply and demand. Free market. Economics 101.

Want to get rid of a dirty concrete plant? You could 1) Revolt, riot, and burn the place down (the way they do in most third world countries) or 2) Build a cleaner one next door that is more efficient and let it compete the other one out of business (the way we do it in western society democracies).

Choice one raises prices. Choice two lowers prices. Granted both get rid of the dirty concrete plant.

The Troika is Back wrote on Sep 12, 2008 6:01 PM:The pure negative, actually hateful and personal attacks by the Wood-Sanchez bloggers is disgraceful. Why not knock off the personal attacks? I am especially dissappointed with Lowery. I thought he would be a fresh voice, but instead he looks like the new Mackin.

Wheres wrote on Sep 12, 2008 6:12 PM:Where's Greg in Oceanside?

doesn't he have anything to say about Oceanside? Or does he only care about Escondido?

P.s. WHO is FTM and why should we care who they endorse?

GET GOING LETS WIN wrote on Sep 12, 2008 9:27 PM:HEY ALL YOU BLOGERS........GET DOWN TO THOSE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS AND HELP GET YOUR CANDIDATES ELECTED!!!!!!!!!

WOOD
SANCHEZ
LOWERY

GET BUZZY ,HELP OUT ,MAKE CALLS,GET A SIGN!! LETS DO IT!

LESS WOOD wrote on Sep 13, 2008 6:47 AM:WE NEED TO GET THE WOOD OUT OF THE SAN LUIS REY RIVER AND WE NEED TO GET THE WOOD OUT OF CITY HALL!!!!!

sanchez wrote on Sep 16, 2008 11:14 AM:Why would anyone ever want Esther representing our city. Sanchez would like to stop all development in this city and keep it like it was 20 years ago full of more crime blight and gangs than there is now. Vote NO Sanchez

Bax wrote on Sep 18, 2008 5:27 AM:Hate to break this to you Peter Principal but Rocky put in over 20 years of putting his life on the line in the US Marine Corps AND raised a beautiful family. You mentioning these non issues in a silly attempt to obfuscate the discussion at hand shows your complete lack of logic, surplus of immaturity, and glaring evidence of the fact that you are a personal friend of Wood. Do you really expect people to think less of a man because he was a career military man? ...

John wrote on Oct 6, 2008 5:06 PM:Does anyone else find it hilarious that Wood can't even get the endorsement of his own party? Chavez got the Republican endorsement. Perhaps Wood should join Esther and the Democrats openly....