In an effort to break the current monopoly of developer funded councils and business as usual status quo, Richard Behling has stepped into the ring as the first candidate and very qualified to run for Manteca City Council.
Below is his official press release:
I moved to Manteca in August of 2006. For fifteen years prior to that, I commuted from elsewhere to my employment in Lathrop. During those years I became familiar with the Manteca area, which appeared prosperous and growth-oriented, and I purchased a home in early 2007. Everyone knows the story of what happened next in the economy.
The City of Manteca, too, is hurting financially and functionally. Its woes are compounded by an absence of ethics in its leaders and lackeys, a total lack of transparency in the conduct of the public’s business, and no general public knowledge of the truth regarding the City’s financial position.
The things I can offer to Manteca voters and their dependants are these:
An accounting career and background which will help me get to the truth behind the smoke and mirrors of governmental fund accounting. I will communicate those realities as simply as possible to as wide an audience of citizens as is possible. As a member of this City’s council, I will not take the place of the City’s Finance Director nor the City’s outside financial auditors, but will hold them accountable for simple, understandable, and current information regarding money flowing into and out of the City’s stewardship. Relatively inexpensive technology can make both summary information and detailed transactions available to tax payers, rate payers, fee payers, the press, and the individual.
A commitment to open up the processes, discussions and decisions regarding the public’s business. The work product of public employees is public record, with rights of full access by any citizen, constrained only by privacy rights. If that openness winnows out certain public employees, so much the better. Again, digital technologies can deliver that information access and assist in raising - beforehand - the important issues that get smothered by the eye-glazing boilerplate items and staff recommendations in public meetings. The only way to have every city council motion carried with 5 ayes and 0 noes is if the decisions are made BEFORE the city council meeting discussions, which is contrary to state law and the common good.
An abiding aversion to manipulation and corruption, including moral bankruptcy. The citizen’s council is supposed to represent the majority will of the citizens, not the few. It is time to break the stranglehold of the unseen money and influence networks that view Manteca as their personal SimCity (click here for a description of the popular computer game). I am not beholden to any person or any special interest in this community, and I will make public any back room deals, bribes, threats, coercions, or self-servings that come to my attention. The expensive monument-building by politicians must end in order for Manteca to become the livable, family friendly community it should.
Below is his official press release:
I moved to Manteca in August of 2006. For fifteen years prior to that, I commuted from elsewhere to my employment in Lathrop. During those years I became familiar with the Manteca area, which appeared prosperous and growth-oriented, and I purchased a home in early 2007. Everyone knows the story of what happened next in the economy.
The City of Manteca, too, is hurting financially and functionally. Its woes are compounded by an absence of ethics in its leaders and lackeys, a total lack of transparency in the conduct of the public’s business, and no general public knowledge of the truth regarding the City’s financial position.
The things I can offer to Manteca voters and their dependants are these:
An accounting career and background which will help me get to the truth behind the smoke and mirrors of governmental fund accounting. I will communicate those realities as simply as possible to as wide an audience of citizens as is possible. As a member of this City’s council, I will not take the place of the City’s Finance Director nor the City’s outside financial auditors, but will hold them accountable for simple, understandable, and current information regarding money flowing into and out of the City’s stewardship. Relatively inexpensive technology can make both summary information and detailed transactions available to tax payers, rate payers, fee payers, the press, and the individual.
A commitment to open up the processes, discussions and decisions regarding the public’s business. The work product of public employees is public record, with rights of full access by any citizen, constrained only by privacy rights. If that openness winnows out certain public employees, so much the better. Again, digital technologies can deliver that information access and assist in raising - beforehand - the important issues that get smothered by the eye-glazing boilerplate items and staff recommendations in public meetings. The only way to have every city council motion carried with 5 ayes and 0 noes is if the decisions are made BEFORE the city council meeting discussions, which is contrary to state law and the common good.
An abiding aversion to manipulation and corruption, including moral bankruptcy. The citizen’s council is supposed to represent the majority will of the citizens, not the few. It is time to break the stranglehold of the unseen money and influence networks that view Manteca as their personal SimCity (click here for a description of the popular computer game). I am not beholden to any person or any special interest in this community, and I will make public any back room deals, bribes, threats, coercions, or self-servings that come to my attention. The expensive monument-building by politicians must end in order for Manteca to become the livable, family friendly community it should.
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