Piepho ready to jump to Democratic Party?
May 14, 2008
It looks more and more like Supervisor Mary Piepho has become a DeSaulnier Republican; ready to jump to the Democratic Party after the Dems help her win reelection. How else can one explain the Democratic Party calling in huge markers to bolster Piepho’s beleaguered campaign? Democrats and the usual suspects must smell blood in the water and are pulling out the stops to make sure the status quo does not change at the Supervisor level this election cycle.
At stake is the cozy relationship the Supervisors have with public employee unions to the detriment of the poor, public safety, fiscal sanity, and taxpayers. Then there is the “pay for play” willingness to that encourages developers like Tom Koch to use the BOS to pry open the Urban Limit Line. Take a look at the upfront and behind-the-scene scaffolding now supporting RINO Republican, Mary Piepho.
Bielle Moore
Former fundraiser for State Senate Majority Leader Don Perata and Attorney General Jerry Brown. Recently sponsored and raised money for Supervisor Piepho on Friday, May 9th
David Bowlby
Top Aide to Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher. Assisted Tauscher in defeating Congressman Bill Baker. Held a fundraiser at his house for Supervisor Piepho on Friday, May 9th
Tomi Van de Brooke
Chief of Staff for Supervisor Piepho. Former Republican turned Democrat. Worked to promote Project Labor Agreements (PLA) that raise project costs and hinder private builders from fair competition. Used her influence from past jobs to get major Dems to support Mary. Whispers at cocktail parties indicate Tomi wants to replace Republican Supervisor Gail Uilkema.
Tom Torlakson
State Senator until he switches with former Republican Mark DeSaulnier for his Assembly seat. Sources say this leading California Democrat endorsed Mary for Supervisor from the recommendations of the above individuals. Knocked Senator Dick Rainey out of office. Torlakson cites Piepho’s support for his bills to raise fees to pay for questionable domestic violence programs. Piepho supported Torlakson’s proposal to raise the real estate transaction fee to pay for eminent domain abuse to build “smart housing” and “tranist villages” via a housing trust fund.
Unfortunately, and not to make too fine a point about it, the confusion over political identity in Contra Costa caused by Republican Party incompetence and fuzzy thinking is further illustrated as erstwhile Republican leaders including Lynne Leach, Tom Del Beccaro, Tom Hawkins, and Arne Simonsen play Pollyanna and support Piepho as a “Republican’s Republican.” In fact, as recently as May 4, Simonsen commented on Lisa Vorderbrueggen’s site that, “You should have no fear of Mary Piepho changing her party registration. She is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican through and through.”
Really? It’s beyond insanity when so-called Republican leaders back a RINO candidate that welcomes support from a leading Democrat that has vowed to destroy Republicans statewide and taxpayers by removing the two-thirds vote in the legislature to raise taxes. Nevermind the old saw about dancing with who brought you to the party, ’cause if this is what Republican leadership in Contra Costa County believes to be a “dyed in the wool Republican,” then no wonder they can’t win elections.
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FULL DISCLOSURE, the author of this article and publisher of Halfway To Concord, Bill Gram-Reefer, is a candidate for the Republican Central Committee for District IV.
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19 Responses to “Piepho ready to jump to Democratic Party?”
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Bill-
For heaven’s sake, she’s running for re-election to a non-partisan office. Would these endorsements, including my own, even be an issue if she wasn’t being challenged by another Republican? I don’t think so.
Perhaps a true TR (Teddy Roosevelt) Republican is, in today’s politics, a Democrat?
Many Democratic office holders like Concord Concilmember Bjerke and “moderate” Republicans have signed up for Piepho specifically because she (Peipho) won’t rock the boat. They are more than willing to trust Piepho to play along and not shut down the left-of-center, democrat-union dominated whore house in Martinez.
Sadly, this is what moderate means in Contra Costa County: don’t be a killjoy when it comes to guaranteed campaign support from PE-U Local One and largesse from Corporate handlers including but not limited to: Koch, East Bay Business Coalition, California Redevelopment interests and the League of Cities, not to mention Garaventa, Contra Costa Council, anon.
Please don’t try to paint Teddy Roosevelt into this picture as it is an anachronistic reach if not a cheap way to excuse your passive-aggressive claim that this election is not partisan as it relates to meaningful fiscal management and policy direction.
Now I know why the unions got all they wanted from the Supervisors. Another tax and spend puppet in disguise is born. I’m feeling a bit taxed out already.
Ah Guy Bjerke,
The Northern California Builders Association lobbyist turned politician. Glad to see you were finally appointed to the Concord City council after losing three times in general elections. One thing I can say about Mary is that unlike you Bjerke she did actually win an election. And soon she will join you in the loss column.
Bjerke after reading your blogs I have decided you are the prince of blather and you are right your endorsement does not mean a thing. Piepho has no entitlement to the Supervisors seat and the comparison to DeSaulnier party switching is telling. There is a difference. The far right as represented at the time by Baker-Leach-Giglio CCGOP hated DeSaulnier and drove him to the Democrats. The modern version of that CCGOP troika is behind Piepho. I don’t know what kind of Republican Piepho is. But one thing I know she is a scared politician who is trying to save her career. If she leaves the GOP and joins the Democrats well bully for her. It has worked well for DeSaulnier. Guy Houston is a formidable candidate period. I believe that Houston has every right to run for any job he wants. The fact that the Martinez special interest crowd has lined up to support Piepho means that they are either afraid of her or worried about a Houston victory.
I believe that a Guy Houston victory would be fantastic for the county because a change is definitely needed. I can guarantee that upon arrival in Martinez he will not go native as Piepho did!!
Oh, Bill, you are s-o-o-o wrong!
As a member of the Howard-Jarvis Taxpayers Association and on the Executive Board of the Contra Costa taxpayers Association, I can assure you that I fully support the 2/3rds requirement for any new tax, fee or assessment; nothing less, period!
You really miss the point of what a NONPARTISAN office is all about. Unfortunately, you want to make it partisan.
I love serving in a nonpartisan office where Democrats and Republicans actually work together for what is best for their community!
If you want to destroy the Board of Supervisors and every City Council, inject partisan politics into the equation and watch the disfunction of Sacramento trickle down to every county and city.
I’ll be looking forward to what you have to write when Supervisor Mary Piepho is re-elected on June 3rd. Be sure to check mary’s party registration frequently and you will find it will always say Republican!!
~EDITOR OFFERS POINT OF CLARIFICATION — Guy Houston is endorsed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and CoCoTax does not endorse candidate
RINOs like Piepho, Simonsen, and Leach are why I changed my voter registration to “decline to state” and joined the Club for Growth and became a RINO hunter.
Where are the Reagan Republicans? Where are the “Contract with America” Republicans?
Unhappiness with County mismanagement is understandable among responsible people. If you like what’s been going on you are part of the problem -along with the majority who provided the votes over the years to get us where we are. What were you doing about this all that time? Why isn’t anyone touting your heroic (if failed) attempts? It was bigger than I was too.
It is unrealistic to expect anyone to walk into years of welfare dominated administration and reverse its course immediately - especially from a minority position. Ask yourself in a quiet moment if you could you have done it. If you say “yes” you are either an incredibly wealthy, powerful, independent leader from some larger venue, or you need a reality check. (Speaking of powerful leaders from larger venues, have you checked the success the Republican Governator’s had in reversing State profligacy - Bush’s attempt to stop unsustainable subsidies)? Piece of cake, eh?
I don’t agree with Mary Piepho, or anyone, on everything. But I am satisfied that she is a reliable acolyte of responsible government and that she has done more than most could do to influence that situation favorably. If we overturn that and start over, will we come out ahead? How do you know? Will conditions be different - or will the welfare majority try to weaken, buy and absorb the next supervisor too? If that happens, will you step boldly forward and proudly proclaim that you had a hand in it?
Even Reagan did RINO actions - (amnesty, debt growth, etc.) in an effort to work with overpowering opposition. Should we condemn him as a RINO because he allowed the Democrat Congress to override his veto of the Rhodesian and South African boycotts (which cast those western countries into the Soviet sphere and set their human rights and economies back a hundred years) ?
Be careful what you ask for - you might get it.
The truth is … we need more moderate-thinking leaders who will roll up their sleeves and try to solve our serious challenges. Both Mary Piepho and Guy Bjerke, regardless of their party affiliations, are two prime examples of people who will listen to all points of view, will talk to all different interests, and do what is best for all of the people they represent. All these other silly bloggers - you are just extremely conservative, right-wing idealogues who would rather be right than join in with others to solve problems. Get a life and get off Mary and Guy!
Oh, BTW … Contra Costa County is more Democrat than Republican; more moderate than right-wing. Republicans like Mary Piepho rock … so do Democrats like Guy Bjerke. All the rest of your right-wing nuts, the party’s over.
First of all, when it comes to responding to pressure to special interests to keep things the way they are, Piepho’s record is better described as “cave,” while, last time I saw him, Bjerke, is more of a “rollover.”
You make it sound as if proponents of fiscal sanity is a nut-case, when the real bonkers spend more than they take in year after year after year, including the three years Mary Piepho has been a Supervisor.
But I can’t disagree with your logic…
the county is democratic
the county is in a deep pile of shit
ergo, it follows that
must be the democrats and their moderate republican farm team including Piepho, Del Beccaro, Simonsen and others that caused the problem
Scary how that fits the facts.
I know, Jackie, please tell us how to blame it on Democrats in Sacramento, instead.
Mary Piepho lost the Howard Jarvis endorsement to Guy Houston because of her lousy financial actions.
Mary Piepho is not supported by the elected Financial Big Three in the County(County Auditor, County Treasurer and County Assesspor). Mary Piepho voted for every union contract put in front of her in the 3 1/2 years she has been in office.
These are not Republican or Democratic issues they are just facts. It does mean she is fiscally irresponsible. Leaders lead, they don’t follow and say I just need to get along with my colleagues by rolling over and playing dead.
Jackie, this election is not about Republicans and Democrats. This election is about getting the yahoos out that have a self serving priority over public responsibility. Wow, I should run for office. But first I need a 60% Raise !
Maybe the Sups should recind thier raise to show sincerity to the taxpayer.
Maybe some are too selfserving to do that……………..
Disco Man and Others … let me see you do this 24/7 job for $58,000 a year, which is $4,800 a month BEFORE taxes. (My house payment is nearly that!) That is what the Supervisors made before the raise. Give me a break! The city street sweepers make that much per year. Your Howard Jarvis attitude is not based on reality.
IMO this is a position that should not be about the money. I would like to see it as a “part time” position held by truly successful and capable individuals who either had previously made their money or who maintain a parallel career.
IMO professional politicians have a dismal record of dealing with the types of issues facing this county. I have no use for a person who has never done anything else but seek and hold political office (read piepho). I believe holding political office is a fine thing to do as long as it is not ones sole occupation in life.
If it takes 24/7 to the job (any job) then the person holding the job is in over their head. Lets forget about the ribbon cutting ceremonies, the photo ops and satellite offices. I would rather see a 100% effort toward the “real” business of the county.
And hey jackie if someone is getting paid the amount you said to clean streets (almost $30/hr + generous benefits) then we have a problem of unimaginable magnitude. Please tell us you were just making that number up like the other stuff you were saying.
OMG, the latest in “Mr. Barber has no clue”. A part-time position?
Clearly you are so engaged in recycling talking points(lies in this case which have already been clearly dispelled) that you fail to research the responsibilities of the office. Rather than wordsmithing or attempting to take literally something like “24/7″ maybe pick up the phone and call any one of the 5 current Supervisors and get a reality check?
You only underscore your ignorance with the professional politician pitch. You think Guy Houston is looking to hold down the D III spot while he maintains a paper route or something? You don’t think his move here is purely and entirely about remaining a career politician?
“Hugs and kisses you silly little guy.”
Jackie, the reality is … when you add all the perks in it WAS about 100K a year, This is more than most in the entire country. After the raise and added perks it’s now 150K a year. Now thats public service. You must not have read the other articles about the over 1,000 employees in Contra Costa Government who make over 100K a year.
too bad Howard Jarvis couldn’t stop that too.
I think any raise above the cost of living in the public sector should be voted by the people of the area or district served. That would keep the selfserving politicians from icing thier own cake, AND probably stop most defecits, AND create more econimic growth by increasing public contracts for our deteriorated infrastructure.
Mary Piepho has always pretended to be a Republican. Could it have been for good old Dad? Now he is gone she turns her coat inside out and thinks no one will notice the tag showing. More of her political crap and manipulating actions.
Let us sing: Bye Bye Mary, Bye Bye Show, Bye Bye Mary, We are glad to see you Gooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Disco man, humor us with a little breakdown on that reality, would you? What are these “perks” you speak of?
Since the Supes removed all stipends when the salary increase went into play, and they don’t receive sick leave, vacation, overtime or retirement bennies, just where did you drum up this cute, round $150k number?
Do you folks live in some far away third country island? Because here in the real world gas is $4/gal, houses still average half a million bucks and a decent car is $30-$40k. Nobody is getting rich or really pocketing much on a $100k salary in the Bay Area unless they are living under a bridge.
Really, after weeks of the same baseless and pointless talking points, I figured you guys would have come up with more material by now as this stuff is getting pathetically stale.
No Sense is now grasping for straws,
Does the Grand Jury have pointless statements, here are a few;
· 2004: “Take Action Now to Reduce Costs of Retiree Health Insurance.”
· 2005: “Code Blue: County Health Care Costs.”
· 2006: “County Ignores Retiree Health Care Costs: The Financial Tidal Wave.”
· 2007: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! The County Drifts Ever Closer to the OPEB Rocks.”
This is the fifth consecutive year that the Grand Jury has been one of the voices forcefully bringing this matter to the attention of the Supervisors and the public. The Supervisors consistently approved labor contracts covering the remaining 86% of the workforce that obligate the County to expenses that are not sustainable, and budgets that do not provide funds to pay down this obligation over time.
The pattern has continued this year. Supervisors have said that they have learned their lesson, that they will do better, and that they are on the road to fiscal sanity. Their record says otherwise. In the past few months, three labor contracts have come up for approval, and in each case, the Supervisors as a group have failed to take any meaningful steps to address out-of-control health benefit costs, attributable largely to the generous union agreements.
The Supervisors have been unable to maintain a united front because some supervisors have gone outside the “meet and confer” process, communicating directly with union leaders about matters that are being negotiated by the County’s negotiating team.
You can’t blame this stuff on the last group of Supervisors because it’s the current one that has ignore all the flags. THEY MUST BE VOTED OUT