I’m not surprised to hear that a petition to recall Supervisor
Jaime De La Cruz is in the works, but I’m sadly disappointed. I’m
disappointed that instead of moving toward making San Benito County
a better place in which to live and work, that a few sore losers
are making a desperate and juvenile attempt to disrupt the business
of county government.
I’m not surprised to hear that a petition to recall Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz is in the works, but I’m sadly disappointed. I’m disappointed that instead of moving toward making San Benito County a better place in which to live and work, that a few sore losers are making a desperate and juvenile attempt to disrupt the business of county government.
What is clear to me is this: the county is in the process of investigating whether or not illegal and unethical relationships between elected officials and staff have constituted collusion or corruption within county government. And while I support the public’s right to question officials like District Attorney John Sarsfield and De La Cruz, efforts to recall them from office must be meritorious based upon factual evidence, not rumor, speculation and innuendo.
In the case of Sarsfield, his professional conduct and performance are being subjected to a legal and rigorous review by his peers and the press. The outcome of this process may or may not justify a case to recall him from office. But the investigation must continue in a fair and thorough manner so that the public benefits from due process. For the record, I supported Sarsfield in the last election, and maintain the position that he should stay in office until it is proven that his conduct and performance deserve otherwise. However, I also have to say that I disagree with many of his personal and professional choices as an elected official.
With respect to De La Cruz, his professional conduct and performance are not under indictment as a supervisor, nor is he being sanctioned by his peers. At present, he is complying with the legal process with the intention of exonerating himself of a misdemeanor charge of obstructing a peace officer during a controversial investigation related to the March 2004 election which he won.
In my opinion, this does not preclude him from conducting his duties as county supervisor. Especially in light of the fact that the felony charges against him were dropped and the misdemeanor conviction, subject to eventual dismissal, is the result.
Suggesting that De La Cruz withheld information about his medical condition is ludicrous and without legal merit. The Americans with Disabilities Acts specifically provides protection against discrimination in employment based on pre-existing medical conditions. It is no one’s business and certainly without merit to criticize a public official based on his medical history.
In the past, I supported former Councilman Brian Conroy whose diabetes affected his tolerance for alcohol. Again, for the record, I supported De La Cruz in the last election and maintain the position that he should stay in office unless his conduct and performance deserve otherwise. However, I also have to say that I disagree with his choice to maintain party to a lawsuit against the county board of supervisors based on the conduct of the previous board. But I expect that lawsuit will be resolved soon.
The purpose of government is to serve the interests of its citizens through a judicious process of fact finding and investigation in order to determine the best course of action to exact public policy. Hopefully, our elected officials are capable of weighing the options submitted to them in a fair and balanced manner so that county staff – planners, public works, the legal system and the tax collector/treasurer – have the tools to do their jobs.
We, the public, trust that our representatives and their staff comply with an established and organized effort to balance economic and environmental interests while growing the economy and providing public services.
It is the duty of our elected representatives to direct their staff to execute public policy while following industry standard and best management practices in a comprehensive and fully legal manner that serves the public interest.
It is important, then, to encourage public input that supports this complex process, and to discourage uncivil behavior that undermines the stability of our elected officials, unless their conduct has been proven detrimental to the public trust. Efforts to recall elected officials based on rumor, speculation and innuendo cannot be supported without proof of misconduct beyond the shadow of a doubt. Otherwise, we risk damaging the democratic principles and processes that serve the interests of the majority of the electorate.
It is just too easy to be swayed and become reactive to juvenile behavior that is diversionary to the business of government. Wait until all the information is in before supporting vindictive and vitriolic rhetoric against our elected officials.
I submit that the majority of us are sick and tired of the negative, mud-slinging environment to which a few political extremists have reduced our public discourse.
Here’s some friendly advice to those miscreants: “Grow up!”
Mike Smith lives in Hollister, and is interested in public policy, music and the arts. He works in the water utility industry in Salinas.
