By Roz Rogoff
About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and...
(More)About this blog: In January 2002 I started writing my own online "newspaper" titled "The San Ramon Observer." I reported on City Council meetings and other happenings in San Ramon. I tried to be objective in my coverage of meetings and events, and saved my barbs for my Commentary page. I had some political differences with the City Council at that time and particularly with the majority dubbed "The Gang of Three," by the San Ramon Valley Times. In 2003 new Council members were elected and the Council was more balanced and fiscally conservative, but I continued to write the Observer until 2009. At that point I decided I wanted to concentrate on my commentaries. So I requested a meeting with the editor and publisher of the Danville Weekly about taking over the San Ramon Observer. My timing was very apropos since the parent company, Embarcadero Media, was planning to release an online San Ramon Express that April. I was offered a "blog" under the name "San Ramon Observer" for my commentaries. I like to inform residents about what is happening in San Ramon, especially on city government and local politics. When I don't have anything to write about on those topics, I just write about anything I am doing or thinking about.
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I'm surprised by the level of civility in the San Ramon City Council election this year. The last time Hudson and Livingstone ran for City Council they trounced their opponent with negative flyers and a mass mailing from the Citizens for San Ramon implying that Ellen Rosenbluth would be a clone of the unlamented "Gang of Three." The letter was signed by two former Mayors and was full of guilt by association, because Ellen's campaign manager had also worked on Jerry Cambra's campaign.
I expected Hudson and Livingstone to come out swinging against their two opponents, but instead they have taken the high road. Their fliers list the many accomplishments of the City Council over the last four years with nary a mention of their opponents at all. That seems to be a very good tactic this time. The Council has accomplished many good things and by ignoring the opponents, Hudson and Livingstone are implying that they are not even worth consideration.
The challengers are also stressing what they can bring to the Council and not throwing much mud at the incumbents. Burr has been critical of the Council's handling of the speed limits in Dougherty Valley and keeping the budget breakdown too much under wraps. Brady has been critical of the City Center plans and the need to support green building in the community, but these are issue-oriented and not personal attacks.
OMG what has happened to politics in San Ramon when everyone is being so nice!
