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Articles from
April 2009
I am beat
Thursday, April 30, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Sorry it has taken me so long to post. After getting back from Dc last night at 10pm I had to go to Salem, OR and back today.
Happy to be back in Woodland with the kids.
I am getting lots of e-mails about budget cuts. This is just going to be ugly.
The Cap to Cap trip was exceptional. I learned a great deal, spent some quality time with my wife, and had some great business meetings and county meetings.
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Meeting with Congressman Thompson
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 ::
0 Comments
We just had a great meeting with Congressman Mike Thompson. Skip Davies, Bill Marble, Jim Provenza, Stephen Souza, and I all went to see him about I-5/113.
Congressman Thompson was great. He told us this was a priority and appreciated the fact that the region was all on the same page.
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Endorsements -- Building
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Thank you to call of the people that have been so supportive of my re-election effort. I have gotten support from all over the county and appreciate it.
The comment I always enjoy hearing is -- "I don't agree with you on everything but you do a good job for Woodland." That is exactly why I ran for Supervisor.
You can see the list here.
I will keep working hard.
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E-mail of the day -- from Davis of course
Monday, April 27, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Dear Mr. Rexroad, I read with great interest your opinions on water-boarding and other forms of torture. It seems that, at some time in your childhood, you might have attended one of those rather awful British 'public' (i.e. private) schools where a boy is either A Bully or Is Bullied; and that this, or some other strong early influence, has left you with a strong proclivity to sado-masochism. Perhaps, if you try really hard, you can get over it! I am British, and have been told that this is possible; sometimes writing an autobiography about those days can help. However much you have not minded the treatments that you have undergone, perhaps have even enjoyed them, this does not mean that everyone feels the same.
On a rather more serious note.... please do not hesitate to express your opinions widely and often. We need to know these things, particularly when it is time to vote for or against our representatives. Fortunately, it does not seem likely that your political career will ever reach the heights held by Dick Cheney, whose views on the above I imagine you applaud. XXXXX XXXXXXX, Davis.
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The Blind Side by Michael Lewis: Follow up
Saturday, April 25, 2009 ::
0 Comments
A couple years ago I wrote a blog entry here that I can't find about Michael Lewis' book "The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game ". The book was about the importance of the left tackle position in football. The story followed a 14 year old kid names Michael Oehr that football people felt was a sure thing for the NFL because of his size, quickness, and foot work.
Well, today those thoughts are going to become a reality. Oehr who played football at Ole' Miss will be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft today. Pretty amazing that people saw this (and even had a book written about it) seven years ago.
Note: USC should have about ten players drafted this weekend with four players in the first round including all three starting linebackers from last season.
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Ag Marketing Contract
Friday, April 24, 2009 ::
0 Comments
You will see attached to this post some information on the Ag Marketing Contract that is currently in place by the county. This contract provided a great service to Yolo County and the people we worked with did a fabulous job. Fabulous. The problem is that we can't afford it.
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Supervisor Thomson suggested that I get my "facts straight". Actually, the facts were exactly as I thought they were I probably just did not do a very good job of explaining it.
Here is my position on this contract, the needle exchange program, and a host of others. A majority of the Board of Supervisors may want to engage in these services, and may have voted to put these things in place previously. However, when times started getting tight back before the first of the year it was clear to me that things like these were going to be removed from the budget in 2009-2010. If that is the case we should have canceled the contract under Section VII (see attachmet).
By canceling this contract (and a number of others) we could have saved more than $50,000 in this fiscal year that could have saved the job of a county employee in 2010. Instead, we don't have that money in the bank and will be forced to dig a hole $50,000 deeper this year and probably cause someone else to be unemployed that did not need to be.
Now some of you may be saying -- "They are talking about a $24 million hole and here Rexroad is talking about a piddly $50,000". My response to that is that this same position holds true for this contract and a host of other things. We are going to lay off more people at the start of the next fiscal year because we did not lay off a smaller number at the start of the calendar year.
This is why I am so frustrated with the county budget process.
On Tuesday I voted for the two year retirement incentive even though I don't like the concept at all. I am going to be forced to make votes that are the responsible thing to do now because we did not make enough mid-year reductions.
Attachment: Ag Marketing Contract (pdf)
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Greenwald's Budweiser Hotseat
Friday, April 24, 2009 ::
0 Comments
David Greenwald has a new effort over at Vanguard. On Saturday night he came over to my house and asked me ten questions with a recorder taping it. I had no idea what they were -- and went for it.
You can see the interview here.
It is kind of like the Budweiser Hot Seat on ESPN without the clock...as you can tell from my long answers.
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McCain stickers need a home
Thursday, April 23, 2009 ::
0 Comments
As I was moving my stuff into the basement office over the past few days I found a pile of McCain/Palin stickers. I am not someone that saves much.....these are free to a good home. If any of you are collector types...come on over. They are yours.
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County Budget -- Two days after
Thursday, April 23, 2009 ::
5 Comments
At each budget hearing we have had over the past six months we have heard lots of talk about how valuable certain programs are. I get that.
The problem is that at some point you have to say what programs are not as valuable as the ones that were mentioned previously. Those are the ones that are eliminated. It is not that we are saying that they are not good programs it is just that they are not as critical to the people of Yolo County as some others.
On Tuesday I listed some of the programs that I felt confident where we were going to reduce services. We are going to end up reducing services by reducing park hours and programs, the County Librarian will be taken off the General Fund, we still stop doing things like making products in the agriculture department, lobbying contracts will get canceled, the ag marketing program will not be continued (more on this later), we are going to eliminate the county trapper, Victim services will be reduced, Veterans services will be reduced, public safety positions will be eliminated, and the needle exchange program will be canceled. I could go on for a while.
Here is the thing. Most of these reductions should have taken place back in December. What would that have done? Well, say the needle exchange program is $100,000 annually. We would have canceled it midway through the year and we would have $50,000 more right now. It would have saved someone their job next year. That opportunity was lost because we did not take action.
I am very frustrated with this budget process. It is my strongest possible belief that by not making cuts that took place at the start of the year we will cause 10-20 people to lose their jobs that did not have to.
Further, I have known for quite a long time now that people are not going to be happy with the cuts. We are going to have a full board room of angry people. They will be upset that they will be getting a lower level of service from county government.
What has been interesting lately is to watch county employees attempt political organization to prevent reductions in their programs.
Today I got an angry letter from a gentleman about victim services. He was upset that I named them for possible budget reductions. In the end that is the District Attorney's decision but I think it is an example of the sort of thing that is under great scrutiny now that would not be during any other time in the last decade.
The county budget is going to be terrible. That is just true.
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Torture
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 ::
9 Comments
I have been a little hesitant to weigh in on the topic of torture. However, I just finished watching Jon Stewart from last night. People are not quite getting this.
I have actually seen people water boarded. It is not cruel. If the test is that if someone thinks they are going to die - then it is cruel for me to have pointed my weapon at someone. Did they think they might die when I did that? -- oh yes. The standard clearly has to be something else.
Note: Now if someone was water boarded 180 times in a month -- that just seems stupid.
As for sleep deprivation, I saw plenty of that. If that is the standard then I was tortured for months during the war in Iraq. Sleep deprivation was also done to some of the people that we captured and dropped off at the holding site. I don't think that is torture either.
The entire "walling" thing is absurd. In SERE school I got pummeled into a wall for saying something I should not have. I called my "captor" Mini Me and boy did he make me pay for it. All it did was really tick me off. I was sure I could take him down but I knew I was not going to be able to do that and get out of the room. He was pressing my buttons in a psychological way -- not a physical way. It worked but did not make me divulge any information.
The other complaint was about putting people in small boxes. Been there. That is not torture. Good grief. You can breathe and are a little uncomfortable.
I realize that many of you are probably appalled to read this. You are reacting that way to what you think in a theoretical sense. If you saw it in practice these things would not be considered torture if done correctly.
In my opinion the release of those memos is really not that big of a deal....and neither are most of the acts discussed.
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#22
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Woodland School District Trustee Carol Souza Cole supports my re-election.
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Food Stamp Challenge on CPR tomorrow morning
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Wednesday at 10am Jose Martinez from the Yolo County Food Bank, Vallerye Anderson from Tuleyome, and me are going to be on Capitol Public Radio to talk about the Food Stamp Challenge. I think we all have a different perspective on the challenge so far.
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Dotty's Birthday
Monday, April 20, 2009 ::
3 Comments
Dotty's birthday is tomorrow - April 21st.
Note: I was tempted to let you all know it was the big 5-0 but decided against it. I think she is younger than that.
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Food Stamp Challenge (FSC) Meal #1
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ::
0 Comments
So I am stuffed.
Tonight for dinner I had Pork Top Raman with fresh spinach and two tomatoes mixed in. It was very tasty.
Watched Jenn and the kids eat pizza (my favorite food). Life is going to be much better this time.
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Shopping for Food Stamp Challenge
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ::
3 Comments
I just did my shopping for the Food Stamp Challenge. I checked out Grocery Outlet and Food 4 Less. After doing some looking I went with Food 4 Less.
Here is the take ---
1 bunch of fresh spinach --- $1.49
2.48 pounds of tomatoes (10 tomatoes) --- $3.58
Loaf of french bread -- $0.99
Spaghetti - $1.35
Marachan Noodles (10 packets) -- $2
Spaghetti Sauce -- $0.98
Peanut Butter -- $1.98
2.55 lbs of Bananas -- $1.73
Total spent is $14.08. I still have $5.92 left to spend.
If I were to eat each day --
2 Top Ramans with spinach
2 peanut butter sandwiches
2 Tomatoes
1.3 Bananas
and a little spaghetti with meat sauce I will be fine.
I still have more than 25% of my money in reserve.
Note: Jenn is not happy about doing this again.
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Food Stamp Challenge v. 2 -- Sunday
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Let the games begin.
I started my second Food Stamp Challenge (FSC) today after church. I will end it on Friday at lunch.
Last time I had a couple problems. First, I was addicted to Diet Coke -- and have not had one since the FSC started last November. That was the worst part of it for me. Second, I did not shop very well. I will fix that today. Third, I now have $4 per day to live off -- not the $3 I had last time. This is one thing I will thank President Obama for. Raising the food stamp allocation has actually helped me. Thank you.
Let's get it on.
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I would be honored to have your support....
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I have been announcing many of my endorsements over the past week and will continue to roll them out.
Please consider adding your name the list. You will see the "Endorse Matt" icon on the left and in the upper right. Please click there, fill out the information, and then respond to the e-mail that comes to you to confirm your endorsement.
Thank you for your consideration. I am going to work hard on this.
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Campaign Finance Disclosure
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ::
0 Comments
As with the last time I ran for Supervisor, I am going to disclose every single one of my contributions - not just those under $100. This time I am going to go a little farther. My intent is to disclose on this site the date, source, and amount within 24 hours of receipt.
You can see the information by clicking on the upper right hand corner of the site under "Campaign Disclosure".
Last time I just listed the people without the amount. I think this sort of on-going and immediate disclosure is a better practice.
Thanks to Webmaster Bob for making it happen.
You don't see anything there now because I have not requested or received any checks.
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The Daily Democrat Today
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ::
0 Comments
The Daily Democrat today was full of good stories.
The front page has information about the new chrome horse at Gateway, information about the county budget, and sad story from the AP on teen prostitution.
Page 2 has information on Crime Victims' Week. This is something that is run out of District Attorney Jeff Reisig's Office.
Page 3 has a story about the Food Stamp Challenge.
Page 4 has a great story about a place I used to work after college -- Summer House.
The Bill Marble has a piece on the Opinion section about the Delta. Woodland residents should be thankful that Bill is working so hard on this as President of the Water Resources Association.
Then Kirby Wells a Pete & Julie Backer both have letters to the editor.
Finally -- the Sports page has a piece about somebody paying $23,000 for the locker used by the Bulls star Michael Jordon -- who wore #23.
Throw in the on-line articles about fire fighter Martie Dote and the Woodlanders of the Month make it the best day of newspaper reading for me in months.
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#21
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Colusa County Supervisor Kim Vann supports my re-election effort.
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Endorsement #20
Sunday, April 19, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Davis City Councilman Stephen Souza has endorsed me for re-election. Rolling....
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Ballot Measures - May 19th
Saturday, April 18, 2009 ::
0 Comments
You will see that Webmaster Bob has installed a little box on the right side of this page. It has my recommendations for the upcoming special election.
I have to tell you that I am really torn. I recognize the policy reasons on both sides and at the same time I think that it is irresponsible to send the state off the cliff and feel that it may be the only way to make real change.
I will decide. My positions on issues are put out there. I am not going to hide. I just need to think.
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School Bond
Saturday, April 18, 2009 ::
0 Comments
At an event earlier today I ran into some that I respect tremendously on education policy in Woodland. It appears that I am not the only one that thinks it is poor timing to consider putting a bond on the ballot.
Some of you will scream -- "Matt is not supporting Woodland schools." Whatever.
Look. The first part of the analysis on these things is --
1) Will it pass?
That answer is no. It does not matter if it is $1 or $115 million or $4 billion. It is not worth the effort to try to win this thing.
Policy purists will come out of the woodwork screaming that is not the most important thing. They will argue that it is really "Does the student need it?" That is interesting but not the case.
I really don't have a position on the administration building purchase. I have not spent the time to look at it closely to determine if it was a good deal or a bad deal.
What I do know is that the purchase, the attempted recalls, and the fall out over the residence of one of the board members does not put things in a position where the school district should even be thinking about this.
Then you add the current economic stress that exists -- and it is a no brainer.
I don't expect the interim administration to understand all of this. I expect the school board members with their feel of the pulse of the community to shut this talk down before suffering a terrible defeat at the ballot box.
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Endorsement #19
Saturday, April 18, 2009 ::
0 Comments
West Sacramento City Councilman Oscar Villegas and his wife Katie have endorsed my candidacy for re-election.
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Endorsement #18
Saturday, April 18, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Yolo County Clerk-Recorder Freddie Oakley has endorsed my re-election effort.
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Endorsement #17
Friday, April 17, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Former Woodland Mayor Dave Flory has endorsed my candidacy for re-election.
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Endorsement #16
Thursday, April 16, 2009 ::
0 Comments
The Realist has endorsed my re-election effort. He is also know as Jeff McCallum.
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Pat and Tom were at Don's Diner - anyone go?
Thursday, April 16, 2009 ::
0 Comments
The Pat & Tom Show is coming to Don't Diner tomorrow (Wednesday) morning from 0630 until 0930.
Pat & Tom are on KNCI 105.1 each weekday morning. On Saturday they have the best of Pat and Tom.
Don's will be having a SOS Special for $1.05 and coffee is free before 10am.
Turn out to support Woodland. I heard about this from the Chamber of Commerce since I was talking on the phone instead of listening to the radio this morning.
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School District must be crazy
Thursday, April 16, 2009 ::
1 Comments
I actually laughed out loud when I read the Daily Democrat headline yesterday about the school district looking into the option of placing another bond on the ballot.
Today the Democrat follows up with an editorial on the issue.
After the admin building disaster, threatened recalls, and trustees not living in the correct area of the school district I just don't see how the community would support them at this time. Actually, I was a big part of the campaign in 1999 and I don't think I would support as effort to do that.
Voters reward steady (non-dramatic) leadership from the school board over an extended time before they are going to tax themselves an additional $115 million to help Woodland schools.
When all that drama was going on over the past two years I regularly thought -- they are going to want a bond soon -- and this sort of stuff is going to prevent that from happening. I never thought they would be talking about it this soon.
My advice -- take that report and go bury it for a few years. Then we can talk about another bond.
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Marilee Talkington
Thursday, April 16, 2009 ::
1 Comments
The Talkington family from Woodland will always be important to me. Here some information on Marilee and her latest efforts with the Crowded Fire Theater Company in San Francisco.
Marilee rocks.
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Board Meeting on Tuesday, April 21st
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 ::
0 Comments
If you are planning to come to the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday -- bring your sleeping bags. It is going to be a long one. Long. Long. Long.
Dotty just gave me the scoop...and it will not be pretty.
Consider these items...
A Bielenson hearing on reduced health care in Yolo County. Much more on this later.
It is Take You Child to Work Day. Adam and Abbie will both want to come.
We are going to have a budget update - this alone could take the whole day
TANC issue will be up
Madison and Dunnigan General Plan Amendments -- this will bring out all kind of comments that will not be on point
Then who knows what else will come up. I am starting to get all fired up about this.
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Endorsement #15
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Former Woodland Joint Unified School Trustee Jesse Ortiz has agreed to support my campaign for re-election.
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Endorsement #14
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Former County Supervisor Tom Stallard has endorsed my campaign for re-election.
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Caddyshack -- Spokane style
Monday, April 13, 2009 ::
1 Comments
This would be something that Duane Chamberlain would suggest. I am not quite sure this is not some kind of a joke.
Read here.
It gets better. This video from the company that produces the product would ruin any chance of it being used in Davis.
Watch here.
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McLovin we miss you
Monday, April 13, 2009 ::
0 Comments
I don't even know who McLovin is but now it/he/she is gone. I like Karl. Foam is great (and has great taste in music). The Big Reason is part of that good taste in music. The Realist is ok from time to time. Dino is entertaining. Yolo Cowboy and I are too much alike. Pit bulls is great too.
But McLovin makes me laugh. Come on back. I know you can do it McLovin.
Just get the blog back up. One entry a day is all we ask. Kind of like Blue Diamond almonds.
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Endorsement #13
Monday, April 13, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Yuba Community College Board of Trustees President Alan Flory has endorsed my campaign for re-election.
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REACH 4 Books
Monday, April 13, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Reach 4 Books has their new video out.
They have a bunch of local people in the video.
Watch it here.
What a great group of young people.
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Endorsement #12
Sunday, April 12, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Yolo County Board of Education Trustee Cirenio Rodriguez has endorsed my campaign for re-election.
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Way to go....
Sunday, April 12, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Mexico has been a country rife with corruption and an unstable government that does not serve the people of the country well. In the end, this government impacts the immigration patterns into the United States and California which costs taxpayers here billions of dollars. Billions.
That is still true to some extent. except that the current President of Mexico should be viewed very favorably by the United States. He has taken the fight directly to the drug cartels in a way that I admire tremendously. He has lost far more troops trying to clean up his country than the United States armed forces have lost in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.
President Calderon is really sticking his neck out to shut down these drug cartels. More power to him and thanks to him for doing his job.
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Transmission Agency of Northern California
Sunday, April 12, 2009 ::
0 Comments
This past week at the Board of Supervisors meeting we heard a report during public comment about a proposal to run transmission lines across Yolo County. I really knew nothing about it.
So I started looking into Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC). This is a joint powers agency that I had never heard of before.
It is interesting to me that a JPA the consists of the cities of Alameda, Biggs, Gridley, Healdsburg, Lodi, Lompoc, Palo Alto, Redding, Roseville, Ukiah, as well as the Modesto Irrigation District, Plumas-Sierra Electric Cooperative, SMUD, Silicon Valley Power, and the Turlock Irrigation District has the ability to do this. I guess nothing prevents them from acquiring right of way but I am curious if they have eminent domain powers.
This group needs to open up their process. If they have these plans to come across such a huge section of Yolo County then I expect to see them in our Board chambers explaining the situation.
Here is a pdf of one of the documents that describes their objectives.
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Endorsement #11
Sunday, April 12, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Former Woodland City Councilman Neal Peart has endorsed my campaign for re-election.
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Endorsement Summary
Saturday, April 11, 2009 ::
0 Comments
So far the following endorsements have been announced....
Woodland Mayor Skip Davies
Woodland Vice-Mayor Art Pimentel
Woodland City Councilwoman Martie Dote
Woodland City Councilman Bill Marble
West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon
Davis Vice-Mayor Don Saylor
Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig
Yolo County Supervisor Helen Thomson
Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan
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Woodland where?
Saturday, April 11, 2009 ::
0 Comments
So this morning I sit down to read my mail for the last couple days. One of the items is the fancy new Woodland Chamber of Commerce newsletter -- Connections.
Janet has her President's Message with the personalized touch "to Matt of Matt Rexroad" and then there it is. An article about "Keeping your business safe - chamber checks in with Woodland Police Department". Great article. The problem is the image of the City of Woodland police patch and the picture of the police officers in front of City Hall.
It is not Woodland, CA. I don't know where it is but it is not the City Hall as 300 First Street, that is not a picture of one of our police cars, and the police patch says "Gateway to the Lewis River Valley" and then has "State of Washington" with a picture of our first President in the middle of it.
Actually --- I just found it all. It was taken off the City of Woodland, WA website. See here.
You can see the patch and the picture that is on the front of the newsletter.
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This has gone to far....
Saturday, April 11, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Ok Woodland. Time to put this all behind us. Let's end the stupidity now.
The Woodland Journal is reporting that someone was arrested for making death threats against the Pedroia family.
Yesterday I drove by Road 102 and Main Street and took the picture below.
Let's stop acting like idiots and end this crazy chapter in Woodland history. I ask everyone to stop bad mouthing Dustin Pedroia and any member of his family. Take down the Facebook pages, take down the banners, and just focus on doing something positive for the community.
Woodland needs to start acting more like the family we are supposed to be. Right now the crazy uncle is the only one getting the attention.
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Endorsement #10
Friday, April 10, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig has endorsed my campaign for re-election.
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Nastygrams inbound
Friday, April 10, 2009 ::
0 Comments
So today I was quoted in the Sacramento Bee and Daily Democrat about the whole Pedroia thing. My mailbox is quite full of nastygrams as a result.
I am not going to be part of a lynch mob on this. It would be just as wrong for us to rip him today as it was for him to rip Woodland when he did.
Here is a sample ----
E-mail #1
Woodland's county supervisor, Matt Rexroad, was not willing to join in on bashing anyone over the situation.
"Pedroia is one of the best baseball players in the world," Rexroad, a former mayor of Woodland, said. "He is also 25 years old. Sometimes people 25 years old do things that 25-year-old people do. Woodland needs to remain proud of him and give him the benefit of the doubt."
THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE!! and I can't believe you would think it is. Shame on you!!
He is a jerk and has always been one. When I had to deal with him at his father's place of business or when he harrassed my nieces in High School. It's about time his true color came through and now Woodland has seen it!!
E-mail #2
I can’t believe your quote…typical battered wife syndrome response. He craps all over you and you take him back with open arms.
Woodland should have shown some balls and ran his parents out of town last night with pitch forks and blazing torches. That would have been a great visual for the local media.
BTW, who should I call in City Hall to get a resolution for Derek Jeter Day? Perhaps Woodland should abandon its white trash and adopt a better ball player who respects family values and hometown traditions.
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Endorsements #7 and #8
Thursday, April 09, 2009 ::
0 Comments
West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon and Davis Vice-Mayor Don Saylor have agreed to endorse my campaign for re-election.
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Mayor and Vice-Mayor get it right
Thursday, April 09, 2009 ::
0 Comments
The Sacramento Bee article today about Pedroia's comments have quotes from Mayor Davies and Vice-Mayor Pimentel. You can read the article here.
Skip and Art have it right. We need to politely disagree with the comments and hope that Justin will admit that he said some things out of haste or anger regarding his family situation. Further, his parents should be recognized as the outstanding people in the community they are.
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Endorsement #6
Wednesday, April 08, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Woodland City Councilman Bill Marble has agreed to endorse my campaign for re-election.
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Calm down Woodland
Wednesday, April 08, 2009 ::
1 Comments
Ok. Take a deep breath Woodland.
We are about to be the subject of national press as a result of the comments published today in a Boston magazine by Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Let's give the man a chance to correct himself.
If we really are a family community then we need to be able to take this comment, reject it, and forgive the person that made it if they seek it.
It will be tough. It certainly didn't help things in the community. Let's just point to the good things and let this blow over without keeping it lingering long term.
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Endorsement #5
Wednesday, April 08, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Woodland City Councilwoman Martie Dote has agreed to endorse me for re-election.
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Congressman Thompson
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Congressman Mike Thompson just came to the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. The guy is just smart.
When working with our federal elected officials Thompson's office stands alone. It is not even close. He personally knows our issues and is able to respond to our concerns. That seems like a pretty low standard but if you had to deal with some of the people we do -- it is about where it is.
Politically -- Thompson and I are worlds apart. This includes economic, social, and military issues. Where the guy does really well though is caring about Woodland and Yolo County. He shows up, takes the time to read, and makes himself available when we need him.
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Play structure
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 ::
0 Comments
Here is a great offer from Tim Dailey. He has this play structure below in his backyard that he wants to give away to anyone that will come pick it up. His kids have outgtown it. It looks like something that kids would like for a church, backyard, or whatever. His kids have outgrown it.
If you are interested contact Tim at (916) 483-5181 Ext. 216.
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Book Review: Six Good Innings
Tuesday, April 07, 2009 ::
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 I have read Mark Kreidler's columns for years in the sports section and hear him interviewed on 1140 AM regularly. Recently I had the opportunity to meet him. I then took the opportunity to order both of his books. The first I read is Six Good Innings. I will read the other one soon.
Six Good Innings is about a Toms River, NJ Little League Team that tries to win it all. This is a community where the pressure on 12 and 13 year old boys for baseball victories must be enormous. This small town had sent a team to the Little League World Series three out of five years. Pretty amazing when you think about it.
The story is clearly compelling. You can't help but root for the team from Toms River. It just has to happen. The writing is excellent but the tone is what really sets the book up.
When reading this book I could not help but think about my Little League days at Camerena Field and at the Fairgrounds. I played on some good teams and some bad ones but always had fun.
I have clear memories of standing in center field at Camerena when out of the dugout came my coach with a baseball bat. He was arguing balls and strikes. He took off after the home plate umpire and chased him up the first base line. We had a new coach for the next practice and for the rest of the season. Clearly someone was taking baseball a little too seriously.
Note: One of the coolest things I ever saw was at Camerena Field some kid hit a pop up over the infield and hit an owl flying overhead. When the ball hit the owl it dropped a rat it was flying with right behind the shortstop. It was cool.
I can also remember making the adjustment to Clark Field. The throw from third to first was prett tough for a thirteen year old arm. I could get it there but it took a couple hops or was pretty high when it went over the pitcher.
It also made me think about how I want to deal with some of these issues when Abbie and Adam start to play sports. I am not sure I want my kids in the kind of environment Tom River lived in for several years.
I love sports. I like competition. I just don't know that kids should be exposed to this kind of pressure at 13. They are kids. When I was not rooting for the kids from Toms River I was actually talking out loud to the book about how I have doubts if this was actually for the kids or the adults or both.
As a parent and as a future coach I can tell you that no kid I am coaching will be throwing breaking balls until they are around 14. When I hear about kids developing "dead arms" that are 12 -- something is clearly wrong. They should be throwing fastballs for location. Breaking balls come later.
This book is great just for the story. What it really is valuable for in my view is the thinking it made me do about sports and my kids. Some things became crystal clear to me. Some things became a little more complicated in terms of parenting.
This is a great book for anyone. You don't even have to like baseball to have it be worthwhile. I picked it up on a Saturday around noon and finished after church the next day. I could not put it down.
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Endorsement #2
Monday, April 06, 2009 ::
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Woodland Vice-Mayor Art Pimentel has agreed to endorse my re-election effort.
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McLovin' has gone
Monday, April 06, 2009 ::
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McLovin' is gone this time. Vanished.
He must have gotten his federal stimulus money and headed for the door.
Talk about wasted potential. He was funny.
The Obituary of McLovin......help me.
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Gottschalks
Sunday, April 05, 2009 ::
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My wife rarely gets mad --- but she is completely hacked off at Gottschalks right now.
Today she went out to Gottschalks to redeem some gift certificates that she had. The refused to honor them and according the manager this policy went into effect yesterday.
Yes, I realize that she went there after all the news about Gottschalks. Yes, I also realize that it would have been better to cash them in when the store was operating under better conditions.
My understanding is that California law requires the redemption of gift certificates as long as the store continues to do business under the same name. I think this was changed a few years ago -- but I am bit rusty on that.
Anyone have any better information?
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REACH for Books
Sunday, April 05, 2009 ::
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This afternoon I had the kids from REACH for Books come to the house during nap time. I filmed a spot for them to work into an application they are making for resources to continue their mission of bring books in Spanish to kids that live in the Amazon.
What a cool group of young people. They are really the kind of kids Woodland can be proud of.
For more information on them -- check out their website.
Note: They were headed off to meet with Mayor Davies next. They were delivering a special message to him from me.
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Bayside Woodland
Sunday, April 05, 2009 ::
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Yesterday in the Daily Democrat I got an insert for Easter Services from Bayside Church in Woodland. They worship over at Pioneer High School.
I have been to this church once when I got back from Iraq they were honoring the military and I was selected to represent the City of Woodland as Mayor. It was a cool thing.
Anyway -- I have noticed that this congregation has a great deal of energy. I can't remember the last time I got an insert in the newspaper from a church. In addition to that they are doing things like entering floats in the Christmas Parade and stuff like that. This is good stuff in our community. I think it is great.
Here is the website for the church. Clearly the blog needs a little attention.
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Seeking another term....
Saturday, April 04, 2009 ::
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When I read this article by Crystal Lee two weeks ago in the Democrat it made a big difference to me.
Until then I had pretty much decided that I was not going to run for re-election to the Board of Supervisors. My family and business commitments were calling. This article changed my focus on that. If I was not there no one would articulate a different view on many matters.
A few hours later Jenn and I decided that I would seek another term. I actually told her that I wanted to run and she said that she would support that.
The thing is that I have a very different view of the county fiscal situation than all four of my fellow Supervisors. Despite Chamberlain's representations that he has a bunch of 4-1 votes I actually think that I am on the losing side of 4-1 votes more often than he is. Further, he often votes no without providing a realistic alternative than just voting no.
What is important to me about this article is that it really does summarize the different views. I am given the opportunity to state my view regarding how we should handle the budget -- and I do my best to do that.
Additionally, we have some big issues facing Woodland like the Yolo County General Plan, Courthouse construction, Woodland-Davis bike path, Gibson Mansion sustainability, Woodland annexation issues, re-entry facility, surface water supply for Woodland/Davis, Wayfarer Center issues, and Backpacks for Kids. On these issues and a couple others I can help Woodland tremendously.
I am going to seek another term and plan to vigorously defend my record and activities as a member of the Board of Supervisors. I will work hard and am committed to being re-elected. I will walk precincts, raise the money, and do the work necessary to give me a good chance. If the people of Woodland choose to send me into the game for another four years then I am up for it.
Over the last couple weeks I have made some calls to some political and community leaders (I still have a long list to work on). It is clear that I have some good support out there. Now I need to go work on making this happen. Jenn and I are prepared to do this.
We are ready. Let's go.
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Board Meetng on Tuesday -- April 7th
Saturday, April 04, 2009 ::
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Read the agenda and supporting packet for the meeting on Tuesday. Not a ton of stuff for Woodland but some good ones.
1) I am presenting a resolution for National Library Week.
2) Congressman Thompson is coming in the morning
3) I am going to present the initial planning principles between the City of Woodland and County of Yolo for land annexation into the city
4) We are going to talk about a process for reviewing ABC licenses. I voted against this whole concept before and will be interested in the presentation. We are talking about a legal activity. I am not interested in restricting the business of selling these items.
5) In the afternoon we will be talking about the FEMA presentations that were done over the last couple weeks.
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41 Today
Saturday, April 04, 2009 ::
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I turned 41 today. Hard to believe that I am that old. Don't feel old ..and will be spending the day at one of Abbie's friend's birthday party.
Today is also the 41st Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. being assassinated in Memphis. This is something that comes with my birthday every year.
Happy Birthday to Clarence Van Hook. We share the same birthday -- although a couple year apart.
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Book Review: The New Rules of Marketing & PR
Friday, April 03, 2009 ::
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 This is not a good book. For some reason I could not get past the ego of the writer. I am not sure how cool he is but I am sure he thinks he is the coolest guy on the planet.
It would seem to me that there has to be a better way to present this information. Either the format or the tone was wrong and I am not sure.
I did not get much out of this book at all. It gets two out of five stars. Happy to give it away -- share.
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Draconian?
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 ::
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The Woodland City Council had quite a meeting last night from what I understand.
The thing that I find interesting is that the word "draconian" has been used to describe the budget cuts that were being considered by the City Council. What?
I am glad the City of Woodland is going first. I actually think they have a much easier hole to close than the county. The cuts that the County is going to be forced to make will be like open heart surgery without anesthetic compared to diaper rash.
Note to reader: I had another analogy with diaper rash and Art Pimentel but decided to let it be.
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Liberty Bell Award
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 ::
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Note: The Yolo County Bar Association is looking for nomination for the 2009 Liberty Bell Award.
April 1, 2009
Contact: Hope Welton
For Immediate Release
Phone: (530) 666-8172
YOLO COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION SOLICITING NOMINATIONS FOR 2009 LIBERTY BELL AWARD
The Yolo County Bar Association is accepting nominations from the community through April 24th for its 2009 Liberty Bell Award. The Liberty Bell Award is presented by the Yolo County Bar Association each year to honor a non-lawyer who has promoted better understanding of the rule of law, encouraged greater respect for law and the courts, stimulated a sense of civic responsibility, or contributed to good government in the community. The Liberty Bell Award was established more than 30 years ago to acknowledge outstanding community service.
This year’s Law Day theme is “A Legacy of Liberty: Celebrating Lincoln’s Bicentennial.” Law Day was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower as a "day of national dedication to the principle of government under law,” and will be celebrated with events throughout the country. Law Day celebrates the American heritage of liberty, justice and equality under the law. Every year, Law Day provides legal professionals and others with opportunities to help students and the public understand the importance of our legal system and how the law protects our freedoms.
Nominations can be submitted by contacting Hope Welton at (530) 666-8172, or by fax at (530) 666-8279. Please provide contact information and a brief description of the nominee and why they are deserving of the award.
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