This year’s Santa Clarita City Council election is truly turning into some entertaining political theater for sure. Last week seemed to be a pivotal turning point for the incumbents that are running for Santa Clarita City Council. All three, Ferry, Weste and McLean lost out on a possible coveted nomination by the SCV California Republican Assembly (CRA). But more importantly the incumbents realized that their re-election prospects may not be the shoe-in that they expected.

In an email to some of his supporters, Frank Ferry sent a plea for funding which he had “hesitated” writing but has now realized he has to run a “competitive campaign”. Translated that means he felt he didn’t need to run a campaign because he assumed that he was the anointed one and his re-election was a given. Now, hiding behind the economy, he said in his email dated February 22, 2010 that; “I have been very hesitant to write this letter to you because you have been very supportive of me these past 12 years and I am aware of the financial hardship this economy has caused many of my friends and their businesses. I usually have raised all my funds one year in advance and as you know have been very successful in meeting my campaign finance goals. My plan was to run a bare bones campaign out of respect for the economic times we are facing. Unfortunately, the past five weeks have changed the political environment and I must engage in a more competitive campaign.”

He then goes on to point out some of the City’s accomplishments and its sound financial footing implying somehow he had something to do with it; “Due to sound financial practices, we have completed the Cross Valley Connector Bridge, the Skate Park and set to break ground on the Newhall Library.” But then goes on to take a swipe at two of the City Council candidates by saying; “More importantly, Henry Mayo Hospital can now move forward despite the efforts of Tim Ben Boydston and David Gauny.”

Hold on, did he say that Henry Mayo Hospital can move forward? That is strange because Gauny, Boydston and Councilman Bob Kellar all questioned the Hospital project from the stand point that it was benefiting G&L Realty more than it was going to benefit the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley. Now Ferry is claiming it can “move forward” because he voted inline with what G&L Realty wanted.

I think that someone needs to get Roger Seaver, the CEO of the Hospital, in front of the City Council to state clearly and unequivocally that the Henry Mayo Hospital expansion is in fact moving forward and is on track to add all the hospital beds that were promised on the agreed timeline. Everyone should hear firsthand that this is in fact the case!

Frank then goes on to cleverly disparage Tim Ben Boydston and David Gauny by trying to imply a link to SCOPE and the Sierra Club where none exists. He says that; “These men are saying anything and everything to get elected and have taken pandering to the masses to a new level. Both are leaders of SCV Smart Growth. We know where SCOPE and Sierra Club stand based on their principles and historic litigation.” He doesn’t say that Gauny or Boydston are members of SCOPE or the Sierra Club rather he just slyly mentions those groups hoping that the gullible will believe it. 

What’s truly amazing is that Councilman Frank Ferry is fully admitting that there are plenty of City residents that are disenfranchised and angry at how the City is treating them by saying that; “SCV Smart Growth looks to take the angry, disenfranchised citizens from Bentz/Linda Vista Road, Casden/Newhall Redevelopment, Smiser Property, Anti-hospital expansionists and City haters into one group where they cry, “The Sky is falling. Everything is bad. Stop it all.” That last statement should be read while you are watching the video of Ferry, located on the lower left side of our site, flailing his arms at and screaming about “secret plans”!

And he continues that assault on City voters by saying; “Add this to the Federal issue of Immigration and our incumbents are in a heated campaign.” Basically, Ferry is saying that Santa Clarita City voters are a bunch of cry babies for raising questions about how the City is not dealing with the illegal immigration issue.

Finally, Ferry starts to plead his case for campaign funds by writing; “I need your help. Last week I hired Blair & Biggs to run my campaign…….I need to raise a minimum of $45,000 in the next four weeks. There are 30 people on my potential finance committee. If we each commit to $1,500 we can meet the goal. If you can do more, it will be greatly appreciated.” Essentially he wants supporters to scramble to cough up funds to pay the bills now that he has to work at trying to get re-elected.

Then Ferry lays out the strategy of raising the funds from a small group of supports by spoon feeding the following directions to the reader; “The maximum campaign contribution is $360 per any one given source. However, a husband and wife can each donate $360 and their separate business corporation/entity can give $360. Checks payable to: Frank Ferry Committee. I encourage you to seek help from your vendors and business associates that benefit from a business-friendly City Council.

Wow! Did you just read that; “I encourage you to seek help from your vendors and business associates that benefit from a business-friendly City Council.” Not a business friendly City, but a business friendly City Council. Essentially Frank is saying that individual City voters don’t really matter; it’s the vendors and business associates of his local friends that are the ones he’ll take care of.

He claimed earlier that Gauny and Bodyston were pandering to the “masses”, i.e. the voters, but he is okay with pandering to out-of-town vendors and business associates. That speaks volumes to Ferry’s priorities which are not with the “disenfranchised” or the “masses”!  

Frank Ferry thought for sure that he didn’t need to campaign for re-election but now with the City Council election looming in April and his campaign faltering he decides to hire a firm to run his campaign. Not only that but he wants 30 or so well-heeled supports who will become part of the public record to pay for it. How presumptuous is that? How arrogant is that?

There is a groundswell building to get rid of these cozy self-serving incumbents. In the coming weeks there will be smears, lies and down right dirty politics taking center stage by the likes of Ferry, his hired guns and let’s not forget the local newspaper of record which is in the City’s back pocket. Rise above those tactics; talk to your neighbors and get the vote out for the April 13, 2010 City Council election.

In past years only 10% to 15% of City voters have participated in these City Council elections which have kept the incumbents in office. It will not take very much for voters that are fed up with politics as usual in Santa Clarita to rally more voters to show up at the polls. If only 5% more of registered voters show up on election day, April 13, there could be a systemic change made to the way the City of Santa Clarita is operated; a change that will allow the residents of the City to be put first!

Dave Bossert- Commentary

Dave Bossert is a community volunteer who serves on a number of boards and councils. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.