The Santa Barbara Democratic Party is pressuring candidates to sign a clean campaign pledge. You can view the pledge by clicking on continue reading. So far in the CA 24 Democratic Primary Tim Allison has signed the pledge but Shawn Stern and Marie Pane have not.
After you read the pledge post a comment with your thoughts if the other candidates should sign it. You don't have to register to comment but keep it classy.
I predict Stern and Panec will pledge to sign it by this Monday.
UPDATE: I was totally wrong on that prediction.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Allison, Zacarias, Jordan, Williams sign Democratic Party's Fair Campaign Pledge
Party still hopeful others will sign
After extending the deadline multiple times, the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County announces that some, but not all candidates for the Democratic nomination in the upcoming primary election have signed a fair campaign pledge.
A copy of the pledge is attached to this advisory.
In response to increasing negativity in the Democratic primary for the 35th Assembly, the local Democratic Party developed a stringent campaign pledge, calling on candidates to refrain from negative attacks on their opponents. The document also demands that candidates hold supporters and allies accountable for their actions. The pledge was first distributed February 16th.
Congressional candidate Tim Allison was joined by Assembly hopefuls Hilda Zacarias, Susan Jordan and Das Williams in making the pledge.
In recent weeks, a number of third party-based attacks have been circulated by supporters of both candidates for the 35th Assembly seat. One of these attacks was a letter sent by California Democratic Party vice chair Alex Rooker. The local party has sent a letter to Rooker complaining that her mailing was deceptive and appeared to have been official party communication.
No response was received by the Lois Capps, Marie Panec or Shawn Stern campaigns. The Party has made it clear that they are welcome to sign the pledge at any time.
Contact:
Daraka Larimore-Hall
Chair, Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County
--
Chris Lanier
Organizing Director, Democratic Party of Santa Barbara
FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES PLEDGE
Candidates have a responsibility to provide voters with truthful, fair and clean campaigns for public office and to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to a civil, issue-oriented exchange with their fellow candidates.Personal attack-oriented campaigns are a major factor in the growing cynicism, alienation, and non-participation among American voters. They demean through use of innuendo and rumor our valued political process.
I PLEDGE to conduct my campaign for public office openly, fairly, and truthfully. I will discuss the issues and participate in fair debate with respect to my views and qualifications.I WILL NOT engage in, permit, or condone unfair or misleading attacks upon the character or values of my Democratic opponents, appeals to prejudice or invasions of personal privacy.
I WILL NOT distribute negative messages about my Democratic opponent. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: television, radio, print, and online ads; email, websites, blogs, and social networking sites; quotes in news media by me, campaign staff or volunteers; and printed material, either mailed or hand distributed.
I WILL NOT use or permit the use of any opposition research, campaign material or advertisement that misrepresents, distorts, or otherwise falsifies the facts regarding my Democratic opponents or myself.
MY CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS WILL focus on positive arguments for my candidacy not attacks on my Democratic opponent.
I WILL ENSURE that my campaign materials and advertisements, which I disseminate or which are disseminated on my behalf, clearly identify me and contain the name and address, or other contact information, of the sponsor.
I WILL promptly and publicly condemn the actions and statements of any individual or group whose activities violate this Fair Campaign Practices Pledge or whose activities would violate this pledge if engaged in by me or my campaign.
IN SIGNING this Fair Campaign Practices Pledge, I acknowledge personal control and accept responsibility for the conduct of my campaign.
DATE ____________________________ ______________________________________
SIGNATURE_________________________________ ______________________________________
CANDIDATE FOR PRINT NAME______________________________________
____________________ __________________
PHONE FAX______________________________________
ADDRESSDemocratic Party of Santa Barbara County
402 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, email: sbdems@gmail.com
Sounds like Allison got his Santa Barbara cronies together in order to stifle his congressional opponents from calling him out as a lying carpetbagger.
Message to Marie and Shawn:
Don't sign this petition. Take the lead from Congresswomen Lois Capps and ignore this obvious political maneuver to avoid the truth.
Call him out on his ballot designation of "Educator". Call him out on his obvious attempt to seize an opportunity to win the Democratic nomination with his long standing political alliances.
These truths have nothing to do with running a "Clean Campaign".
If he lies about this, what else is he capable of lying about?
Ok shawn, time to grow up and stop calling yourself barbara.
Of course you didn't sign the pledge shawn because ethics are something that are not important to you. Having not met Marie I can't speak for her, but she at least seems honorable.
Dems need to focus on the real target here and that is gallegly. Get it together guys.
Last I heard only Marie Panec and Tim Allison were making money by teaching, what does this Stern guy do to "educate"? Does he run a little tutoring and koolaid stand?
Last I heard only Marie Panec and Tim Allison were making money by teaching, what does this Stern guy do to "educate"? Does he run a little tutoring and koolaid stand?
I resented Marta Jorgensen when she called herself an educator and I resent this Allison phony for doing the same(and I am not alone).
I resented Jill Martinez for not even living in the district and I resent this Allison phony for doing the same(and I am not alone).
"because ethics are something that are not important to you"
"Does he run a little tutoring and koolaid stand?"
Looks like Allison signed his own "Fair Campaign Practices Pledge" petition a little too quickly.
Eventually his lies are going to catch up with him...
Democrats trying to take the high road while allowing themselves to "engage in, permit, or condone unfair or misleading attacks upon the character or values" of Republican and small party candidates.
That's a joke, right?
Whatever the Democrats do, I'm sure it pales in comparison to the Osborn-Gibson money laundering machine at VCRCC.
Barbara, It's Not Sincere, Just Politics, and Laundry List:
In your cyber-pursuit of political "Gottcha," on this blog, you ALL miss the essence of the matter.
Pledges are meaningless...Actions speak louder than words..
Further, since all actions occur as a result of cause and effect, the underlying causal factor(s) both shapes and drives the consequential action(s).
As Immaneul Kant so perceptively observed, "..In law, a man is guilty when he commits the crime. In ethics, he is guilty when he thinks about committing the crime.."
It is up to each of you to decide whether you are more comfortable supporting a candidate who is both intrinsically and joyously ethical, willing to risk defeat for what he or she thinks right.
Or one who may be the group-think favorite of the moment, but who inwardly harbors a hair-triggered, coiled-spring, ready to skirt the law, through legal technicalities and loopholes in opportunistic rationalization of less than appropriate campaign behavior when they conclude it provides them with short-term political gain.
As the old Knight Templar said to Indiana Jones as he stood nervously before all those shiny chalices contemplating which of the chalices truly was the Holy Grail, "..Choose wisely!."
Ciao
NostraDemus
I was wrong about the other candidates signing the pledge quickly.
Honestly, who are we kidding? Tim would like to keep it "civil" because he thinks he is in the lead and has the endorsement game sewn up. Tim has used Educator / Small Business Owner as his ballot designation. Go to his website and look for his work as an educator. Heck, you can read about his eagle scout award and his playing trumpet in the high school band. There is nothing there about educating. If it is so important that he lists it as his vocation / avocation why is it not here? Of course he doesn't want any criticism. Elton Gallegly's crew won't be so kind.