Houston endorses Montgomery
Candidate gets nod over incumbent Kranz in 5th District supes race
Bob Houston, the candidate who finished third in the June election for 5th District Placer County supervisor, has decided to endorse Jennifer Montgomery over Bruce Kranz. The election three months ago left no candidate with 50 percent of the vote and set up a two-person runoff between Montgomery, a political newcomer from Serene Lakes who topped the polls with 41.29 percent of the vote, and first-term Supervisor Kranz, who polled 36.9 percent. Houston trailed with 21.52 percent. Immediately after the election, the Meadow Vista resident was undecided on whether to support either candidate, or even to make an endorsement. From a mathematical standpoint, the Houston endorsement provides a huge advantage in votes over Kranz, when the two candidates’ totals from the primary are combined. But Montgomery said she’s taking nothing for granted in advance of the Nov. 4 election, while being grateful for support from someone who shares many of the same values. Houston said that in meetings with Montgomery over the summer he came away impressed with her work ethic and willingness to learn about issues facing government. Kranz said that Houston, who’s a registered Republican, gave up on his core values and endorsed Montgomery — who’s a registered Democrat —– out of “revenge” for a contract his son, Doug, had with the county that was not renewed last year. “He (Doug Houston) believed I was at the bottom of that,” Kranz said. Bob and Doug Houston’s Houston Group lobbying business had a contract with the county that was not renewed but both said that they weren’t seeking any kind of revenge against Kranz Doug Houston said he didn’t know what transpired before the firm lost what he called a modest contract to do lobbying work at the state Capitol but that county CEO Tom Miller had said there was a lot of overlap with four lobbyists, “and I have to take that to heart,” Doug Houston said. Bob Houston said the way it was explained was that it was based on the economics of the county. “And we accepted it readily,” he said. The former opponents Kranz and Houston did meet to talk about an endorsement. Kranz said Houston concentrated on talking about the lost contract while Houston said Kranz showed little humility in discussions about campaign tactics that brought his family into the election debate. With the endorsement has come support from the Houston camp. A statement from the Montgomery campaign said Houston supporters such as Auburn businesswoman Joanne Neft, North Tahoe businessman Roger Kahn and Foresthill attorney Brian Connelly are now backing her election. Kranz points to the support of state legislators such as Sen. Dave Cox and Sen. Sam Aanestad, as well as Placer County Sheriff Ed Bonner as examples of the backing he is receiving. The Journal’s Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com or comment at Auburnjournal.com.
|
Change Location:
|
Kranz is toast.
Bruce Kranz forgot to mention that he limits MAC meeting public comments to 3 minutes so that what was once a "community watering-hole" where residents could get together and actually discuss things amongst friends and neighbors, is now just another boring meeting complete with his Field Deputy Lisa Beuscher on hand to prevent anyone from asking or saying anything against Kranz policies and going as far as violating the Brown Act and stomping on an individual's right to free speech.
Bruce Kranz is a fascist by the very definition of the word. He gets very, very angry if a constituent doesn't agree with him, does the bidding for wealthy developers, and is a yes man for all the old guards whose time is way overdue. He works very hard at dividing communities, losing trust, and credibility amongst his peers.
He's hated me from the beginning because early on I asked him publicly about his appointment of Michelle Ollar-Burris as a planning commissioner even though she had contributed heavily to his campaign, was a real estate agent in general, and sole agent for a large parcel in Foresthill. I also noticed he never listened to his constituents, so offered to bring him an article I wrote on Effective Leadership: What makes a Good Leader. He actually scowled at me.
Note to all leaders: Listen to your constituents or you will only last a single term.
Cheer up, District 5; soon!
well, this is going to come back and bite Kranz
in one of his nasty hit-piece mailers he made it seem like Houston only represented a cement company and mentioned nothing of his work getting money from the state for municipal clients like Placer County, Tahoe School district, Piedmont Police, etc.
You had to go to a meet-the-candidate night to get the straight story or visit each person's website.
I think people should look at how Kranz conducts his campaigns and decide it they want to vote for someone who says one thing to a specific group of people and something else to another.
Normal we on the right call them "democrats" but Bruce is apparently running as "republican".
I'll vote for the declared Democrat myself.
"Kranz said that Houston, who’s a registered Republican, gave up on his core values and endorsed Montgomery — who’s a registered Democrat —– out of “revenge” for a contract his son, Doug, had with the county that was not renewed last year.'
Kranz not only tries to dismiss a fellow Republican'S values, but introduces politics into the race by revealing their party affiliation when he knows the Supervisor race is a non-partisan race.
Then he accuses Mr. Houston of being a vindictive person who wants revenge on an imagined slight. Kranz seems to project his own small-minded pettiness on to Mr. Houston.
Kranz is a small-minded, vindictive man who specializes in character assassination and vengeance against those who do not roll over for him. Talk to any Placer County employee who has had the misfortune to deal with Kranz. You will hear stories of intimidation, fear of reprisal , overruling county policy and loss of their jobs if they do not please this intemperate man.
We need Jennifer Montgomery's pleasing, education and experience, compromising and intelligent perspective on the Placer County Board of Supervisors. Please vote for her and deep six the last vestige of the corrupt Doolittle Machine and return honorable government the District 5 seat.
Education? You mean her AA in Ornamental Horticulture? LOL. I'm not surprised Houston endorsed Montgomery if Kranz fired his son. Isn't Houston a registered lobbyist?
I don't know why you would speak poorly of Jennifer's education, it seems small minded. I hope you apply the same standard to Mr. Kranz, who earned a Phys Ed. degree, to be a life guard. I am not sure how that educational background places him at any advantage in that category. I think his track record would be more telling, and it isn't good (ie. Michelle Ollar-Burris, and his subsequent defense of her). Ms. Montgomery has shown a desire to represent her community, unlike Mr. Kranz who wants to tell the community how they should be represented.
I am not sure anyone knows what you mean by; "Isn't Houston a registered lobbyist?" Critical thinking isn't required when you post, but it sure would be refreshing if you could at least fake it. If you can't make a logical argument, quit wasting our time with your worthless posts.
Realist: Laugh all you want, but in my mind, an AA in Ornamental Horticulture trumps a "Management Certificate from the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training", the only postsecondary education mentioned on Bruce Kranz' website. If Kranz has ANY college degree, please feel free to share.
See www.placer.ca.gov/bos/District5/SupDist5_Bio.aspx, in which Kranz damns himself by faint praise.
Gravity: You answered my question less than 60 seconds before I asked it. A degree in P.E vs a degree in Ornamental Horticulture. Sounds like a draw.
Gravity, please reread the WHOLE series of posts. I was only responding to Ishmal's post touting Jenn's education and experience. It was NOT meant as a slam on her education, merely that it had NO basis for the job as a supervisor. You took my comment out of context and added your own bias, which added up to you becoming indignant.
Gulliver, can I ask what is the basis for your knowledge of the requirements for a California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training management degree? And how it compares to a AA in growing pretty stuff? (Since you're being insulting I thought I'd throw in my own jab!) Please read my note to gravity regarding context. You guys are so tense and defensive you read way to much it what others are saying.
By the way, I actually took the time to see what is involved in a management degree from POST. It's on the internet don't ya know! The holder must have already have earned an Advanced Officer certification from POST, be employed in police management (typically Lieutenant or higher) in a California Police Agency, taken 60 or more semester units at an accredited college or university, completed a course on police management, and served for two years as a police manager. There is far more required for that certificate than a AA. Research avoids foot in mouth disease so you know (sorry, I couldn't resist!)
Just a side note....
In these fiscal times funding is the primary issue facing government. I think a candidate needs to address their position in prioritizing funding and how that is determined. As I said before, public safety (fire, law enforcement) should be government's first priority. If it is not, what is? Montgomery has said her priorities include "dark sky" light pollution, rural internet, and climate change/ global warming. NOTHING is said about public safety on her website. With some supervisors sending money to Placer Legacy and cutting the sheriff's budget, I want to know her positions on this issue. That she has none is revealing to me. Kranz is endorsed by the Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Sheriff Bonner, and Cal Fire Firefighters. Montgomery is endorsed, according to her website, by the North Tahoe Firefighter’s Association. But her husband works there (again according to her website).
Lastly, she has no qualifications for the job. Maybe if she ran for a local cemetery district or school board to show her abilities and gain experience, she might be able to do the job. But I don't feel she is qualified as is. If you look at her Bio, it talks about her families qualifications, but very little is mentioned about hers. My two cents about her experience"...
Before you guys get all hot, my comments are meant for stimulating discussions, not to insult or minimize Montgomery as a person.
Realist
It absolutely was meant as a slam on her education and your assertions to the contrary are weak and intellectually dishonest. The POST requirement of 60 or more college units would be the equivalent of an A.A.
You continue to deflect from the real issues that surround Mr. Kranz, Ollar-Burris. Even if he had qualifications, they are overshadowed by his track record. I hope he runs on his record, but so far he hasn't.
Are you Bruce or a campaign mercenary? Either way, keep up the good work and remember to run on your/his record.
Gravity,
So if someone doesn't agree with you, you attack them with personal insults? Now who's being intellectually dishonest? According to POST, the 60 college units is only ONE aspect of the certification. I was merely refuting Gulliver's assertion that an AA in Ornamental Horticulture is far superior to the POST certification. Frankly the issue doesn't matter that much to me, I was just keeping him honest. Furthermore, I don't care what you think about what I said, it's irrelevant to me because it is based on your ignorance of my intent. But, I'll give you a freebie. If you weren't acting on emotion you would have countered by mentioning her BA in Media (according to her website). I can only assume you didn't because you acted impulsively and without thinking to what you perceived as an attack.
Since you brought it up first, are so personally and emotionally invested in Ms. Montgomery because you go by the name Bloomfield in public? Is that a fair assumption or are you just her propagandist?
While I don't really believe you are the infamous former supervisor, the sword of accusation cuts both ways. Please chill before you bust a blood vessel! I don't mind debating you on the issues, but I prefer that it occurs without the emotional and pointless attacks. You'll do a better job and advance you opinion farther too.
Montgomery is supported by Take Back Red California.
http://www.takebackredcalifornia.org/more/index.cfm?Fuseaction=BACKTALK_FOR_JU§ion=more_3330
That alone should tell you they have higher ambitions than county supervisor.
Realist,
Have to disagree with you on the "but Houston is a lobbyist" comment.
I got the Kranz attack pieces on Houston and Montgomery months ago and checked for myself.
Houston is a lobbyist alright, no charges filed or investigations pending. Clients are also not just mining interests but many small municipalities and school districts who need state funding.
Montgomery is not the uneducated dog walker Kranz portrays her as. She has a degree and runs a small business. Running a business is about making decisions, bug and small. Also, she has spent a great deal of time going to as many county meetings as possible to learn the job if and before she gets elected.
Ishmael - yes it is a non-partisan office but like-party candidates should not chew each other up like Kranz did to Houston. Very unprofessional and ENTIRELY un-Republican.
As for firing Houston's son and payback, I'd think that if this were the case, Kranz would have brought it up in one of his many negative attack mailers we got over the past months. Me thinks Kranz is running scared.
I do agree with you Realist, that public safety is a top priority. A look back at US history shows the founding fathers looked at that as the primary task facing the new country and logically it trickles down to local safety as well. That said though, I hope Montgomery has learned from what she has seen so far and continues to see safety as a big and neverending task.
globalwarmingisascam:
ahem, well, a, er, um.......
still gonna vote for her, we don't need Republicans like Kranz
democrats don't need folks like that either but they seem to have more across the board
and (I believe) we can survive 4 years of minority voting on the board
Common sense, I mostly agree with what you said, except, I don't remember Kranz mentioning Montgomery's education being lacking. I don't think he has addressed the issue at all.
Also, I personally don't think her small business experience is going to be helpful. I don't believe she has any employees and calling it a business is pushing it. There is nothing wrong with any honest work, but I don't believe what she does, if I am correct, leads itself to experience in making financial or business decisions. I still thinks she need to get her feet wet doing something that does give her some experience in governmental procedures.
I do agree with your lobbyist comment. My mentioning it didn't really serve a purpose.
I still think Kranz is the right person for the job and should be re-elected.
Realist -
Your ability to obfuscate and avoid the real question on record is impressive. Kranz had his opportunity and he did not represent his constituents.
Your condescension is entertaining and your focus on me, intentional or not, continues to avoid the real question of Kranz's judgment during his term of office. I have yet to hear Kranz discuss his lack of judgment or apologize. What I have seen is an arrogant man who thinks he can do no wrong. I think his mistakes were grievous and he should pay a political price.
I appreciate your concern for my health, but worry not, I am healthy, relaxed and the blood vessels in my body are sound -- or so my doctor says. I rarely act impulsively, but when I do it is usually of high entertainment value.
Regards
Kranz is the wrong person and should be replaced.
Houston is a registered Republican and states so in his bid for Supervisor, so from my perspective if he did not like Kranz nor wanted to support Kranz then make no public endorsement and then his loyalties would not come into question. Personally, it seems a little shady of Houston to endorse the opponent whom is in complete opposition of his stated views. I believe in Kranz and encourage others to see what Houston is doing for what it is.