East bay Times OP-ED? "Resist the Power of the Dark Side!"

Wow! I'm not sure where to start.

Regress? This seems to be an odd statement. If Pinole regressed to the pre-recall days then our services in Pinole would include, a fully staffed police department, two fire stations, station 73 and the valley fire station 74. we would then have most services fully staffed at that era's staffing levels, 25% more staff according to the City's own statements. That doesn't sound like "regression" to me! And as for the smear campaign levied against the incumbent city council members in 2008, see Larry Womack's 2008 article titled "All Corruption is Local" in the Huffington Post, February 1, 2008, www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-w...

Maybe it would better be described as "remission" from the cancer that gripped this community during the 2008 recall. I've been digging into the facts of that recall and I believe that the true reason for dragging those council members through the mud was to secure the Faria House, at an expense of $500,000 to the taxpayers, for use by the founder of the oppressive political group driving that recall. This appears to be the more probable reason for the recall and that oppressive political group's founder is married to current city council candidate Norma Rubin Martinez. The "bad old days" seem to be now, not then. Don't be fooled by the old rhetoric being dredged from the bottom of Pinole's current "swamp".

Tim Banuelos,

At the PVHS candidates forum, Banuelos tried to challenge candidate Vincent Salimi multiple times. Eventually Salimi recounted the recent passing of his father in law at his home in Pinole Valley and Banuelos attacked his story falsely claiming that he had the "real story" of what happened! Banuelos version of what happened the day this man died was totally bogus, a complete fabrication. I got the story directly from first responders who were actually on that call, on scene, a process that Banuelos apparently could not fathom. Instead Banuelos claims he was told his story by two other people who weren't there and so he actually had no idea what actually did happen. This was a lie, told by Banuelos in front of the public and the other candidates, as a political weapon, this man has no integrity in my book, and does not deserve a seat on our city council. Banuelos also made ridiculous assertions as to response times by both police and fire, as if he presumes our public safety units can respond at "warp speed". These claims about response times are false as well! Lies and misleading conjecture presented as fact, makes him an imperial officer of the"Dark Side" candidates.

Maureen Toms,

Previously viewed by me as the more credible of the candidates supported by the anonymous author of the Times OP-ED. Unfortunately for Mrs Toms, she has finally opted to throw her chips in with the "Dark Side " candidates, Banuelos and Martinez-Rubin, as is evident from the recent combining of their campaigns. She has chosen.

Norma Martinez Rubin,

Stayed silent while current city council members soiled the voice of the public by orchestrating the use of the public's podium to hijack the speakers to be heard portion of recent council meetings in order to smear other candidates and support the "Dark Side". Who's husband is actively trying to keep opponents campaign signs from being fairly displayed at commercial properties. Who with her husband, let's not pretend she wasn't involved, conducted a very public and very misleading smear campaign against three former council members that I can only describe as tying the three to the bumper of a Ford Explorer and dragging them through the mud. Thirty two newspaper articles mostly written by a biased correspondent, and friend of theirs, with the West County Times, Tom Lochner. At least eleven vicious flyers put out to the Public. Even former Pinole City Manager Charlie Long called the recall a "political witch hunt". In addition, the moderator, Don Gosney, is a friend of Norma and Jeff Rubin, Norma's face book friends. So I wonder if anyone received Questions to be asked during that debate in advance of that debate, after all it appears that Norma is Friends with Gosney. In her campaign literature, Norma asks voters to vote for her "If you believe in strong police and fire services", yet for years her husband has carried a sort of vendetta against public safety, watch the video posted about six years ago on www.youtube.com, posted by PinolesHadEnough and titled "The Pinole Rubinator".

MEET.... Jeff Rubin.

Norma and Jeff must have something in common, right? Anything that these three candidates try to use to support "poor me" claims is in this election is entirely hypocritical nonsense in comparison.

The Huffington Post article by Larry Womack on February 01 2008, entitled "All Corruption is Local" points out the unwarranted speculation that drove that recall. Remember no charges were ever filed,much less proven, against anyone accused in that smear campaign, no taxpayer funds were lost but the three council members that stood in the way of the apparently behind the scenes deal between the then former city manager Belinda Espinosa and the founding member of the oppressive political group the CCOP were eventually replaced with politicians supporting the bogus smear campaign who eventually rehired Belinda Espinosa which eventually led to the City recently passing the resolution to give control of the Faria House to the founding member of the CCOP, Mr. Jeff Rubin who is the current president of the Pinole Historical Society. Now Pinole's funding for services is inadequate but City Council is in favor of spending half a million dollars to complete the Faria House so that they can hand over control of the property to the founding member of the CCOP.

The Faria House,

During our current election, the citizens and voters of Pinole have a real opportunity. An opportunity to end this 'good ole boy" control over the future of our quaint little city. An opportunity for real change with new representatives we can trust, Vincent Salimi and Anthony Tave and with three seats up for grabs, Rafael Menis. None of these three candidates have ties to the "good ole boys" oppressive organization.

"A new hope", for Pinole! Vincent Salimi and Anthony Tave! The future!

Don't support the "Dark Side" Candidates. Vote Salimi and Tave, the Honest Candidates for Pinole City Council! Let these candidates lead Pinole back into the Light! Into the future!