Endorsements, Endorsements and More Endorsements

Soon after filing to run for City Council I started to get the emails regarding organizational endorsements. The fact is that some groups want to send the candidates questionnaires and then interview the candidates to see whether or not the candidates support the agendas’ the organizations support. For most organizations there is a give and take. The organizations want the candidates to support their agendas and the candidates want the endorsements so as to have a chance of winning.

Once in a while however an offer of endorsement is so out of tune with the times that one has to wonder why anyone would even take the time to complete the questionnaire and attend the interview. Here is an example of one such request:

Hi Tania,

Congratulations on running for office and qualifying to be on the November ballot!

If you’d like to be considered for a contribution, an endorsement, or both from the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR), please click on the link below or use the attached form, fill-out the questionnaire, save it, and return it to me by Monday, August 24th at 10 am.

http://www.samcar.org/userfiles/file/LCRC_Candidate-Questionnaire_2015.pdf

We will hold brief candidate interviews at SAMCAR’s office on Monday, August 31 and Wednesday, September 2nd. I can be reached at (650) 696-8209 if you’d like to select a time that works with your schedule.

Questionnaires can be returned to me by email, fax, or mail.

All my best,

Gina Zari
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
(650) 696-8200 | gina@samcar.org
850 Woodside Way, San Mateo, California 94401
www.samcar.org | www.facebook.com/samcar.fans

If you clicked through to the Questionnaire you will note that the first two questions are as follows:

Do you wish to receive SAMCAR’s endorsement? Yes No

Do you wish to receive PAC funds from SAMCAR? Yes No

I would have thought that completing and returning the questionnaire would in and of itself mean that a candidate wished to receive an endorsement but clearly one must not only complete the questionnaire but clearly state one wants an endorsement. The second question is even more troublesome. My understanding is that in years past SAMCAR has given five thousand dollars to candidates that it endorses. How much it is handing out this year, I don’t know nor do I want to know. So effectively this question serves to remind the candidate that his or her answers have a monetary value. Answer right get the money. Answer wrong zero.

Ironically I am not a supporter of rent control (see my earlier blog post at http://patch.com/california/redwoodcity-woodside/did-you-know-difference-between-affordable-housing-and-fair-market-housing-often-function-income); but I am naive enough or more likely idealistic enough to be not only offended by the blatant request but also distraught at the language of the questionnaire.

“Will you oppose all efforts to impose rent control?” Exactly like that all in bold. What if it is my mother that has a problem? My child? “ All efforts?” I just can’t do it. I don’t really support rent control but I will not be paid to say that I will oppose “all efforts” and more importantly to take it off the table as a potential part of a fuller more comprehensive or even phased out solution.....