Yucca Valley, CA— In the special election here this week I was appalled at not only the outcome, but that roughly 9000 ballots were sent out and only about 2600 returned. This ended up electing a old washed up politician who left this town a wreck when he left it last time.What is so important to people that they don’t take the time to fill out and return a ballot that was sent to their house? Just to top that, 92 people that did vote, voted for someone who had dropped out very early in the race. This is exactly why this country is in such bad shape. 5% of the citizens got to pick a council person! Many will now complain about what happens here as a result.
I would love to know what Bob Leone thinks that he will be able to accomplish, working with the very same people he has lied about for the last year, while campaigning for this seat. Does he think that they will just forget that he says they are all corrupt? Or that the staff of this town will work to forward his agenda? Maybe the water board will want to work with him to get the sewer system done for this community…wait he also accused them of being corrupt.
There is always a small group in every community who believe the kind of hate he spreads in this town. I think it would average about 5%… gee is that the amount of vote he received?
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![[UNSET]](http://www.vote29.com/newmyblog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UNSET-75x75.jpg "Local Smoke Shops Shut Down By Sheriff’s Department")
Timmy’s Sour Grapes! Leone won 46.89% of the vote. YOUR candidate received ONLY 29.46%….that means 70% of the voters did NOT vote for her! Did you pay for everyone’s “glass of whine” at Applebee’s on election night?
Do your homework before you whine and whine. There were more votes mailed in but a percentage were not eligible for some reason. The lack of education on the part of the Town regarding mailing in ballots may have contributed to these numbers. Being closed at the noon time for one hour was also a hindrance to those wanting to bring their ballot during their lunch hour and closed every Friday too.
Remember this, the recall vote in the City of Bell to toss out all those crooks reached an all time high turnout of 30%!
Total votes for this $46,000.00 election bounced around the 25% mark. Not bad for an all mail-in election.
Chino Hills has 39,233 registered voters and 7,408 mail-in ballots determined their election to fill a council seat on March 5, 2013. Similar percentages.
BTW, the 92 persons voted for Claude Short felt he was the most qualified for the job. His name was on the ballot and they will always vote for him. They remembered him when he was walking precincts.
Sour Grapes Tim. You should have donated more money to buy more lawn signs. Was YOUR name on the ballot?
Congratulations to all the candidates that ran for office and especially to Bob Leone…Experience you can Trust!
Tim – Simply put, the election is over. You folks need to work together over there. You are not helping. Don’t be a broken spoke.
Just do your job on the PC and accept the democratic process.
Gee Tim, did it ever cross your mind tha just maybe the towns people are just fed up?
And why shouldn’t we be? Look what they are trying to do now, no summer concerts n no swim team for our kids, or swimming program. Just so Nuaimi can put more money in his pocket, unfortunately for Jennifer she was backing his plays and riding on his coat tails. Maybe she shouldn’t have refered to us as cockroaches.
Now as far as corruption goes, have you seen the videos on youtube.com regarding Mark Nuaimi and how his corruptness bankrupted a couple of cities? This man has trained himself the art of corruption, and if we don’t do something about it, We will go bankrupt too. Go Figure. My opinion only. Respectfully, damndawgers
To retort Humphreville by comparing the number of voters who voted in Chino Hills to the numbers who returned their ballots in Yucca Valley is a poor excuse to justify a low turnout: Humphreville has a valid point.
Also, by saying the Town is responsible for the low turnout because their doors are closed on Fridays is just as pathetic; the voters themselves who did not mail in their ballots are solely responsible.
Is there anything simpler than walking to the mailbox to return a mail-in ballot with a .45 cent stamp attached?
Either way, for some comic relief, my friend, Jeff Drozd, has given permission that something he posted in the Hi-Desert Star be reposted here (I hope Bob and everybody else can agree that it was written in a spirit of goodwill; it is hilarious).
Republished with permission from Jeff Drozd:
This is ALL in fun, so I hope no one takes it personal, Including Mr. Leone, its time to have a laugh and move on, its time to help Yucca Valley to become all that it can be….
Top Ten Predictions For Yucca Valley Now That Bob Leone Has Been Elected Again:
1. Town Council meetings will never go past 8pm due to Bob’s bedtime.
2. The Town will hire a new employee, Eddie M as a bodyguard for Bob.
3. An exciting new Grubstakes event will be added, “Downhill Wheelchair Races”.
4. The Town has a new revenue source, selling “Town of Yucca Valley Walkers” with the cool Town logo on each one signed by Bob.
5. We get to watch Bob use a bingo dauber on his Town Council packet during meetings and he will yell BINGO at least once at each meeting.
6. A payback to Margo S for the help he got with his election he will now require all citizens to wear hats in public.
7. Added to the Pre-Council Meeting food lineup “Warm Milk”.
8. Finally an “Adult Diaper Changing Station” will be installed at Town Hall.
9. The new 3/4% sales tax measure will be raised back to 1% so Bob can pay for Yucca Valley’s first Disney type attraction “Great Moments with Mr. Leone”
10. He will get rid of that pesky woman on Town Council and replace her with Clint Eastwood so he can finally realize his dream of becoming a movie star and filming the blockbuster movie “Town Council Cowboys”.
I never put a dog in the hunt and never wrote a thing in support or against any candidate. My only connection is the free use of the blog and accepting advertising. Everyone had the same opportunity to get their message out here on Cactus Thorns. But let me make some observations.
One thing I learn the hard way during the Presidential Election is, you have to broaden your message. When we narrowed our message to negatives to feed the friends of Imus we turned off the majority of voters who just wanted to know the candidate and his answers to the issues. Where we went wrong is we played to the fans and did little to gain the trust of the majority of voters.
The web site was offered to all the candidates and their minions, only Leone and his group took advantage of the offer. They for the most part kept it clean on remained on message throughout the campaign.
We had a good conversation with Jennifer Collins at the beginning of the campaign. She was offered full access to the site…. She never did write anything for the site. We can only assume she was given advise not to…. Stupid advise but advise none the less.
Collins was identified with a failed tax increase. No one other than Government sycophants and wonks think increasing taxes is a good idea. With taking the rains of yet another attempt to increase taxes her brand was tainted. Collins would never see that, because she was surrounded by a small group her own sycophants of like mind, and a campaign that had no legs whatsoever. She was so intent on gaining accolades from what she perceived as the in crowd, she never heard the starter’s pistol. She never left the gate.
If I would have had a vote I would have voted for Michael Hildebrand, I tend to vote for fellow contractors and business owners. He had the better answers to the questions and less baggage of the other two.
Leone had a active ground game, a more energized campaign staff and the good sense to use Social Media to his advantage. Every couple of days the Leone campaign would put out a issue based article on Cactus Thorns… The article would then be picked up by Facebook, Linkin and Twitter to be distributed to thousands of readers. For the most part articles were narrow in nature and informative. A conscious attempt was made to keep it clean. There were very few if any personal attacks.
Pitch a bitch all you want…. The Leone Campaign prevailed. They had a better campaign. It worked. They reached more hearts and minds.
A lesson out of this should be two things.
1. Keep it clean and on message. Personal Attacks do not work.
2. Old Fashioned hard work and Modern Media won out over endorsements, Newspaper and Radio Advertising and posters.
Scot McKone, aka “Parrot” had to ask permission to post YV Planning Commissioner Jeff Drozd’s rubbish? NOT funny one bit and VERY unprofessional coming from Councilman George Huntington’s appointment. I suppose you think Drozd’s chastising citizens that do not attend Planning Commission meetings by called them “Attention Whores” is whimsical too? How pathetic of both of you.
As a Town Official, Jeff Drozd has violated the Code of Ethics he was sworn to observe and is a complete embarrassment to our community. As a teacher, he is setting a bad example for students that read his trash comments.
“An appointmed commissioner and representative of the Town has made public statements that demean and create a uncomfortable environment for two protected classes: the elderly and the physically disabled.
Mr. Drozd’s preface of “only for fun” does not exempt him from the explicit federal and state laws on this matter. Any elderly or physically disabled resident of Yucca Valley can now bring suit against the town. Then they would really have a budget crisis. I can’t see any other outcome besides Drozd’s resignation.”
An ethics complaint will be filed with the FPPC and the MUSD listing Scot McKone as a witness to this demeaning comment.
Margo, You seam to have very thin skin for Bob. I would suggest that you get over it fast. I think you should ask Bob to give you his appointment for the planning commission spot. That would provide the comic relief that this town needs. We could start a over under pool on how long you would last this time… I think about three months would be about right. I am now looking forward to the future council meetings, As I will be attending many to see how long it takes to get a public apology from Bob for the lies he spread during his two campaigns.
Timothy-New appointments to Planning Commission AND Parks n’Rec- Stay tuned! Can’t wait for the day you are bumped off….sweeeeet!
You should have donated MORE $$$$$ to your candidate and Measure U. Strike TWO! Say! Another 3/4% tax for 30 years coming down the pipeline…better bring your stashed cash, no rubber checks please. Next time you should join the “Big Boys” and donate $8,000 or more, ok?
Glad you are one of them wet behind the ears rich kid that benefits from respected family members in our community with the same last name.
Say! What happened to the office you opened up on the highway? Nice building but crummy parking….just curious?
I have never commented on a blog in fact i am a new computer user as of 6 months ago but I was apalled when I saw the below quote from you a few months ago, this seems very hippocritical to chastize scott slants and his friend and you write crap like this sturges.
Margo Sturges
January 11, 2013 at 11:48 pm
Very good Scot! I saw Jeff Drozd up on the roof of the Yucca Valley Post Office yesterday and thought how strange that was. A student yelled up to him, “Say what are you doing up there Surfer Dude?”
He replied, “I only have one arm and I don’t think I can go on with life, not being able to do the things other guys can do with two arms. After clubbing that cockroach with my spare stump the other day, I’m trying to build up the nerve to jump.”
As he’s standing there a guy comes walking on the sidewalk below.
Jeff notice’s that this other guy has NO arms at all. He watches as the guy stops on the sidewalk and starts dancing and spinning in circles. Then Jeff thinks to himself how selfish he is… in that he has one arm and is ready to end it all! So, he decides to go down and talk to the No-armed man.
He goes down and walks up to the guy and says, “Hey Dude… I’ve been up on the roof of the Post Office considering to end it all because I have only One arm… Here you are with No arms and are dancing around. What’s your deal?”
The guy with No arms says, “Arrrrr… Dude I’m NOT happy! My nose itches!!!
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I am not a resident of your area but did you read Scots Slant post which cited Jeff Drozd’s Hi-Desert Star’s post?..just wondering where you were coming from on this issue…
Hi Floyd, Still using K6JB? For a first time poster you have nothing to add to the discussion of the story that was posted-The State of Politics in Yucca Valley. The comments to this story have been derailed and you choose to jump on that train-wreck called “The Troll Express.”
For a “new computer user” you knew how to search one comment as a response without posting that of Scot McKone, also posting a joke about Jeff Drozd killing cockroaches at the Yucca Valley post office with one arm. I guess Scot made that one up, I Googled “Clean One Arm Jokes.”
BACKGROUND:
Jeff Drozd drives around in his truck with a personalized license plate that says “One Arm” or “No Arm,” I can’t remember. Jeff Drozd posts photos of himself pulling a trash bin cover which has an illustration of a stick man with one arm pulling a trash bin cover. Drozd received several comments on that gag photo. When being interviewed for an appointment to the YV Town Council, he was asked what is the difference between him and the other school teacher sitting on the dais and Drozd made reference the other guy has two arms. Drozd is to be applauded for overcoming his disability having lost his arm to cancer 8 years ago and still continues to teach drafting and apparently learned on to type with a rare typo.
Because he is a Town Official, because he pledged to the Code of Ethics and because he is a school teacher at Morongo Unified School District, he is held to a higher standard, especially since there are high school students reading this blog.
Drozd’s appalling post on Hi Desert Star to chastise elderly citizens, of which there are many in this community AND the use of “Attention Whore” to chastise women is NOT acceptable.
His Town Council member is George Huntington and this is a horrible reflection on him.
Scot McKone, who also endorsed Jennifer Collins with Drozd, are in the same camp and mindset. Sour grapes for both boys, again.
Why would McKone post something he did not write? Maybe it is his garbage piece.
Miss Sturges, You seem to reason away any guilt, it seems to be a tit for tat game. I am elderly myself and thought stott slants post to be funny and is is obviously meant as a joke but your attack sounds more vendettive against a disabled person missing an arm. I agree with you sometimes but you are wrong in my opinion.
@Floyd Brown-It was not obviously meant as a joke in my opinion and that of many others, except you. I urge you to take the time to see the outrage caused by that Top Ten posted on our local newspaper. Jeff Drozd is a Town Official and a school teacher setting a bad example. And his calling citizens “Attention Whores” is your idea of a joke too?
Drozd needs to step down because many have contacted the distinquished gentleman and elder statesman, Councilman George Huntington, to express their disgust. He has violated the Code of Ethics and is a bad example to the students reading this blog.
I have no wish to “attack” any one arm or three arm disabled person and there is NO vendetta.
Vengence is mine, says the Lord….and boy is He better at it!
Thanks for your comment. Are you still using still using K6JB as your ham operator call sign?
My ham status is inactive nowadays K6JB if I recall he was a guy named jerry beck. I just saw the things you are refering to and I still see no harm in the top 10 thing, I also saw some comments in support of it also. Seems less demeaning than your joke, I think you are blowing it way out of prorportion and may owe those two fellows an apology.
In both cases, the writing is meant to be humorous and Margo explained that she took her “joke” off from the internet, and this type communication may be referred to as a similitude, and I believe she was effective in pointing out that poking fun at one distinguishable class of person, is no different than poking fun at another distinguishable class of persons, and that not everybody in those groups find the poking of fun to be very funny. As for me, as part of the senior citizen set, I, too, thought it was funny. As far as the other joke, the saying goes, if you can’t take it, don’t dish it out…and it seems Jeff can take it as he is not complaining that I am aware of.
Tim, you just don’t get it, we’re taking back this town and the voters are not going to allow the town Council, the town manager, or the people that supported measure U to keep overspending in Yucca Valley.
We the votes are going to mark Council districts, we’re going to start getting signatures soon and have it put on the ballot so the people can vote on Council districts, when the town districts Council passes, then the four Council members that are all from “sky harbor”, will have to go. The only original town Council member will be Bob Leone. There will be only one town Council representative for each district, so therefore you don’t end up with everybody from “sky harbor”.
I understand that you’re having a hard time understanding this. But your time is almost done. So far all my predictions of come true and so will Town Council Districts, this will be a reality very soon. Whether you or anybody else likes it or not “Sky Harbor” town Council members are on their way out whether they realize it or not.
Hi Tim,
The converse position could be taken that had all 9,000 people actually voted that Leone would have had the win only proportionally larger.
The issue just might be as presented that voters are tired of taxes for whatever reason. Also, and this should be looked at from a non-emotional point of view, Yucca has a perception problem with the majority of its leadership and now planning commission all hailing from one particular organization within the community.
I have heard all the positions but perceptions are reality and Yucca does have an issue that needs to be addressed.
Just my two cents my friend – probably not worth even that.
Steve, No matter what the outcome, I just cant believe the small percentage of people that voted. Much of that perception problem come from a small group of people that contribute nothing to our community. These are very tough times and tough decisions are going to have to be made here. Those decisions have been made public for so long to all who would listen, unfortunately like the voter turnout, I guess it was not very many.
Just think how Mitt Romney felt after the dismal turn out of the Presidential Election? Shit happens. People don’t care and sure as hell don’t care if the candidates that are running have little appeal to them.
I don’t think people “don’t care” so much as they are frustrated with the process and the corrupt politicians and have given up. I’m almost there. The fewer layers of gov we have, somewhat, reduces their opportunities for waste and abuse of our money. The more of these cities that go under, the better.
Tim, you did not address Steve’s issue: The”perception problem with the majority of its leadership and now planning commission all hailing from one particular problem.” You have never addressed it. Nor has anyone elso on the town council or PC. You all seem to be in denial.
Why?
Ben, When someone running for office, that is a senior citizen, goes door to door, lying to other senior citizens, that all who volunteer and all who are paid staff, are corrupt, they are taking advantage of people whom are vulnerable. That is what is happening here in Yucca Valley. Bob and the others that worked on his election committee doing this should be ashamed of themselves. I have no problem with someone disagreeing with a position, and working to solve those differences. But that is far from what is going on. Again I will point out,You don’t live here yet, help spread these lies yourself, How about working on something for your community? That is not your style you like spreading hate and discontent.
The hate and discontent is rampant in this country, ripe for the spreading. I don’t think one person can be given credit for all the disgust with politics that is displayed on this blog and elsewhere. Politics is politicians…they have to take the responsibility for the hate and discontent they have created.
kindly Omit the personal contempt and loathing of those whom are tired of you the same old cronies working to gain more power. I deal with facts Tim. Will you kindly address the issue Steve raised about centralized power?
Timmy Humperdink is telling MORE lies, again. Sounds like accusations of Elder Abuse in your concocted story which you should file a report asap. You won’t because that did NOT happen and you are unable to tell the truth. You need help with this disorder asap. It may be you have early signs of dementia to write the following:
“When someone running for office, that is a senior citizen, goes door to door, lying to other senior citizens, that all who volunteer and all who are paid staff, are corrupt, they are taking advantage of people whom are vulnerable.”
Please be sure to post your case # of Elder Abuse allegations which you MUST sign under penalty of perjury. (Look that up in the dictionary if you have problems understanding-P E R J U R Y.)
As Mayor pro-tem Robert Lombardo’s appointment to the Planning Commission, you Timothy Humphreville are a disgrace to this community and family name. You are lying on this matter, period.
Unfortunately you did not receive the genes of compassion as Mr. Jack Humphreville fights his line wolf campaign against LA City Hall defeating a sales tax.
I have been following Jack in the newspaper and here is a quick link to know more:
http://www.laweekly.com/related/to/Jack+Humphreville/
Ok so I am that precentile. For the first time in many years I didn’t vote! I can remember one year after moving I thought I wasn’t registered and ran around like a nutcase the night before an election in a panic over the thought of not voting. Now, after struggling over the last day or so with my decision to not vote, I also spoke with several friends who reported the same. So why didn’t I vote? Well quite frankly I’m not sure it matters any more. Seems all special interest groups have bought out the politicians and when I have voted, it hasn’t mattered anyway. Take a few classic propositions tied up in court right now. If the majority speaks and yet the politicians, lawyers, and special interest groups are the ones cashing in, tying up or court system and overturning my vote anyway, what’s the point any more?
Another reason, I couldn’t get “fired up” over any one candidate. It was the lesser of the evils at the voting poll so I declined take time out of my day to participate.
And yeah, I know if you don’t vote ya can’t complain!
Gov. Code, do away with cities…they are just another costly layer of government, run by special interests. I was watching the Cora Heiser vote out there and she had a lot of support on this blog. I don’t know her, nor that city’s politics/issues/etc., but I have been watching/reading/listening to what is happening and what I saw happen is that after being elected, in her very first important vote, she voted in lockstep with the other councilmembers to spend $200,000 to sue the State re RDA. Nobody has the balls to stand for their own convictions, and even she said she was wrong for not doing her homework and for not standing on her belief of what was right. There seems to be no hope, as you said…what’s the point anymore? I’m trying to maintain some optimism, but it often seems like a useless battle…there are very few politicians with integrity…especially in local politics.
LindaG,
Not sure if you are calling me out on my integrity or not. You are right you don’t know me and you certainly don’t know our city if you think that Project Phoenix was my first important vote. It is my opinion that my fight to get an open discussion about the fire department as being one of my most important contributions thus far. I didn’t push any one solution, but pushed for a public discussion. Now I hope that the citizens of 29 will band together to create a group that will find funding solutions for the fire department.
Staying hung up in a past mistake or glory doesn’t solve anything. I could talk about that vote all day long, but that will allow other opportunities to pass me by. So I learned and am moving on.
I am excited about better days in 29.
I said that I am trying to maintain some optimism…
Give Em Hell Cora. Learn and move forward
@GovCode, voting districts will have a huge positive impact on local Basin politics. Both governments in Yucca Valley and 29 Palms are not at all responsive to the voters.
Had voting districts been in place, Danny Mintz and Jay Corbin would have been called out by their constituents to explain themselves for passing a bond debt of $31 million. It’s inconceivable to believe that with voting districts that vote would have passed.
Very recently both voted to conduct city business (relative to the bond debt) in closed session — away from the public’s view — as shown by the recent vote to award Rutan & Tucker another $200,000 to litigate the states’ authority to take back money when there was no contracts in place.
Had voting districts been in place the CC would have to answer to their districts
for their “closed session” and “squandering” another nearly quarter million for attorney fees with little hope of results.
I still don’t think it would have solved the problem. “My district” Would still be scarcely represented.
Maybe it’s time to take voting into the current age. This whole going out to vote thing is wasted on my generation! Gee wiz I can file my taxes on line, pay my bills, pay my friends bills…why isn’t there an ap for voting ???
Also, I am really sick of all the name calling, belittling, finger pointing going on in politics…it’s all he said- she said- quite frankly it’s like a bad episode of some low budget talk show anymore.
Just the facts ma’am…that’s all I care about..this other BS is just a big political turn off!
Uh, oh…somebody’s upset.
I know who M.U.S.D. is, but not sure about F.P.P.C.
Does P.P.C. in F.P.P.C stand for “Political Prize Committee,” the same folks who hand out a prize for best satire, and do they also award “Honorable mention” since “Parrot” McKone was a “Witness” to the satire?
Yep Scot, they are pretty ticked off at the Hi-Desert Star too.
After 55 combined comments mostly all off topic and just flipping silly, I am drawing to a close these two threads as they have began to bore me and many others that have sat on the sidelines.
Tell you what folks lets try something different…. lets see if you can find common ground. We over in 29 are as passionate about our causes but it seems that at some point along the way we always find comity.
We all love our town just as I suppose all of you in Yucca love yours. I know that there must be some cause or purpose that you can all find common ground. I would suggest that you all prepare an at least 300 word essay on what you what for a future for your town.
Lets stop with the visceral personal attacks and start to work finding solutions…
Best of luck to you all.