I attended tonight's downtown "Meet the Candidates" event, at the Marshall White Center.
I'll give you my intitial impressions.
This was a first-time event for the downtown group, "Ogdenites In Search of Information;" and it went off without a hitch.
Unlike previous Ogden candidate events, this one was top-notch.
Cris Rodriguez, a newcomer to political event moderating, performed like a seasoned pro.
The League of Women Voters, who staged the last public format, and treated it like some kind of local comedy show, should cry in shame, and talk to Cris Rodriguez about how to run a legitimate political event.
Here are my initial impressions:
Steve Larson is a "rambling" sort of guy. You never know what he's going to say next as he waves his arms around and expands on whatever comes into his mind at any particular moment; and neither does he. It's all impromtu, and even he can't quite predict what's going to fly out of his mouth from any moment to the next.
By contrast, his opponent, Doug Stephens, is constantly on message, methodical, sensible and entirely businesslike.
Jesse Garcia displayed his deep knowledge of Ogden city business, while his opponent with the BIG RED PERMED HAIR punctuated her message many times on the microphone with "valley girl" ums and ahs, tediously demonstrating she had no idea at all what she was talking about.
Jeske came off great tonight, too, thanks to a decent microphone. Dorrene wasn't designed for public speaking, but her voice finally came through tonight, when she told the audience steadfastly what she stands for, unlike her rubber stamp, stern school-marm opponent.
Bill Glasmann scored a major KO, when he made an impassioned plea to support the Marshall White Center as a city institution, and the downtown families who rely upon it.
And tears welled up in my eyes when Mr. Glasmann mentioned his boxing promotion background, pointed to the blue curtain on the west side of the gymnasium, and referred to the boxing ring that's hidden there, amidst the cheers of the crowd of about 75. He mentioned the Ogden "Hepcats Club" fighters he'd promoted, like Cookie Valencia, Ricus Daniels, Terry Lasalle, and my old running-mate, Donny Greenfield. They were all Ogden friends of mine.
Meanwhile, the Davis County-reared Kent Jorgenson and Donna Burdett just sat at the table like a couple of dull lumps, blinking like a pair of wooden dolls. These people have no idea of Ogden culture and tradition. These two dopes are totally out of the Ogden loop!
Speaking of Burdett, she went totally haywire tonight. For some reason she got pissed off, and started launching on the crowd and the other candidates. People in the audience were open-mouthed, when her face suddenly contorted demonically, and turned beet-red and sneering. She berated the audience, and informed them that the 6,000 citizens who signed the spring anti-mall bond petition, seeking a vote on the mall project, didn't have any idea what they were signing. Donna knows best, says the halloween mask-faced, ranting neoCON Donna Burdett.
When one citizen from the crowd yelled, "We the people," Burdett just sneered, glared and hissed.
Another one in the crowd to my left whispered to me, "What a bitch." "Oh, Yeah, I said." It was really quite startling.
That was an impression shared by most of the crowd in attendence too, I'll venture. It really was quite ghastly.
Burdett pretty much shut her up after that, after finally realizing that she'd completely lost her composure, and had inadvertantly revealed her true evil and malignant self to the crowd.
The "Home Ec" major from BYU wife-of-a-dentist actually thinks she's smarter than everybody else. How scary is that, anyway?
So what you say, gentle readers?
Does anyone else have comments about tonight's most excellent political event?
Is there anyone who'd like to comment on tonight's downtown Meet the Candidates Night?
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24 comments:
Rudi, I disagree and agree with your comments. I too was in attendance and was impressed with the platform and setup, although I feel it went on a little too long. I agree that Donna got upset but her indignation was pointed at Jeske who went after her person and attacked her character. I was impressed to hear the Donna has some reservations about the new rec-center plans that she revealed as being different from the initial layout presented to the council a year ago.
Also your right Dori does need a little public speaking refinement but showed her knowledge and competence on some of the material, I think either her or Garcia will govern relatively the same, giving thought into the issues.
I totally disagree about Larsen and Stephens. Stephens is a disaster! The guy has the personality of a tree stump! No personality! He read virtually everything he said and came off cold and rigid! Larsen isn't the most eloquent person at times but clearly will not be pushed around!
Glassman hit a homerun and was the most fired up and, ready to box in the ring behind him (which I liked!) Where has that fire been the past 3 weeks? He clearly is passionate about Ogden and it's citizens!
Jeske was also a disaster! C'mon! How is Thompson not sitting up there? I honestly felt embarrassed for her!
Anyway, we will see what happens Tues...Too bad more people weren't there tonight. I don't think the paper was there so thank you for allowing people to read how it went.
I didn't hear Jeske attack Burdett's character. What did she say???
Interesting to see Burdett lose her cool completely. I was embarassed for her.
I guess you hear what you want to hear.
Congratulation to Ogdenites In Search Of Information for a job well done.
From the initial posting, and comments, I conclude that Jorgenson said nothing during the event? Not a word, good or bad? Seems unlikely.
I agree that out of the three debates this was by far the best and seemd to bring out some pertinent issues (but also alot of time spend on non-issues).
If I were Donna I would be upset to about the lack of research of Jeske on some topics (outlet malls) which sound good but are not new ideas. Also, having worked in the Ogden hospitality industry alot of money has been poured into marketing Utah in the past and it still remains a hard sell. More must be done than just telling people about Ogden. Again, I applaud Jeske for her passion & sincerity, but jeez, she had to refer to her notes to see what seat she was running for.
Stephens - come on after having attended the past debates I could recite his canned answers. And if your going to plant a question in the audience make it something that will raise more debate than the exact amount of sewage infrastructure - tell us how you are going to fix it. Larsen is willing to address a growing division between an expanding Hispanic population and an aging Anglo population that is present in both Municipal Ward 1&3. Mis-communication breeds fear and I believe this is something that must be addressed to help create safer and better communities - I don't see Stephens as recognizing, or capable of dealing with, this issue.
I liked Glassman and his researched responses - it will be a close call between him and Jorgenson.
I also agree with Judith about Garcia and Mosher - but I have always been a sucker for Big Red Hair.
Last night's debate was a wonderful forum. It gave us the chance to see the candidates create and improvise their response to questions that they hadn't had the time to prepare for, giving us the opportunity to see the "real" person.
I was taken back by Donna Burdett, as she "lectured through rage" at the audience and absolutely insulted them by telling them they didn't know what they were signing during the petition drive which infers that we are not capable of understanding the issues. A blatant slap in the face that we'll return at the polls this Tuesday.
Big Red, the Valley Girl. Enough said.
Jorgenson was his usual self, pandering and excusing and rationalizing his actions that are consistantly pro-Godfrey. And it was VERY clear that he is "a stranger in a strange land" when it comes to the feelings of the people and the culture of Ogden. The guy's out to lunch.
His opponent, Bill Glasmann, showed that he indeed has a true passion for his city and the people who live there. His boxing roots, his open mindedness and concerns about all of the trappings of the gondola, and his concerns about the city debt, the infrastructure and firefighters & police showed well. He's up on the issues and to answer the question of where has he been lately, he's been out walking and talking, doing one on one's from the West to the East.
Dorrene Jeske, I could just wrap my arms around her. She knows the issues, has the back-up to prove it and will stand up to anyone with her research and passion. She mentioned the mayor several times and accurately portrayed him for what he is, a coniving, scheming individual that wants to further his own agenda regardless.
Jesse Garcia is a man with the best interests of his community and his town at heart. He flat knows his stuff.
Doug Stephens, he read alot but that showed he did his research so that he could back up what he said.
And Steve Larsen is still the same boring guy who backs the mayor on everything and feels that becasue he's retired he can do the job better than anyone. I wonder what the other 6 council members, people who work, feel about this.
A good night. Revealing. The true winners: Jeske, Glasmann, Stephens and Garcia. They have my vote.
Did Larsen mention his secret electric choo-choo again? I'd sure like to hear more about that.
I didn't hear Jeske attack Burdett's character either. Are you sure you were at the same event we were, Judith?
Jeske explained what tax increment funding of RDAs was and where it comes from in a way that everyone could understand, which no one else did. She told it how it really is with the high adventure recreation center revealing how the Mayor and the entire Counsel has deceived the public for months. KUDOS for telling it like it is, Dorene.
Burdett let us know that public input is of no interest to her. The bond didn't require a vote -- so keep your mouth shut -- don't question what your all-knowing Counsel and Mayor do. We don't care about your opinions! She sure showed her true colors last night.
I'm not sure what it is about Steve Larson, but he always comes across as a clown. I have to admit that he didn't contradict himself last night as he usually does in his ramblings. He is sure hard to take seriously though.
I was impressed with how organized and prepared Doug Stephens was last night. He had the facts in front of him, and responded intelligently to the issues and questions.
We got the same old rhetoric from Jorgenson. But Glasmann on the other hand was alive and impassioned. He was great! He will be a real asset to the Counsel.
Dori had some good answers last night, but as much as she wants us to believe that she is her own person, her veneer is rather thin and the fact that she was hand picked and groomed by Godfrey and his gang is evident.
Jesse proved how knowledgable he is in the workings of the City. It came out last night how the Mayor and Counsel excluded him from some of their plans until the last minute when it was too late to inform and involve his constituents about plans that affected them. That's not the way "good government" works! That's how sneaks, cheats, and liars work. It would be a shame to lose his knowledge and independent voice on the Counsel. I hope everyone can see who really cares about the people in Ward 1.
I just deleted a post from a dumbass who tried to smear a candidate because she apparently draws support from non-traditional non-Christian Religion, and NOT the 800 pound Gorilla.
Weber County Forum does not discrininate on the basis of religious belief.
The offensive post was thus deleted.
All religions will be respected here.
Councilman Jorgenson did not tell it like it is with the Kemp Gateway Center at the Ogden Hinckley Airport.
I became interested in this last December when there was an article in the Standard Examiner about the Ogden RDA giving Kemp $2.2 million RDA tax increment for his Center. I started keeping a file as the more I learned the more determined I was to file my own law suit against the Airport RDA for this giveaway and disregard for laws.
The Kemp Gateway Center was not an RDA Project. The Tax increment was announced one night in a Council meeting but there had been no vote. When questioned about it, RDA person McConkie said, off the record, that it had to be done to keep Kemp from going under.
Kemp is located outside the Airport fence so no fuel could be sold nor airport services provided inside the airport under FAA rules. However, in December, Kemp did sell fuel inside the airport fence in direct violation of FAA rules. This is all a matter of record in correspondence to and from the airport manager.
This violated the rights of three companies inside the fence who were authorized to sell fuel and provide services.
When complaints were made, Ogden City passed a special ordinance for a "through-the-fence" exception for Kemp. Other exceptions were granted for Kemp while Ogden put pressure on the grandfathered companies in an effort to give Kemp an edge.
Ogden was so flagrant with pressure to put one of the companies, OK3AIR, out of business to benefit Kemp that OK3AIR filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Salt Lake.
The judge is Tina Campbell, a very competent judge, who withstood pressures from 7 attorneys for Ogden and Kemp to dismiss the case based on technicalities in two different hearings. The trial is now set for December.
This is the classic example of how Ogden City operates.
Based on the information I have, it appears Ogden will not prevail. Awards for damages could be horrendous.
Do you old timers remember when the Ogden Airport played a similar scheme against Colonel Dilley? The case went on for months but Colonel Dilley won an award in an amount so large that the Court would not disclose the amount.
This could be the final fuse to Ogden's financial time bomb.
In last night's meeting we should have asked the total amount of atorney's fees Ogden has paid in 2005 for lawsuits that should have never happened. Does anyone happen to know?
There are so many "final fuses" that it isn't funny.
There WILL be citizen lawsuits filed against ALL the city council perpetrators.
Most of them are brokeasses...
Like Saftsten, Jorgenson Stephenson and the hapless Filiga.
Burdett has serious assets and "deep pockets," though.
Her bad judgment could be at least satisfied by the taxpayers in part, from the family assets.
The funny thing is, her husband Mike doesn't even like Godfrey, I've heard...
Rudi -
Thank you for providing a forum free from inappropriate attacks. As this campaign has shown there are many, many people from very different walks of life who all share a common bond in their love and concern for Ogden.
Blog On...
Not only was Jorgensen his normal oily self, but his newly introduced "News Letter" is a complete joke. Although laid out well by his $8,000 backers in
Salt Lake it was none the less packed full of bull shit!
It was obviously introduced this late in the election cycle so that the numerous lies it contains cannot be refuted!
The great thing about this growing phenomenon called blogs, is that the lying bastards can be busted right up to and including election day!
I encourage every one to read comrade Jorgensen's expensive propoganda piece and identify a lie - and expose is it here on this blog!
One of the ones I like the most is where he claims the Union Station project as a success and takes credit for it! Now that's chutzpa in the first degree! Hey, we taxpayers are only going to take it in the shorts for $2 million on that one deal alone!!
Other examples of unmitigated gall demonstrated by
this arrogant sob is his proudly taking credit for:
Kemp development - $25 million give away to a fat
cat.
Hampton Suites Hotel - the mostly empty hotel.
Mall Parking structure - black hole where $4 million
in low income housing $
went
American Can bldg - A $8 million dollar loser
Good Landlord program - AKA, rip off the poor plan
This is just a first reading. Check it out yourself and have fun finding your own example of Kent's audacity!
Kent Jorgenson did his usual try to baffle everyone with rhetoric, we dont vote off the cuff B.S, but we all know how he votes. Flippy Floppy.
Donna Burdett really popped a cork on the audience, she tells everyone how she listens to her constituents before voting, however we all know better. I dont tink that I want a loose cannon like Donna representing me, she gets pissed if anyone puts her on the spot. Whats wrong with saying she doesnt know and that she will research it and make an informed decision? I guess she cant cut the strings from the 9th floor.
Dori Mosher the red headed valley girl didnt have the figures that was fed to her by the Mayor straight, proving that she's a dizzy blonde in disguise.
Bill Glasmann did very well, I was inpressed with his statements about getting back to the basics that the City should be looking after I.E. Police, Fire and the infrastructure..instead of pissing away good moiney after bad on hair brained schemes.
Doug Stephens seems like he has done his research, and even if he reads his notes...at least he has done his research, he seems to be very sincere.
Steve Larsen reminds me of a big bag of hot air, everything he says has a goofy story attached to it, he's just another puppet that the Mayor has his hand up his Butt when he speaks.
Dorrene Jeske, bless her heart, really is sincere, and has some very good ideas, I think that she will do research ,and make decisions based on facts ,not B.S. that shows up one hour before the vote. Dorrene has my vote.
Jesse Garcia is very informed about how the system works, and is not afraid to vote in the best interest of his constituents. It seems that the Administration, and other current council members dont like to be questioned about facts, so they label Jesse as a trouble maker, but he is a true watch dog for the tax payers of Ogden.
ANON your comments are recycled from like 4 other "people" before you! Either you cut and pasted your comments. or you are the same person.
Bottom line...Burdett will have the biggest blowout of the race, 69-41%.
Dori will surprise Garcia with a surprising 5% win.
Glassman will fail to unseat Jorgensen by 1000 votes.
And the robot Stephens will fail yet another attempt to supplement his Mier and Frank, retail income.
Nosster Daumuss, DREAM ON, Dreamer! A dreamer, you are, a seer, you're not! Godfrey will see his little empire fall tomorrow. Just like crazy Nero burned Rome down, goofey Godfrey has burned Ogden by loading it with financial debt and still eager to add more to its overburdened back! People are aware of those who support Godfrey on the Council with his illogical schemes and will vote against them tomorrow. As the Tribune reported, the Ogden Council race isn't about candidates, it's a referendum on Mayor Godfrey!
So dream on, Nosster Damnus!
Yeah, Noster Damn-us, you're a failed progosticator who is literally praying for the Mayor's crew to be seated and re-seated. You speak not from fact and logic, but from wishful thinking. The sad thing is, people like you REALLY feel that the Gang of 6 is on the right track.
Let's take a look:
$43,000 illegal severance to S. Reid, and the council does NOTHING.
$45,000 Lobbyist to, in Jorgenson's words, "educate the L:egislature" so they'll reimpose eminent domain and allow the RDA to take away a person's home and give it to WalMart because that person lives on the "wrong side of town."
$28,000 for a PR person to do the job that the council should do, and tha's to report to their constituents the "goings on" within the City
9-10 delays, costing a couple of million, for the mall site to be prepared for building.
$30,000,000 to date, spent on the gym/arcade and nary a brick has been laid.
Obligated the people to re-pay the $18.5,000,000 bonds if Fats and Gold's goes South, after repeatedly assuring us that we wouldn't be put on the hook.
Committing 10 of 11 RDA projects that actually make money (all of those were from the Mecham Administration while NONE, ZERO, of Godfrey's RDAs make a cent) to back the bonds.
Spending so damn much money on these hairbrained projects that the Firefighters and Police go without and the Infrastructure, you know smart guy, that's what brings water into your home and takes the sewage away, has deteriorated to the point that about $150,000,000 is needed to bring it back up to standard.
Not having enough money to sweep up the pigeon shit from in front of the mostly empty Hamilton Inn.
I don't know why you people think that this bunch is doing so well. Ever since they took office, the city has spiraled downward. But, I guess YOU and your bunch are comfortable living a dream and watching Godfrey and crew spend our money to further their own political ambitions. You obviously enjoy being stuck in a time warp-vacumn downward spiral yourself. Well, revel in it....it's your money they spend and I'm sure NOBODY there even knows your name.
What a pack of dolts you hang with. And you don't have the nuts to give us your name, but then, if I were coming from where you come from, I'd stay in hiding too. Your alias isn't very cute or original, either. You SUCK!
Hey, Noster
You really expect 110% of the votes to count in the Burdett race?
Just living up to the moniker.
Boy Howdy! How can anyone in their right, uh, make that LEFTIST mind think Burdett can stay on the city council? No wonder she doesn't speak up in meetings....it doesn't take but a tiny spark to light that short fuse! Wasn't she a snarling harridan in all three 'debates'?
Anyone interested enough in Ogden's welfare who gets on this blog, surely realizes that we cannot afford, literally, to keep Burdett, and Jorgenson any longer!
Vote for Jeske, who has served Ogden and its' youth for over 30 years...worked with firefighters
and scouts, Ogden School Board, etc.
We have to keep Jesse Garcia....he knows what needs to be done in Ogden and has the experience that is valuable to us now. Bill Glassman showed his passion for Ogden Friday night at the Marshall White Center. And, Doug Stephens was very impressive with his notes and research.
Larsen is such a buffoon...speaking Spanish so he can mingle with 'those people'...and moving back to 15th and Jefferson to be 'among those people'....he's as demeaning as Burdett when she said that her'friends couldn't understand the petition' calling for a "reject or accept vote on the rec center and putting the question on the ballot".....either her friends are illiterate or just plain stupid. 6000 SIGNERS read and understood it just fine!
Aren't we grateful that the incredibly rude, inarticulate clown, Fasi Filiaga, will soon be gone? Another reason not to vote for Larson is that Fasi has groomed Larson to take his place!!!
Flirtatious, preening Dory didn't spend enough time with that kayak loving gal friend at city hall who rec'd the call from John Patterson asking 'which issues can we get Dory involved with so she'll look good in the campaign?" Those force fed facts didn't get digested did they? Emmm barr a sin' to watch her fumble and giggle Friday night!
Oh, dear voters....think about shoveling the city streets this winter because your 'lustrous mayor dumped the snow removal dough into the sinkhole on Country Hills Drive! For 7 months the residents above that area have been sorely inconvenienced...including the mayor's father'in-law! Think Mattie and family are still being invited over for Sunday dinner???
Vote Jeske, Glassman, Stephens and Garcia and bring sanity and clear thinking to the city council and the skids on the egotistical kid mayor who keeps attempting all those end runs around the council.
The mayor and his rubber stamps must be really running scared....I personally placed over 75 campaign signs for Jeske, and to date she's lost nearly 100....most of them in the area between 4600 south and the college. Some were REplaced up to 4 times!! Some were thrown away and the incumbent's put in their place! Many were ripped from the ground or fence and left in the dirt. Nasty business, eh?
Dorrene and I filed four police reports...none of which were reported in the paper, of course.
Some of Jeske's signs were removed or defaced within an hour!! Besides being acts of vandalism, theft and trespassing...they put Dorrene at a distinct disadvantage in this race. (Oh yeah...that's the purpose, duh).
However, those who know her fine record and character and have seen her campaign materials KNOW that Dorrene Jeske does not stoop to such low and base behaviors. She stands ready to serve Ogden in a responsive and responsible manner.
With Jeske, Glassman, Stephens and Garcia representing us on the city council and holding Godfrey's greedy hands to the fire, we'll finally have the checks and balances that have been absent for soooo long.
Please call some friends and ask them to get to the polls NOW. Still time to vote for Jeske and Glassman...and Jesse and Stepens in their respective races....GO! Such viciousness going on, I don't have time to relate...let me just say that the snarling dogs are out of the kennel. That elitist group must be put out so this run-amok mayor will have controls. GO VOTE!
It was gratifying and exhilarating to see the clean sweep tonite of Garcia, Jeske, Glassman, and Stephens!
Abe Lincoln had it right when he reminded us that, 'you can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people part of the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time.' Yep...the smoke and mirrors show Godfrey and his prancing ponies have enjoyed has finally closed. Their theatre is dark tonite.
This has been a very nasty race with nasty and vicious acts of evil. In nearly 30 years of politickin', I've never been around such small-minded, mean spirited people. Small minds spawning grandiose, self-serving ambition.
Thank you, Ogden voters, for fulfilling your civic duty and putting four persons on the council who will move Ogden forward to health and prosperity, and teach Godfrey remedial accountability and morality.
Oh, by the way....this town owes Mitch Moyes many kudos for blowing the whistle on the attempted rec center ram-thru nearly a year ago. He's the one who got the rest of us interested and speaking out. He's done his homework, worked tirelessly and brought myriad good ideas before the council only to be denigrated and humiliated by hizzoner, Fasi and Chairman Safsten. It's Mitch who has uncovered deceit time and again. Thank you, Mitch. Without you, this glorious night would not have come to fruition! Thanks to all who endorsed these "fab four" and worked hard for them.
Wow Rudi, What a sore winner you are this morning!
That wasn't nice going after Sharon that way. She is a loyal trooper in the anti Godfreyite legion. As you say, Mitch is a bit of a lose cannon, but he too means well and fights for the cause, although in his own way to his own drummer. Hey aint that what being a subversive is all about?
There were lots of people that contributed to this wonderful victory. There is room enough at this celabration for all of us, just check your knives and guns at the door please.
And most of all no fellow anti Godfreyite bashing purdy please.
Good point, Ozboy.
That ill-considered post has been now deleted.
I'm afraid I got caught up in the emotion of the moment; and I sincerely extend my apology to any whom I may have offended.
We're all working toward the same end; and there's no reason to create further division.
Thanks for putting me in touch with my moral conscience, Ozboy.
Noster damus, you are a miserable failure. You gotta be one of Godfrey's groupies, a guy who doesn't have the sense to make predictions and therefore shouldn't, or is just too stupid to understand the basic fundamentals of politics.
Burdett was the biggest blow-out, wasn't she? But it was she who got bown out....a veritable slaughter!
Let's see, Glasmann won by nearly 800 votes, led wire to wire and never looked back. I'd love to gamble some with you, ya dope.
And Stephens, ripped the sycophant Larsen a new tail.
Good lord boy, but you one dumb SOB!
Isn't it fun to see these dunces who think they are political forecaster be put right in their place?
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