11/5/07 Last day for my ads in the paper. Both ads ran for their final time. I've had some very positive feedback on the quality of the design of these ads. Thanks, Kent!
Please get out and vote tomorrow!!!
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11/4/07 Several nice support letters in today's Idaho Press-Tribune. The IP-T Voter's Guide also appeared in it's own section.
Major kudos to the Idaho Press-Tribune for providing excellent coverage in this election cycle!
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11/3/07 My rebuttal letter ran in the Idaho Statesman today. Woo Hoo!
Out and about in the neighborhoods talking to people about the election and Caldwell's future.
Had help from my daughter and several of her school mates and one of their parents and their older brother... When the dust had settled, the crews distributed my door-to-door flyer to hundreds of homes in Caldwell. Thanks for all your help!
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11/1/07 Lot's of campaign activities going on the next few days.
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10/31/07 After another exchange of email messages Vickie Holbrook advised me that the IP-T would publish a clarification statement to address my concerns. It was published on the front page of today's paper and was a good compromise that addressed the issue. Thank you, Vickie.
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10/30/07 Email arrived from Vickie saying that she would not be printing my rebuttal because: as a candidate, I've run out of opportunities; there's not an actual quote in the original letter; Vickie believes that what was printed represents the writer's opinion. She did say that I could have a supporter submit a similar letter and it would be considered for publication like any other election letter.
Here's what I sent back to Vickie Holbrook at the Idaho Press-Tribune:
Vickie,
I disagree completely with you.
This is not a difference of opinion. I know what an opinion looks like. As you know I have one of my own about almost everything. No, this is more about false assertions slipping though the editing process and making it into print on the 'opinion' page as fact.
The statement in his letter,
"Two of the incumbents stated that real estate agents and developers do not have the right to be on the council due to their chosen profession."
couldn't be more clear and direct and demonstrably false.
There's not a direct quote in there, but the statement itself is presented as fact and that's the problem. I t's not. You were standing there and neither you nor the tape nor anyone else heard Jim Blacker or myself say that anyone did not have the right to be on the council due to their chosen profession. We both expressed strong concerns that someone in "their chosen professions" could be effective on the council due to inevitable conflicts of interest and that's a far cry from unlawfully denying them the right to "be" on council.
I wrote and submitted the rebuttal because I'm the directly injured party. I still believe the rebuttal letter should be run in the paper.
Thanks,
Rob
My first ad ran in the Idaho Press-Tribune today. I think it looks great! But, then again, I helped create it...
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10/29/07 Got a call from the Statesman to confirm that I'd sent in the rebuttal letter. Not sure exactly what that means since that's standard procedure for them... maybe it means they are considering publishing my letter!
Also received an email from the IP-T saying that they were "...reviewing this situation."
I'm still hopeful that both papers will print something about "this situation" even if they decide not to print my rebuttal letter. Words matter and newspapers are in the business of correctly using words and confirming that something that's presented as a fact can be verified even if it appears on the opinion page.
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10/28/07 My final candidate essay was published this morning in the IP-T. I hope you find it interesting and thought-provoking!
No response from either paper yet on my rebuttal letter from yesterday. I wonder how they will justify having published Kevin Price's lie as a fact?
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10/27/07 I have a big target on my chest. I know that. I've run for public office. I've had many letters to the editor published. I have an opinion about almost everything. BUT, when I publish something as a fact, it is a fact and can be verified. This morning in both the Idaho Press-Tribune and Idaho Statesman a lie was published as fact. Here's the letter:
IP-T Headline:
We should focus on candidates' qualities, not their professions
Statesman Headline: Incumbents declared bias against real estate industry
A recent Statesman article covering the Caldwell City Council debates left those of us in the real estate industry wondering if we should ever have a place on any election ballot. Two of the incumbents stated that real estate agents and developers do not have the right to be on the council due to their chosen profession.
That's strange. Isn't that why we have disclosure laws which are used practically every day by elected officials, judges and even jury members when there are conflicts?
To suggest that a certain segment of the economy shouldn't be allowed to participate in our form of government is dangerous and un-American at best.
Using that kind of litmus test, teachers would be barred from running for the Legislature because half of the state budget directly impacts their profession.
The bottom line is the incumbents in Caldwell have declared their bias in a desperate attempt to change the focus of the debate away from their poor performance and save their jobs.
What we should focus on is the quality and the integrity of the individuals running for office, and allow the voters to decide who their representatives will be.
KEVIN PRICE, CEO, Idaho Association of REALTORS®, Boise
NOTE: RED added for your benefit!
So what would you do if someone published a blatant, verifiable lie about you??? I decided to alert the two papers that this had happened and post it here in my blog. So I sent them the following letter this afternoon:
Regarding the letter, "(appropriate paper's headline)" printed Sunday, has the (appropriate paper) Opinion Page standard changed? Assertions presented as facts usually must have some basis in truth. That letter included this sentence, "Two of the incumbents stated that real estate agents and developers do not have the right to be on the council due to their chosen profession." Those words were neither stated nor implied.
By submitting that as fact, letter writer Kevin Price, CEO, Idaho Association of REALTORS®, from Boise, lied to the people of Caldwell and stretched the REALTOR's Code of Ethics to the breaking point.
I don't know Kevin Price so I don't know whether or not he attended the candidate forum of which he speaks, but from the context of his letter it appears he was not there and therefore received his information from a very unreliable source. I do know I was there! This paper was represented there.
I'm on record repeatedly questioning whether or not someone with a long involvement in his profession in this area can objectively serve on city council as a regulator for the very business activities that provide your livelihood. I stand by every word.
Rob Oates
I'm delighted with Caldwell's progress and I'm proud to be a part of it. Almost anyone can run for office, if they want to go through this adventure! The law says that a Caldwell resident must live in the city a certain length of time and be a certain age to run for city council. If Kevin Price wanted to do something useful and revealing, he should look into exactly how long each candidate has lived in Caldwell and paid taxes here -- that's a more interesting angle on this election.
I hope Kevin Price will either attend the forum next time or at least get his info from someone who actually heard the questions and the candidates' responses.
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10/21/07 There was a nice write-up in the Idaho Press-Tribune endorsing the three incumbent's -- myself, Jim Blacker and Rick Wells. They accurately summed up where we are: Caldwell's growing and the current leadership team has helped make that happen -- let's keep them in place.
I couldn't agree more! VOTE ROB, JIM and RICK!
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10/17/07 Something of potential interest from the Idaho Press-Tribune this morning:
Rob Oates’ recent comments illustrate need for change
by Phyllis Kimura, Caldwell
Rob Oates’ comments at the Caldwell City Council candidates’ forum regarding public transportation, which he personally “doesn’t think works well in the West or almost anywhere,” show how much Caldwell needs positive change.
Why not elect someone who has spent years in real estate and development? Such a person would know the needs and concerns of the people of Caldwell and those who are trying to bring life to Caldwell.
Come on, people of Caldwell. The town needs a plan of action — of business — not just a city hall. Vote, people.
Wow, I wonder how, exactly, my comments show how much Caldwell needs positive change?? The positive change she's advocating are a positive shift to higher taxes. Sounds good so far!!
She's referring to my statement that nowhere in the country has a public transit system been built that pays for itself. Every single system requires lots of taxpayer dollars to keep operating. I know that as an individual taxpayer I certainly won't vote to "tax myself and everyone else" to pay for a transit system that few will ride. It's kind of a twist on the field of dreams phrase, "If you build it, they still won't ride." Sure, it might feel good to build a multi-billion dollar system so people --could-- ride it... but would you, or you, or you actually be able to make such a system work for you and your family???? For many families the answer is no. I have a real tough time thinking I should help force everyone to pay for an expensive experiment that has always failed everywhere else in the country. And the costly failures in the past have even been in densely populated areas... places where, if it was ever going to work, they had the best chance of making it work.
I don't know if I've met Phyllis, but I can hear her chant,
"Raise our taxes,
build light rail,
some might ride,
if their car fails."
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| 10/07/07 The transportation essay was published today. How many people are there out there who don't understand free-market economic principles??? I'm willing to blame most of the problem on the public school system. It's kind of a vicious circle... liberal professors turn out new liberal teachers who teach students to become new liberals. |
10/5/07 Put up some more yard signs today. Talked to several citizens who said they'd be happy to have signs from all three incumbents! They said they want to keep the successful team together. Good idea!
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10/4/07 Started getting yard signs out to supporters. Signs going up seems to mark the start of the visible campaign.
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10/1/07 Getting lots of questions from citizens wondering how changing the council will make things better in Caldwell. I certainly don't know. Maybe the challengers will let us all know soon. The current council has reduced taxes each of the past two years and Caldwell is in the best financial position it's ever been in. Crime is down, police are staying to serve in Caldwell, and economic activity is up. Caldwell is getting better and better day by day. Let's keep it up!
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7/4/07 July 4th! Happy Birthday America. Had a great time walking in the parade. Kicked off my campaign at the 15th and Dearborn block party in the Steunenburg Neighborhood Historical District. Friends and family had a great time with burgers, dogs and trimmings we provided and the fabulous array of pot-luck dishes that they all brought! It was a great day. Thanks to James Dean and Friends for incredible music!
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