Collins is a Sham, Pt. I

Voters beware! The “Voter Information Guides” for the March 2 primary you just received in the mail are not official voting guides. They are the epitome of deceptive and misleading advertising. Per the small print on these guides, 5th District Supervisor Candidate Steve Collins paid to have himself listed in these guides.

The Supervisor’s race is non-partisan, so the candidates’ party affiliation is not listed on your official ballot. Collins is a registered Republican. Yet, in an attempt to mislead voters into believing he’s a Democrat, Collins paid to list himself along with all the Democratic party candidates—for President, Senator, etc.

Use your official voting ballot from the County when filling out your mail-in ballots or at the voting booth, not these sham “voter guides.”

Janet Kingsley | Monterey

Collins is a Sham, Pt. II

Along with other concerned citizens, I attended Steve Collins’ “Economic Forum” aired live Feb. 18 on TV. In fact, the forum was practiced, prepackaged politics.

Collins and his public relations team encouraged audience participation, distributing 3 x 5 cards for questions on important issues. Neither my questions, nor the questions from people sitting near me, were asked. Instead, the moderator, Kurt Golnick, a Collins campaign supporter, read questions from a prewritten list. One can only assume Collins’ answers were just as scripted.

I was appalled when Collins presented, nearly word for word, the regional solution I proposed long ago for the Peninsula water overdraft: harvest water from the Salinas River at the rubber dam and pipe it to Fort Ord and the Seaside Aquifer for storage and recovery. During the Salinas Valley Water Project analysis, I proposed this as a viable alternative needing study. I was ignored.

Now I know why. Collins, and his advisors were sandbagging so they could present this solution to voters at election time. How pathetic.

Douglas Fay | Salinas

Potter is a Sham, Too

Dave Potter started out as Supervisor and Coastal Commissioner voting well, but his voting record decayed miserably since 1997 and is now horrible.

In recent years Potter’s votes were predominantly against our coastal environment. His percentage of bad votes has increased to 67 percent—as bad as the worst property rights Commissioners!

So while Potter formerly did some good things, even very good things, he blocked all Monterey Pine Forest protection, and protected Pebble Beach Company’s Development; he alone kept water transfers alive for 18 months; his Carmel climbing lane is tainted by law violations and environmental harm; and Potter now votes for environmental protection only when his vote is meaningless—water transfers and September Ranch. Bottom line—Potter loves development.

David Dilworth | Pacific Grove

Potter is The Man

Dave Potter is running a clean campaign for County Supervisor, and we appreciate it. Our community has always disdained hit pieces, such as what one of Dave’s opponents is sending out.

Potter has done a beautiful job of protecting the environment, thus his endorsement by the Sierra Club. He also has the endorsement of the Hospitality Association.

Let’s all get out there and elect Dave Potter for Supervisor, the candidate with the knowledge and experience to win.

Douglas and Peggy Chandler | Monterey