"Hats in the Ring for Carmel Mayoral Race" by News Blog

News Blog

Hats in the Ring for Carmel Mayoral Race

October 28, 2011

Fully two months before the filing period even opens for Carmel's April 2012 city council election, the field for the mayoral race is getting crowded. Council member Jason Burnett, whose four-year term doesn't end until 2014, filed preliminary documents Oct. 21 with city hall that will allow him to begin fundraising for a campaign for mayor.

When her sixth term ends in April, Mayor Sue McCloud plans to retire after 12 years on the job.

That leaves an opening three candidates are already vying for, with fully six months to go before the election. Restaurateur Rich Pepe plans to run, though he's still looking for a Carmel-by-the-Sea residency to qualify (he currently lives in Pebble Beach.)

"I would hope to bring in a businessman’s perspective to local government," Pepe says. "A town is really a business." Pepe says that he's not been actively involved in Carmel politics, but has begun attending more public meetings since deciding to enter the mayoral race.

Realtor Adam Moniz, who narrowly lost a 2010 bid against McCloud, intends to run again, though he's waiting for the filing period to open Dec. 19 before making it official. "I think of what you’re seeing now as shock and awe campaigns by two candidates," he says. "I think it's very inappropriate for small-town politics. I am committed to staying true to Carmel’s traditional election cycles, and look forward to an announcement in late December or early January."

Burnett says he'll wait until 2012 to begin campaigning in earnest, to avoid dragging out the race, but by filing a statement of intent last week he's able to begin preliminary campaign fundraising.

As to what's next for McCloud, "I can’t imagine I’ll sit down on a chaise lounge and pop bon-bons and read novels," she says. "I need to get my house back in order—a new roof, and get it painted."

Council members Karen Sharp and Ken Talmage are also up for reelection in April.

Let the races begin.

If Rich Pepe is serious about running for mayor of Carmel, then he should move to Carmel. If Jason Burnett is serious about running for mayor of Carmel, then he should step down from his current seat on the City Council immediately. If Adam Moniz is serious about running for mayor of Carmel, then he should learn to talk less and listen more.

MCW readers know of the Weekly’s fondness for Jason Burnett, but as a journalism enterprise reporters should challenge Jason Burnett to answer pertinent questions, such as what has changed in two years to warrant him breaking his 2010 campaign promise to voters to complete a full 4-year council member term? What is “good” for Carmel has become synonymous with the self-promotion of Jason Burnett by Jason Burnett. Announcing his intent to run for mayor eight weeks prior to the start of the official filing period makes one wonder if he is running because he thinks he has learned enough in two short years and has the experience to be an effective mayor for Carmel or does he want to be mayor as a resume enhancer to aid him in his bid for Sam Farr’s congressional seat when Farr retires, probably in 2014? Another question: Jason Burnett deserves credit for bringing CalPERS to the attention of the public and council; now comes the hard, substantive part. Will he provide leadership and advocate for paying down the $6.2 million side fund debt, a debt since 2003 charged 7.75% interest compared to the city’s $10 million reserves earning 0.5% interest? Along fiscal lines, MCW reporters should also question Jason Burnett’s judgment when he gave credit to the previous city administrator for the fiscal health of the city when it was obvious even before the CalPERS report that the previous city administrator was an incompetent financial manager.

To clarify for PacificGroveBound and Observer, the mayor of Carmel is a member of the City Council, so moving from city council member to mayor represents a continuation of the same service at a higher level. I think Jason Burnett has set an example of smarts, effectiveness and cooperation on the City Council, and if he does run for mayor it would be great for our village.

What good news that Jason Burnett is going to run for mayor of Carmel. He has been a forward-thinking leader who sounded the warning bells about CalPERS during the last election. He would have been able to accomplish more in the last two years if he had not been thwarted and side-stepped by the current mayor. He has been effective in spite of her, has worked hard as council member and will work even harder as mayor for the good of Carmel. If he is elected, I would count on a much more inclusive and transparent city government.

It looks like Coastvillager and CarmelGeezer are being misled.

My husband just pulled the old newspapers from the garage. Read the Carmel Pine Cone that came out on March 12, 2010.

On page 28, it states the real FACTS (or the inconvenient truth, as some of would call it) as they were told during Jason Burnett's last campaign for office in Carmel just a short year and a half ago: "Burnett . . . promised that if he is elected . . . he will not run for mayor in 2012." There is no way to misinterpret that!

As stated in a recent letter to the editior written by a Carmelite and published in the November 3rd Monterey Herald pointed out: "There is nothing worse than a dishonest politician, except, of course, an elected dishonest politician."

Or maybe another Carmelite had it right in their letter to the editor, written about a different local politician who was caught telling a big lie, published in the Herald on November 3rd: "Now that . . . untruths have been exposed . . . he should withdraw from the race."

Burnett's story changes daily (he even abstained from Carmel's critical public safety vote on fire), but the facts are the facts.

I've worked right next to Pepe in his office, and most people know I was his "right hand man" doing his dirty work for years... All I can say to the Carmel folks, is Pepe's public persona is radically different than his true character. You will be making a serious mistake if you elect him.

I walked away from my working relationship with him for ethical reasons, and let me tell you, he has no place in public office. Jason Burnett on the other hand, has the right heart for Carmel, and for public office.

"I came out west to get laid and make a killing" ... and the best part is at the end when he threatens a Carmel police officer for ticketing an illegally parked Ferrari "I'm running for Mayor, you'll be scrubbing floors"...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y63fbRGluE