District 2 campaign heats up

By Colin Rigley

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Posted: Friday, May 2, 2008 10:32 AM CDT

Realtors PAC targets Wilensky.

Supervisor Steve Wilensky believes the Calaveras County Association of Realtors' political action committee is trying to buy the election for his District 2 seat after the committee donated $7,000 to John Morse's campaign, his only opponent in the June 3 primary.

“While I believe ... there were no quid pro quos regarding the candidate, the only conclusion I can come to is that, while they may not be buying a candidate, they are trying to buy an election,” Wilensky said.

Wilensky said he has raised about $8,000 since his last reported fundraising, all of which were “small contributions” of about $100. He added that the contribution was made to Morse “without even giving me the courtesy of an interview.”

The Board of Realtors Political Action Committee board of trustees, which handles contributions to area political candidates, approved the contribution to Morse's campaign.

In a news release, the committee said it makes “donations with no strings attached. All we ask is access (to the Board of Supervisors) and consideration.”

The release also states that “there is a need for change on the Board of Supervisors. We are unhappy with the performance level that has led to moratoriums and the unrelenting assault on property rights and personal freedoms.”

While the committee is comprised of members of the Calaveras County Association of Realtors and collects voluntary donations from area Realtors, official representatives of the committee and the association are quick to distance themselves from one another.

Association President Debbie Bridges-Shaw declined to comment when asked about the committee's contribution and votes taken by the association's board of directors. She deferred all questions to Committee Chairman Lloyd Griffin.

Griffin stated repeatedly that the association's only involvement in the committee's contribution was to approve seven talking points for association members to use when asked about the contribution. He added that he and Bridges-Shaw were the only two people authorized to speak about the issue and the April 15 meeting.

The association did, however, take two votes during its April 15 board of directors meeting. The first vote was to approve the seven talking points, which Griffin brought to the association in anticipation of inquiries that would likely be made by the public and media due to the size of the contribution. Later in the meeting, the association's board also voted to endorse the committee's contribution, with one opposing vote.

Asked whether the board had taken an 8-1 vote to endorse the committee's contribution, Griffin said, “That's none of your business.”

For the complete story, see Friday's print edition of the Calaveras Enterprise or our e-Edition.

Comment (4 comment(s))

James wrote on May 2, 2008 12:08 PM:

" Come on Steve! Do you really think an election can by bought? Let's get real. I commend the Realtors for their contribution. I don't think an incumbent needs an interview. We have all seen how the current Supervisors vote and it's devasting what has been done to this county. I hope that more people get involved. Didn't seem to bother you four years ago when you were the one collecting contributions. If I remember correctly the press was reporting you collected more than any candidate. Personally, I am offended by your comments that you think the election can by bought. You cannot by an individuals vote! But, you sure can lose one by comments like this! "

Kathy wrote on May 3, 2008 10:21 AM:

" Since Mr. Wilensky was accused of being bought by a union he once worked for when they donated a fairly small sum to his last campaign, I do not see how Mr. Morse will escape the same accusations by his accepting this very large donation from a political action committee of a large special interest group. Possibly this donation may be what will get Steve Wilinsky re-elected since many of the voters in District 2 may have a difficult time believing there are really not strings attached to the $7,000. "

jake wallace wrote on May 3, 2008 11:04 AM:

" The Board of Realtors Political Action Committee support of John Morse in District 2 is a savvy move. The Calaveras Board of Realtors
would like to replay the Waller decades where 'personal freedoms" and "property rights" trumped sound ethical business practices, and state law; and where potentially thousands of illegally constructed homes/businesses were sold and profits pocketed by this scheme. It would appear that this Board of Realtors also enriched themselves under this regime and that Morse is the man to continue business as usual. The likely message is that anyone associated with Waller and his 'special interests' is better than the incumbent who appears to be allowing state sunshine laws and open government to advance in Calaveras. The realtors, builders, and investors have had their heyday, the feeding frenzy is over; regardless whether it's Morse Morse
"

Jessica wrote on May 4, 2008 5:54 PM:

" I think that a lot of citizens including myself are looking at the economic impact Stephanie Moreno has had on this county. Perhaps Steve should have considered that? I don't think any of the supervisors have a clue or seem to care about anything. I was shocked at the press realeases made by Stephanie Moreno to the Stockton record bashing Calaveras County contractors. Contractors work years to build up a good reputation. Her untrue comments on several issues impacted a lot of people in this county. All I can say is," Thanks Steve!" I'm voting for the other guy! "

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